Windows 10 After End of Support: What Your Business Should Do Now

In short:

• Windows 10 keeps working, but it gets no security fixes. Every new hole stays open.
• Most computers from recent years can move to Windows 11 with their applications and files kept.
• Older computers that do not meet the requirements are better replaced with a new or refurbished brand-name computer with a warranty.
• Microsoft's paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) buy time, but they are a temporary solution and get more expensive every year.

What end of support means

End of support does not switch the computer off. It means Microsoft no longer releases:

• security updates - new holes in the system are not fixed;
• bug fixes and technical assistance;
• new versions - Windows 10 22H2 is the last one.

Over time, the makers of other software also stop supporting Windows 10: accounting and warehouse software, printer and scanner drivers, banking software and e-signature applications. Then the problem is no longer only security, but also that something stops working.

How risky it is to stay on Windows 10

Antivirus helps, but it does not close the holes in the system itself. A computer without updates is an easy target for ransomware and password theft - especially if it is used for email, banking and access to the server.

There are two more sides to it:

• Requirements and audits. Under NIS2, ISO 27001 or GDPR it is hard to explain why company data is processed on an unsupported system. See old computers under NIS2 and ISO 27001.
• One weak computer is enough. An attacker does not pick the best-protected computer on the network, but the weakest one.

The three paths for each computer

A refurbished brand-name computer (a business model from a well-known maker that has been checked) is often a better choice than a new cheap computer: it is sturdier, easier to repair and better value.

Which computers can move to Windows 11

Windows 11 has stricter requirements than Windows 10. The main ones are:

• TPM 2.0 - a security chip built into most computers from recent years, but sometimes switched off in the settings;
• Secure Boot;
• a supported processor - broadly Intel 8th generation or AMD Ryzen 2000 and newer;
• at least 4 GB of memory and a 64 GB disk - for real work you need at least 8 GB of memory and an SSD.

Microsoft's "PC Health Check" app gives a quick answer. For more computers, it is easier to make an inventory in one go - the model, processor, memory, disk and year of each.

Upgrading without losing applications and files

When you upgrade the same computer, Windows 11 is installed over the existing installation: applications, files and settings stay. Even so:

1. Make a backup of the data before the upgrade.
2. Check the business applications - accounting, warehouse, banking software, e-signature - for Windows 11 support and whether they need a new version.
3. Check printers and scanners - older ones sometimes have no Windows 11 drivers.
4. Plan to a schedule, not all at once, so the whole office does not stop.
5. Check after the upgrade that everything works before moving on to the next computer.

When a computer is replaced, the old installation can be moved to the new one: the employee's applications, files and settings. And the data on the old computer must be wiped reliably before it is handed over or recycled.

How we do it

We start with an inventory of all computers: which can move to Windows 11, which are better replaced and which applications need to be checked. For those that meet the requirements, we upgrade to the latest version of Windows 11 with applications, files and settings kept.

When a computer does not meet the requirements, we offer new or refurbished brand-name computers with a warranty and a Windows license and move the old installation to the new computer. We plan everything so the employee does not lose a working day. See computer support for business and managing company devices.

Frequently asked questions

Can the business keep using Windows 10?

Technically - yes, the computers keep working. But without security updates the risk grows every month, and over time support for the applications you use also stops.

Is antivirus enough?

No. Antivirus and EDR stop some attacks, but they do not fix the holes in the system itself. They are an extra layer of protection, not a substitute for updates.

Will we lose our applications and files in an upgrade?

When upgrading the same computer - usually not, the applications and files stay. Even so, a backup is always made first and the business applications are checked for compatibility.

Is a refurbished computer worth it?

Yes, if it is a business model from a well-known maker that has been checked, with a warranty and a Windows license. It is often sturdier than a new cheap computer and better value.

What are Extended Security Updates (ESU)?

A paid Microsoft program that gives Windows 10 computers security updates for up to three more years. The price rises every year, so it only makes sense as a temporary solution until the computer is replaced.

Do we have to replace all computers at once?

No. You usually start with the oldest and riskiest ones - those used for email, banking and important data - and continue to a schedule.

A real-world example: how a delayed migration led to a compromised server.

Let's talk about your needs, and we will propose the best solution and price.