Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025, stopping security updates, technical support, and new features for the operating system.

Following the end-of-life (EoL) date, Windows 10 users will need to consider their options for system security and continued operation, as Microsoft’s official support will cease.

Security and support challenges

James Maude, Field Chief Technology Officer at BeyondTrust, discussed the varied impact on organisations still relying on Windows 10. He observed significant differences in the way companies are approaching the transition.

“When it comes to Windows 10 end-of-life (EoL) we might find ourselves in a philosophical crisis and wrestling with the words of Sartre or Descartes trying to understand what end-of-life means for us. To some organisations, Windows 10 is already long dead as they have moved on to new hardware and Windows 11, making full use of TPMs and enhanced security. However, to other organisations Windows 10 is not only alive and well but shows no signs of retirement due to critical business dependencies on these systems.

This is reflected in Microsoft’s rapidly changing stance on Extended Support Updates which are normally a paid option to keep your operating system on life support with a paid subscription to security updates beyond the official end-of-life or support period. In the European Economic Area (EEA) this decision to require subscriptions and conditions to receive future security updates was challenged resulting in Microsoft now offering the Extended Security Updates for free until 2026. Unfortunately, it appears that this offer is specific to the EEA resulting in some challenges for more global organisations.

While some may be breathing a sigh of relief to receive another year of updates, they should use this time wisely to begin migrations. The Microsoft Vulnerabilities Report published annually by BeyondTrust shows that while the security posture of these operating systems including Windows 10 has improved significantly over the years, there are plenty of vulnerabilities still being uncovered, so a future of unpatchable systems is best avoided.”

Maude’s comments highlight the complexities faced by global enterprises, particularly those operating both within and outside the European Economic Area, where support arrangements differ.

Microsoft’s decision to grant an additional year of free extended security updates in the EEA only adds to the challenge for organisations managing multinational IT estates.

Hardware dependencies and obsolescence

Morey J. Haber, Chief Security Advisor at BeyondTrust, reflected on the broad impact of the upcoming end-of-support date, drawing parallels with previous major operating system transitions.

“This month we’ll see one of the most significant end-of-life (EoL) announcements since Windows XP. Microsoft plans to end-of-life Windows 10 (completely and for good-unless you are willing to pay for extended support). This means hundreds of millions of systems will lack the hardware requirements for Microsoft’s newest OS and be unable to upgrade to Windows 11. Those systems will become obsolete, and many will end up in landfill.

Much of the hardware we use today simply cannot be upgraded due to dependencies on hardware and software security features. Only new computers with both Secure Boot and TPM will be supported, and able to migrate to Windows 11-unless Microsoft chooses to remove these restrictions (highly unlikely, even though there are workarounds). Operating systems updates and security patches will cease to be generally available for these noncompliant systems, which, consequently, will become increasingly vulnerable over time.”

Haber’s remarks underscore broader environmental considerations, as obsolete computers that cannot be upgraded may contribute to electronic waste. He also noted that strict hardware requirements for Windows 11-such as Secure Boot and TPM-will leave many existing systems unsupported and at increased security risk without further updates.

Preparing for migration

With less than eighteen months before official support ends, organisations running Windows 10 now face critical decisions around migration planning, compliance with evolving regional policies, and the potential risks of running unsupported systems. Both Maude and Haber recommend making use of the remaining support period to develop transition strategies and address dependency on Windows 10 before vulnerabilities become unmanageable.