Preparing Your Business for Windows 10 End of Life

Understanding the Impact Windows 10 End of Life Has On Your Business

The countdown to the end of Windows 10 is on, with Microsoft set to cease support on 14 October 2025. As a business, it's crucial to comprehend what this means for your operations. The end of life for an operating system means that it will no longer receive security updates, patches, or technical support from Microsoft. This transition can have far-reaching impacts, particularly in terms of security and compliance, which are pivotal to maintaining robust business operations.

Operating on an unsupported system could expose your business to significant risks. Without regular updates, Windows 10 systems will become increasingly vulnerable to malware and cyber-attacks. It can also impact compliance with industry regulations, such as GDPR, which often requires the use of supported software. Continuing to use Windows 10 past its end of life could result in non-compliance, leading to potential fines and reputational damage.

Evaluating the Risks of Not Upgrading

Choosing not to transition from Windows 10 could jeopardise your business's security infrastructure, as one of the primary risks is system vulnerability. With new threats emerging every day, unsupported systems lack the essential updates needed to protect against these vulnerabilities, making them an attractive target for cyber criminals.

As cyber-attacks were responsible for 24% of downtime incidents for UK businesses in the last year, upgrading to Windows 11 will likely be a more cost-efficient option than dealing with the financial consequences of downtime.

On average, downtime could cost small businesses up to £334 per minute, so when you weigh up the cost of a new laptop or PC (lets say £1,000 on average) against just an hours' worth of downtime (approximately £20,040), that equates to the cost of 20 new laptops - so it's obvious that upgrading is the cheaper option in the long run. 

Alongside security updates, you also won't receive software updates, which are critical for business productivity. If your computer develops bugs or performance issues, these won't be fixed, and there will be no technical support on hand to resolve the problem either. 

It's important to remember that these all fall into compliance regulations, too. Many regulatory frameworks mandate the use of secure and supported systems to protect sensitive data. Non-compliance not only attracts penalties but also risks undermining trust with clients and partners. Additionally, operational disruptions may arise as newer software versions become incompatible with outdated systems. This could lead to inefficiencies, affecting productivity and service delivery, which could be an extra cost to your business. 

Exploring the Benefits of Transitioning to Windows 11

Upgrading to Windows 11 offers a multitude of benefits that can enhance your business's operational efficiency and security. Firstly, Windows 11 is designed with advanced security features that provide enhanced protection against malware and other cyber threats. This works as an extra layer of security, helping your IT team (whether in-house or outsourced) keep your business data secure and intact.

Windows 11 also introduces innovative tools such as Microsoft's generative AI tool, Copilot, which can significantly enhance productivity by providing intelligent assistance tailored to your needs. The operating system boasts a more consistent and appealing interface, offering an improved user experience with better included apps and a range of organisational tools that can streamline workflow and boost employee efficiency.

Steps to Seamless Migration: Preparing Your Devices

Preparing for migration to Windows 11 involves several critical steps to ensure a seamless transition. For businesses that outsource their IT department, this should all be managed end-to-end by your IT Support Company. If your IT is in-house, here are the steps we recommend you take:

Step One: Auditing your existing setup

Initially, conducting a comprehensive audit of your existing devices is essential. This audit will help determine which devices are compatible with Windows 11 and identify those that require replacement. This step is crucial for budgeting and scheduling the upgrade process efficiently.

Step Two: Planning the migration

Once the audit is complete, planning the migration timeline is the next step. It's important to schedule the upgrade in a way that minimises disruption to daily operations. At this stage, you can figure out which devices take priority to upgrade first, and plan the switch for each device from most urgent to least. This can also help to spread the cost if you've identified that you need to buy new laptops for a lot of your workforce.

Step Three: Backup your data

Before you complete the transition, ensure that all data is securely backed up, and plan for any necessary hardware replacements. A well-executed migration plan will help maintain business continuity and prevent unexpected downtime.

Step Four: Complete the switch

After the above steps, all that's left to do is complete the upgrade or replacement of your laptop. If you're opting to replace your device, we recommend getting your new devices set up first, to minimise disruption and seamlessly switch to the new one. 

Although these steps might make the transition seem simple, there's lots of extra things to think about during the process, and potential hurdles or errors that could crop up, if the switch isn't handled by an IT expert. Therefore, we recommend ensuring that if you don't have an IT team in place, that you reach out to one to manage the transition for you, so nothing goes awry during the process.

Maximising Security and Compliance Post-Upgrade

Post-upgrade, maintaining high levels of security and compliance is paramount. Windows 11 offers built-in features that support these goals. However, businesses should also implement ongoing security practices, such as regular system updates and employee training on cyber security best practices, to fortify their defences.

Additionally, revisiting compliance protocols is advisable to ensure they align with the capabilities of Windows 11. This includes updating any software that interacts with sensitive data and ensuring it meets regulatory standards. By staying proactive, businesses can maintain compliance and protect their reputation in the market.

How to Start the Process

If you outsource your IT Support, they should be able to manage the migration completely, relying on you only for your preferences to timelines, to help minimise disruption, and to work to your budget for the switch over.

For those of you that have your IT in-house, you can check if your devices are compatible for an upgrade by using Microsoft's PC Health Check Tool. From here, you need to ensure that your data is backed up before switching to new devices or upgrading the operating system.