Microsoft has dominated the desktop OS market for decades, and while not all versions of Windows have managed to achieve critical acclaim or universal adoption, there’s no doubting the power that this family of operating systems holds over businesses.
Windows 11 is the latest and greatest entry into this lineage, having launched back in 2021. Support from Microsoft is likely to continue until at least 2031, given the pattern followed in the past.
However, many millions of devices are still powered by its predecessor, Windows 10, which creates a bit of a conundrum for teams that are tied to this software as its end-of-life (EOL) deadline approaches.
So, if you’re facing this scenario in your own organization, what’s likely to happen when Windows 10 finally comes to the end of the road, and why does this matter?
The End of an Era
When we talk about EOL for an OS like Windows, there are a few things to understand about what this means in practice.
Windows 10 won’t simply stop working when the October 14, 2025 cut-off date rolls around. You’ll still be able to use any device that’s reliant on it without encountering issues with functionality or performance, at least in the short term.
When Microsoft EOLs an OS, it means the company is cutting ties in terms of providing technical support, new features, and security patches for the product in question, effectively leaving it mothballed at the point where support is discontinued.
As such, you need to be thorough as you prepare for Windows 10 EOL in the coming weeks, if you have not put plans in place already. But what about the repercussions of failing to take the necessary steps? Surely it can’t be that bad?
The Dangers of Dragging Your Feet
Ignore the EOL deadline for Windows 10, and you put your team and your entire organization at risk of a range of potential problems, some of which are minor inconveniences, while others are debilitatingly dangerous.
Here’s what’s at stake:
Functionality
The OS is the framework on which the entire experience of using a computing device is built. Suppose it falls into disrepair or stays frozen in time at a point of development that rapidly recedes into the past while the rest of the software and hardware market rushes forward. In that case, the normal functioning of the systems in question will cease. It might not happen all at once; a crash here, a strange bug or glitch there. However, without Microsoft’s technical support or patches, issues will continue to escalate as minor problems accumulate into insurmountable ones.
For your team, that means a significant hit to productivity, putting artificial roadblocks between them and their goals every working day.
Compatibility
Vendor support is tied to the expectation that you’ll be running the latest version of the operating system of your choice. While Windows 10 is officially under Microsoft’s care and receives updates, it’s financially sensible for third parties to also support it with their own patches and updates. Once the EOL deadline passes, this is no longer a viable option.
This exacerbates the aforementioned issues of functionality. The tools and solutions your team uses will either malfunction and perform suboptimally, or they will simply stop working altogether as soon as support ends. You may not be able to roll out new patches as they’re made available, and once again it’s productivity that takes the biggest hit.
For instance, if you’re using modern antivirus software, sticking with Windows 10 once Microsoft withdraws support might cause this lynchpin service to also stop working as intended, thus exposing you to all sorts of dangers whenever you go online. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Security
It’s hard to argue that the main reason to take note of the Windows 10 EOL deadline and move away from this OS before it arrives is security-focused. Microsoft implements security patches regularly and seamlessly across the software solutions it supports, because cybercriminals are always finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. Once this support ends, it’s open season on unprotected software.
The cost of cybercrime is expected to exceed $10 trillion for the first time this year, with individual businesses likely to face costs of several million dollars for even a single breach, in terms of recovery-related expenses, downtime and productivity problems, and reputational damage.
So while there will be costs involved in transitioning away from Windows 10, the price of failing to do so and leaving your team exposed to a world of cyber threats will be much, much higher.
Compliance
Wrapped up in all of the talking points we’ve covered so far is the issue of compliance, which is a must for any modern organization and holds particular weight in heavily regulated industries like finance and healthcare. Even companies that serve organizations in these spheres must go above and beyond to adhere to the rules that are in place, particularly when it comes to data protection and business continuity.
Allowing Windows 10 to linger on mission-critical systems beyond the EOL deadline leaves you at the mercy of regulators. Repercussions range from fines to direct intervention and even the potential for more serious charges, in the most extreme cases. Regardless, if you want to comply with the increasingly strict requirements placed upon IT resources, you must make the leap to an OS that is still supported. Using risk management software is a good way to pinpoint this and any other vulnerabilities your organization is exposed to.
Data Access
Last but not least, it’s worth discussing the importance of continuity in data access and how it can be compromised if you don’t provide your team with an up-to-date OS.
Data created and stored on devices and in-house hardware that still runs Windows 10 may not be as available and compatible once October 14th, 2025 arrives. If you have any ongoing projects or mission-critical information stored in this context, there’s no guarantee that it will be available as expected.
Making Preparations
The full details of what it takes to prepare your team for Windows 10 EOL and the transition to Windows 11 cannot be covered in the scope of this article, although there are a few points to make which will guide you towards a suitable strategy for achieving this.
Think about:
- How you’ll budget for making the transition, because there will be costs incurred, even if they’re justified
- How you’ll train team members on the use of any new systems and software that you adopt as a result of moving on from Windows 10
- How you’ll complete this work by the deadline, and what risks you’ll face if you have no choice but to set your own transition date after Microsoft’s support comes to an end
The Last Word
In short, Windows 10 EOL is not the end of the world for teams, and is actually an opportunity to move on to bigger and better software solutions which are more powerful and efficient than ever.
Failing to move on leaves you at risk of security breaches, compliance issues, productivity problems, and a litany of other undesirable outcomes. To avoid these issues, start preparing today and you’ll sidestep them once support for Windows 10 concludes.
