Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025.

If your business is still running it — and plenty of Laurel and Pine Belt offices still are — those computers are not getting security updates anymore.

Everything still turns on and works like normal. That comfort is exactly why it’s easy to postpone. The longer you stay on Windows 10, the more unpatched flaws pile up that nobody is going to fix.

You have three options: upgrade eligible PCs to Windows 11 (usually free), buy Extended Security Updates as a short-term bridge, or replace machines too old to upgrade.

What “end of support” means

When Microsoft ends support for a Windows version, the updates stop — including the monthly security patches that fix newly found flaws.

Microsoft has confirmed that since October 14, 2025, Windows 10 receives no more security fixes, quality updates, feature updates, or technical support.

Your PCs don’t shut off the day support ends. What’s different now is that Microsoft has stopped fixing Windows 10’s security flaws. Attackers and researchers keep finding new ones, and those holes stay open.

Why this is a real risk for your business

This is about more than a slow computer:

  • They’re an easier target. Attackers hunt for unsupported software because they know the flaws will sit there. Unsupported products stay exploitable — often by fairly low-skilled attackers.
  • Compliance gets harder. If you handle card payments, health records, or personal data, frameworks like PCI DSS and HIPAA expect supported, patched software. Windows 10 no longer counts as supported.
  • Cyber insurance cares. Insurers increasingly ask whether systems are supported and patched. Running an unsupported OS can raise premiums, shrink coverage, or give a carrier an argument after a claim.
  • Other software drops it. Browsers, accounting tools, and line-of-business apps eventually stop supporting Windows 10 — so everyday apps stop updating or stop working.

CISA lists running supported, updated software among its baseline cybersecurity steps for businesses.

Your three options

Most businesses mix these across their fleet.

1. Upgrade to Windows 11 (free, if the hardware qualifies)

If you bought the PC in the last few years, upgrading to Windows 11 is usually free — and the right move. The catch is hardware: Windows 11 needs a supported processor, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot, which rules out many older machines.

To check a specific PC, run Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app (or have your IT provider inventory the fleet).

2. Buy Extended Security Updates as a bridge

If a PC can’t move to Windows 11 yet, Microsoft sells Extended Security Updates (ESU) so security patches keep coming for a limited time.

For businesses, Microsoft’s published ESU pricing has been about $61 per device for the first year, doubling each year for up to three years — roughly $427 per device if you stay on ESU the whole period. Consumer/home ESU terms are different (a lower one-time option and, for some, a free path tied to settings sync through October 12, 2027).

ESU gives you security patches only — no new features, no full tech support. It’s meant to buy time while you upgrade or replace.

3. Replace the PC

Some machines are too old for Windows 11 and not worth escalating ESU fees year after year. A new Windows 11 PC often costs less than stacking ESU on aging hardware that also needs more repair time.

How to plan the move

You don’t have to refresh every desk in one weekend — but you do need a plan:

1. List every computer still on Windows 10.

2. Check which ones can move to Windows 11 (PC Health Check or your MSP).

3. Upgrade the ones that qualify — free, and files/programs usually stay in place.

4. For the rest, choose ESU as a bridge or replacement based on age and job role.

West Computers can run that inventory quickly for Laurel, Hattiesburg, Meridian, and Waynesboro offices and tell you the best option per machine — including which ones are burning money on delay.

Frequently asked questions

Is Windows 10 still safe to use after October 2025?
It still works, but it no longer gets security updates. Risk rises as new flaws are found and left unpatched. If you must keep it briefly, enroll in ESU and set a hard date to leave Windows 10.

What happens if I keep using Windows 10 and do nothing?
PCs keep running, but they become easier targets, can create compliance and cyber-insurance problems, and eventually lose app support.

How much does Windows 10 ESU cost for a business?
Microsoft’s business ESU path has been priced at about $61 per device in year one, doubling annually for up to three years (~$427 total per device if you use all three years). Confirm current pricing with Microsoft or your licensing partner before you budget.

Can my PC upgrade to Windows 11 for free?
If it meets hardware requirements (supported CPU, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot), yes. PC Health Check will tell you; machines from the last few years usually qualify.

Should I just buy a new computer?
If a PC can’t run Windows 11, a new one is often cheaper than years of ESU plus aging hardware. If it can upgrade, start with the free Windows 11 upgrade.

Article adapted with permission from The Technology Press.