On 14 October 2025, Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10. While this might seem like just another routine technology milestone, the implications reach far beyond IT - affecting operations, security, compliance, and financial resilience.
The real question is no longer if an organisation should act, but how quickly and strategically it will respond.
⚠️ The Compounding Risks of Inaction
Running Windows 10 beyond its end-of-life introduces risks that intensify the longer systems remain in use:
🔴 Operational Risk – Outdated systems face compatibility issues with modern applications, cloud platforms, and vendor support. As these gaps widen, productivity falls, downtime rises, and IT resources are further burdened.
🔴 Security Risk – With no future patches, every new vulnerability becomes a permanent weakness. End-of-life systems are prime targets for attackers, often providing an entry point into the wider organisation.
🔴 Compliance Risk – Common security and compliance frameworks depend on ongoing vulnerability management. Unsupported platforms break this principle, exposing organisations to failed audits, regulatory scrutiny, and weakened stakeholder confidence.
🔴 Financial Risk – Emergency fixes, accelerated migrations, and incident response all carry heavy costs. Unsupported platforms may also raise cyber insurance premiums, restrict coverage, or complicate claims. A single incident can ripple into fines, reputational damage, and prolonged disruption.
🛠️ Managing the Transition: A Risk-Based Approach
Every Windows 10 device requires a deliberate, risk-informed decision. Typically, this falls into three strategies:
1️⃣ Avoidance (Upgrade & Replace) The most effective option—migrating devices to supported platforms such as Windows 11. This removes the risk entirely and positions the organisation for future readiness.
2️⃣ Acceptance (Document & Continuous Monitoring) In rare cases where legacy applications prevent migration, residual risk must be explicitly acknowledged. Acceptance means:
- Documenting the risk and rationale
- Monitoring the risk status regularly
- Applying compensating controls to reduce risk likelihood and/or impact (see next section)
3️⃣ Mitigation (Control & Contain) Where avoidance is not feasible, risk can be reduced (though not eliminated) through:
- Extended Security Updates (ESUs)
- Network segmentation to isolate these systems
- Security hardening and strict access controls
- Enhanced monitoring with Endpoint Detection and Response
💡 Note on Risk Transfer Some exposure can be transferred through cyber insurance or outsourced IT services. However, this does not address the underlying problems presented by end-of-life systems. Residual risks—such as reputational harm, regulatory scrutiny, and the ongoing presence of exploitable vulnerabilities—remain with the organisation.
✅ Immediate Priorities: A Risk-Informed Action Plan
To prepare with discipline and structure:
- Assemble a Cross-Functional Team – Engage all applicable functions such as IT, security, risk, compliance, finance, and operations.
- Conduct Comprehensive Asset Discovery – Build an accurate inventory of all Windows 10 endpoints, including shadow IT and operational technology.
- Perform a Business Impact Analysis – Classify devices by criticality, data sensitivity, and exposure.
- Assign a Disposition Strategy – For each device, decide whether it can be upgraded (avoidance) or if the risk will need to be accepted and mitigated.
- Execute a Prioritised Rollout – Address high-risk and mission-critical systems first to minimise disruption.
⏳ Why Acting Now Matters
The Windows 10 end-of-life is approaching rapidly. Addressing the risks early avoids last-minute disruption, reduces costs, and strengthens resilience.
Organisations that prepare proactively will maintain continuity, improve their security posture, and be better positioned for future technology shifts.
End of support isn’t just an IT deadline—it’s a business risk deadline.
If your organisation hasn’t yet finalised its Windows 10 exit strategy, now is the time. Engage stakeholders, assess your exposure, and act with intent.
