If your business is still running Windows 10, this one matters. As of October 14, 2025, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10. If you haven't acted yet, here's what it means and what to do about it.
What "end of support" actually means
End of support doesn't mean your Windows 10 computers stopped working overnight — they still turn on and run. What it means is that Microsoft no longer provides free security updates, bug fixes, feature updates, or technical support for Windows 10.
The critical part is security updates. Without them, any new vulnerability discovered in Windows 10 stays unpatched forever, and attackers actively target unsupported systems for exactly that reason. Over time, running Windows 10 becomes a growing security risk — and for businesses handling customer data, a compliance and liability concern too.
Your options
There are three realistic paths, in order of preference for most businesses:
1. Upgrade eligible PCs to Windows 11 (free)
If your computers meet the hardware requirements, upgrading to Windows 11 is free and keeps you fully supported. Many business machines from the last few years qualify. This is the ideal path where it's possible.
2. Replace older hardware
Some Windows 10 PCs don't meet Windows 11's requirements (particularly around a security chip called TPM 2.0). For those, the right move is usually to replace the hardware — which is often overdue anyway, since aging machines are slower, less reliable, and more expensive to maintain. As a Lenovo and Dell Technologies partner, we help businesses spec and deploy the right replacements without overspending.
3. Extended Security Updates (ESU) — a stopgap
Microsoft offers a paid Extended Security Updates program that provides critical security updates for Windows 10 (version 22H2) beyond end of support — for businesses, up to three years, through October 2027. ESU is a useful bridge if you need time to transition, but it's a temporary, paid stopgap, not a long-term answer. It provides security patches only — no new features and no technical support.
What we recommend
Don't panic, but don't ignore it either. The right approach for most Alberta businesses:
- Inventory your machines — which run Windows 10, and which can upgrade to Windows 11.
- Upgrade everything eligible to Windows 11.
- Plan replacements for machines that can't, on a sensible budget and timeline.
- Use ESU only as a bridge for anything that genuinely can't be handled right away.
Handled properly, this is a routine transition — not an emergency. Handled by ignoring it, it becomes a security incident waiting to happen.
The bottom line
Windows 10 is now unsupported. Running it indefinitely leaves your business increasingly exposed. The path forward is straightforward: upgrade what you can to Windows 11, replace what you can't, and use ESU only to buy time.
We handle the whole process — inventory, upgrades, hardware, and deployment — with as little disruption as possible. Book a free evaluation and we'll map out the smartest path for your machines.
Sources: Windows 10 support has ended — Microsoft Support and Extended Security Updates (ESU) program — Microsoft Learn.