THE END OF WINDOWS 10

Windows 10 Support Ends on 13 October: What Your Business Needs to Know

Next Tuesday, 13 October 2026, Windows 10 reaches the end of the road. If there's still a Windows 10 computer in your business, now is the time to sort out a plan.

What's actually happening:

Microsoft stopped regular support for Windows 10 in October 2025, but offered a one-year safety net called Extended Security Updates (ESU). That first year ends on 13 October 2026. Home users get no further extension. Businesses can pay to keep receiving updates for up to two more years, but the price goes up each year and the final cut-off is October 2028.

Will our computers stop working:

No. They'll start up as normal and your files and software will still be there. What stops is the monthly security fixes. Every month Microsoft patches newly discovered weaknesses, and once those fixes stop, every new weakness stays open on that machine for good. That's exactly what criminals and ransomware gangs look for.

Why it matters more for a business:

• Cyber Essentials. Software that no longer receives security updates is a problem for Cyber Essentials certification, and more insurers and customers are asking about it.
• Your insurance and contracts. An unsupported system can complicate a cyber insurance claim or a customer's supplier checks.
• The weakest link. One forgotten, unpatched PC is all an attacker needs to get onto your network and reach everything else.

Your options:

• Upgrade to Windows 11. If the PC is compatible, the upgrade is free. Windows 11 needs a reasonably modern processor and a security chip called TPM 2.0, so some older machines won't qualify.
• Replace the device. For PCs that can't run Windows 11, replacement is usually the right call, especially for anything five or more years old.
• Buy Extended Security Updates. This buys time for a planned refresh, but it's a stop-gap, not a strategy.
• Isolate what you can't replace. If specialist software or equipment is tied to Windows 10, keep those machines off the general network and away from the internet, with a firm plan to retire them.

A quick checklist:

1. List every Windows device you own, including laptops that live at home and the odd PC in the back office. The forgotten ones cause the trouble.
2. Check each one for Windows 11 compatibility.
3. Sort them into upgrade, replace, extend or isolate.
4. Budget for replacements now, before demand pushes up prices and lead times.
5. Start straight away. Upgrades always take longer than expected, and a planned project is cheaper than an emergency.

What about home computers:

The same date applies to home PCs, and the same advice holds. Check whether Windows 11 is on offer in Windows Update, and replace the machine if it isn't. If you use a personal computer for work, it counts as part of your business's risk. Whatever you do, back up your files first.

Watch out for scammers:

Deadlines like this bring out the scammers. If you get a pop-up, call or email saying your Windows has "expired" and offering to fix it for a fee, ignore it. Microsoft won't ring you out of the blue, and you should never give a stranger remote access to your computer.

Need a hand?

Whether it's a handful of PCs or a whole office, we'll check what you have and tell you plainly what needs doing. Get in touch with IT As A Service:

• Phone: 0118 9977300
• Email: info@it-aas.co.uk
• Contact form: https://www.it-aas.co.uk/#CTA

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