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With support for Windows 10 ending on 14 October 2025, businesses face a clear turning point. After that date, there will be no patches, no fixes, no protection. Your systems will keep running, but they’ll be exposed. The real risk isn’t always the latest ransomware strain or headline-grabbing breach. More often, it’s the everyday systems you rely on that quietly become unsafe once support stops.
That's exactly what cyber criminals are waiting for. In fact, a 2025 TechTarget survey found that 32% of all cyber attacks exploit unpatched software vulnerabilities, making outdated systems like Windows 10 after End of Life (EOL) a prime target. With support winding down due to Windows 10 EOL, three paths lie ahead, each with its own risks, rewards, and real impact on your day-to-day operations. As a Senior Solution Specialist at Babble, I've spent more than a decade guiding organisations through secure operating system transitions.
By the end of this article, you'll understand the risks and benefits of each route, and you'll have a clear guide to which option makes sense for your business.
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What this blog covers:
- Is Your Business Ready for Windows 10 EOL?
- Why This Decision Matters More Than You Think
- Purchasing New Devices
- Upgrading to Windows 11
- Extended Security Updates (ESU)
- Your Next Steps: Act Before the Clock Runs Out
Is Your Business Ready for Windows 10 EOL?
The hardest part about the end of support is that, at first, nothing looks different. Windows 10 will still start up, your files will still open, and work will carry on as normal. But behind the scenes, Microsoft will no longer release security updates or fixes.
Unsupported devices don't just create security gaps; they put your business at risk of non-compliance. Frameworks like Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, and GDPR all stipulate that outdated, unpatched systems are liabilities. That means failing to keep your systems updated is more than a technical necessity: it's a direct threat to your compliance, your contracts, and most importantly, your customer trust.
Before you decide on a path, ask yourself:
- Have you checked which of your devices are Windows 11-ready?
- Do you know which machines can't be upgraded and must be replaced?
- Have you scheduled your OS upgrades before October with a clear plan?
- If you're considering Extended Security updates (ESUs), do you really understand what they do and what they don't?
If your business is still running Windows 10, you have a decision to make and putting it off only raises your risk. This isn’t just an IT upgrade: it’s a strategic call about security, compliance, and operational resilience. And if any of your answers above was “no,” then the reality is you might not be ready.
Why This Decision Matters More Than You Think
When an operating system reaches the end of support, it's easy to underestimate the impact. After all, your devices still power on, your apps still open, and everyone is still able to crack on with their work as usual. But beneath the surface, everything changes. Without security patches, every new vulnerability becomes permanent, and attackers know this (they literally track Microsoft's support calendars).
According to Coretelligent, hackers often bide their time until end-of-life dates, waiting in the wings to exploit flaws only after the patches stop. This is a tactic known as "hook-and-attack." When Windows 7 support ended, it took attackers less than 24 hours to begin exploiting unpatched systems, and I can assure you that the same will happen again. Let's dive into the options you have to avoid the same fate (spoiler alert: doing nothing isn't one of them).
Option One: Purchase New Devices
If your current machines don't meet the requirements for Windows 11, replacement is the realistic path forward. Unsupported hardware is a cyber risk and a compliance red flag from day one.
Planning Tip: Start with an inventory. Which devices fail Windows 11's minimum requirements? Which are already unreliable? These go on your Replace list. Build a phased replacement plan so replacements are spread out, not last-minute. Replacement carries the highest upfront spend, but unlike ESUs, you're paying to move forward, resetting your estate for the next 3–5 years with faster, more secure devices.
Option Two: Upgrade to Windows 11
If your business has compatible hardware, upgrading is the fastest and most cost-effective way to restore protection and compliance. It closes the vulnerability gap without the disruption of a full refresh.
Planning Tip: Check each device against Windows 11's system requirements. If it passes comfortably, put it on the Upgrade list. Schedule upgrades in waves, test applications first, and communicate clearly with staff. Upgrading is a smart, low-disruption bridge. It creates breathing room to plan a structured refresh, but don't mistake the bridge for the destination.
Option Three: Extended Security Updates (ESU)
Microsoft's ESU programme is designed to buy time, nothing more. For a fee, you get critical security patches for Windows 10, one year at a time, for up to three years. It can be a lifeline if you’re working through budget cycles or sweating existing licences, but it isn’t a long-term fix.
To qualify, devices must already be on Windows 10 version 22H2, and enrolment comes through a paid subscription. What you get are security updates. But what you don’t get are new features, bug fixes, vendor support, or compliance reassurance. Costs rise each year, and you’re still on an OS that frameworks like Cyber Essentials or ISO 27001 flag as insecure. ESUs keep the lights on, but they don’t move you forward. Compared with upgrading or replacing, ESUs are the most expensive per-device path over time.
Planning Tip: If ESUs are unavoidable, isolate the devices that genuinely need them. Document an exit date for each. Build this into your migration timeline so your ESU footprint shrinks (and not grows) every quarter.
Your Next Steps: Act Before the Clock Runs Out
So, which path should you take? That depends on your devices and your timing. For some, it means replacing older machines. For others, it’s upgrading compatible hardware. In certain cases, ESUs can provide short-term cover while you finish your migration plans.
What’s not an option is doing nothing. Unsupported Windows 10 devices won’t just be outdated after 14 October 2025, they’ll be unprotected. Hackers know this, and history shows they move quickly. The longer you delay, the higher the cost and the greater the disruption.
The time to act is now. Businesses that planned early and move decisively will not only avoid risk but also come out stronger, with systems that are more secure and better prepared for the years ahead. The real danger isn’t in choosing between replacement, upgrade, or ESUs it’s in pretending you don’t have to choose at all.
