Windows 10 End of Life: What it Means For You

Today (October 14th 2025) marks a significant milestone in the tech world: the official end of support for Windows 10. After nearly a decade of service, Microsoft are retiring support for the operating system and ceasing all free security updates, bug fixes and technical support.

What Does End of Life mean?

End of Life for an operating system means that Microsoft will no longer provide:

  • Security Updates for newly discovered vulnerabilities
  • Bug Fixes or performance improvements
  • Technical Support for issues relating to Windows 10

While devices running Windows 10 will continue to function, they will become increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats and compatibility issues as software vendors shift focus towards Windows 11 and newer platforms.

Extended Security Updates (ESU)

To help ease the transition, Microsoft are offering an Extended Security Updates program for devices for up to 3 additional years. This will not cover any Windows 10 technical support and this is a paid service to both businesses and consumers to provide critical security patches beyond the official end of life date.

Why This Matters for Cyber Security and Compliance

Unsupported operating systems pose a serious risk to your networks. The lack of security updates can:

  • Increase your exposure to malware and ransomware
    • Without regular security updates, Windows 10 will become a prime target for cyber criminals. New vulnerabilities that are discovered after October 14th will not be patched and will leave systems exposed.
  • Make you non compliant for security frameworks such as Cyber Essentials
    • Using unsupported software can jeopardise compliance for security frameworks. Most standards require you to maintain up to date systems and also run vendor-supported software.
  • Disrupt your operations due to software incompatibility
    • As vendors shift their focus to Windows 11 and newer platforms, compatibility issues will surface more and more with newer software no longer being supported or functioning on legacy systems.

What Should You Do Now?

If you are still running Windows 10 on your devices, now is the time to take action.

  • Audit your Device Inventory – identify any systems that are still running Windows 10 and make sure these are documented.
  • Evaluate upgrade paths – See if your devices can be upgraded to Windows 11. If they can’t be upgraded it’s time to consider a replacement.
  • Consider ESU Enrolment – If it is not feasible to upgrade your systems then consider enrolling your devices for the Extended Security Updates. This will ensure that you still receive critical security patches while you plan an upgrade to Windows 11.

Need a Hand?

We firmly believe that keeping ahead of the curve is best for business. If you’re looking for an IT Provider who will work with you to ensure your technology is working for your business, then get in touch today.

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