The End of Windows 10 Support: What’s Happening, Why It’s Important, and What to Do Next

Windows 10 is one of the most used and popular Microsoft operating systems ever, but support for this operating system will end on October 14, 2025. It may seem strange to retire such a popular operating system, but Windows 10 was released to the mass market on July 29, 2015. It will turn 10 years old next year—an eternity in IT time! 

Most software vendors sunset specific versions of their software for a variety of reasons: 

• Resource allocation: Vendors tend to allocate most of their resources toward developing and supporting newer technologies.
• Innovation: Newer operating system versions allow for better implementation of new features, improved performance, and enhanced security.
• Market demand: Shifts in market demand and technology trends push vendors to phase out older systems in favor of current and future innovations. 

That’s what’s happening with Windows 10. As a result, Microsoft is encouraging users and organizations to transition to Windows 11. 

Why Should I Care If Windows 10 Support Ends? 

You might think, “Why should I care if Windows 10 support ends? As long as they don’t shut it off, I should be fine.” 

Think of Windows 10 like having a 10-year-old car. You’re told that after October 14, 2025, no mechanic or car technician can provide maintenance or repairs on it anymore. 

True, you can get by for a while by doing your own basic maintenance, such as oil changes. But let’s say you can no longer replace the tires, brakes, or car battery. It’s only a matter of time before the car wears down, introduces significant safety risks, and one day just stops working. 

That’s how your life with Windows 10 will feel after October 14, 2025. While it would be nice to continue using Windows 10 past its expiration date and avoid the disruption of a large-scale upgrade to Windows 11, some severe problems will occur. 

1. Microsoft will no longer provide security patches, opening you up to ransomware, malware, and cyberattackers from around the world. 

End-of-life Windows operating systems become a ripe, ongoing opportunity for cyberattackers who relentlessly target its vulnerabilities with ransomware, malware, and other exploitations. 

The most famous example was the WannaCry ransomware unleashed in May 2017 that ended up impacting 300,000 servers and computers around the world. Most of these devices used end of life Windows software. You will be in a similar situation with Windows 10 after October 2025. 

2. Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 functionality, opening the door to a wave of frozen, crashed, and slow computers. 

A lack of Windows 10 support doesn’t mean just losing security patches. Microsoft will also no longer fix bugs and reliability issues—the kinds of issues where, if not patched, lead to server crashes, freezes, and failures. And the problem will only get worse over time. When more things break, you will lose more time. 

Of course, while your IT staff or vendor can still troubleshoot when issues arise, you will be out of luck if something requires Microsoft’s intervention. The older an operating system gets, the more issues it will have. It’s inevitable that one of those issues will be its final demise because there’s no more manufacturer support. 

If you wait until things literally break, then you will need to suddenly and unexpectedly replace software and possibly hardware and applications—in an unplanned, unbudgeted, and unpredictable fashion. 

3. You could be out of compliance and experience substantial fines. 

Many regulations and standards require the use of supported software to ensure data protection and cybersecurity. These include: 

• HIPAA: For healthcare organizations, HIPAA requires the safeguarding of patient data. Using Windows 10 past its support date can lead to non-compliance and hefty fines. 
• GDPR: For organizations handling EU citizen data, GDPR mandates data protection measures that Windows 10 will not be able to provide. 
• PCI DSS: For organizations handling credit card transactions, PCI DSS requires maintaining a secure network. Using an unsupported Windows 10 compromises this network. 

Various other standards and regulations in different industries also mandate the use of supported software. Non-compliance with industry regulations can result in substantial fines and legal action. 

4. If a cyber incident happens and you need to file a claim, your cyber insurer could deny your claim. 

If a cyber incident occurs and it is determined that the use of Windows 10 past its support date contributed to the breach, your insurer may reject your claim on the grounds of not adhering to required security protocols. Insurers expect policyholders to take reasonable steps to mitigate risks. Continuing to use Windows 10, despite known vulnerabilities, may be seen as a failure to mitigate risks, leading to claim rejection. 

5. You may not be able to use new applications, as they won’t be compatible with Windows 10. 

Thinking about getting a new application to help your organization? You may not be able to use it. 

Software manufacturers stop writing new features for older operating systems. When you want to upgrade a software application but it’s incompatible with Windows 10, you are held back. 

OK, I’m convinced I need to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11! What do I do next? 

Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 involves several steps to ensure a smooth transition. Next steps include: 

• Assessing your system requirements: Ensure your devices meet the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. If a device meets certain specifications (such as an i5 Processor, 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD Drive, etc), then you can upgrade the device. If your device does not meet the required specifications, then you must replace the device with one capable of running Windows 11. 
• Checking software and hardware compatibility: Verify that all your critical software and hardware is compatible with Windows 11. If not, you may need to upgrade or replace specific hardware and software. 
• Planning your upgrade process: There are several steps in this process to ensure you get upgraded correctly. 
  
  • Designing and scoping the project (and in rare cases working with application vendors). 
  • Procuring hardware (if needed)—it’s taking 2-3 weeks for hardware to come in these days because of inventory shortages and supply chain issues. (This timeframe will likely increase as the end-of-life date grows closer.) 
  • Installing the latest version of Windows 11. 
  • Testing, rollout, and training. 

Questions about end of support for Windows 10 and its implications on your organization? Reach out to VC3 today.