It’s official; Windows 10 is no longer supported by Microsoft. It was an incredibly popular operating system, which might give you a certain level of hesitation to move on and upgrade to Windows 11, but we want to urge you to do so now rather than later. Let’s take a look at your options and which one is best for your business.

What Should I Do?

The important thing to know right now is that you have options, some of which are better than others. Let’s go over our recommendations in order of preference.

Upgrade to Windows 11

If you meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11, the best path forward is for you to upgrade to the new operating system. Windows 11 offers enhanced security, a streamlined user interface, and new features like Copilot that are unavailable on Windows 10. Most important of all, however, is that it will continue receiving updates for years to come.

• How to check for compatibility and upgrade your system: You can check for Windows 11 compatibility and start the upgrade through Windows Update. Click on Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update. Microsoft also offers a PC Health Check App to assess your system. If you need further assistance, we can help you as well.

Purchase a New Computer

Most older PCs probably don’t meet Windows 11’s strict hardware requirements, so there’s a good chance you’ll have to upgrade your computer. Modern PCs come with Windows 11 preinstalled and are generally going to perform better than a PC from, say, five years ago.

Purchase Extended Security Updates

For users who can’t afford to upgrade to Windows 11, Microsoft is offering an extended security update program. Notably, this service was restricted to commercial users, but this is no longer the case; individual users can take advantage of it now, too. This paid program gives you three years of critical and important security updates for Windows 10. This buys you time to find a long-term solution, but it’s far from ideal, as new features and bug fixes are not included.

Keep Using Windows 10

This isn’t really a solution, as there are security risks associated with using Windows 10 that you absolutely don’t want to deal with. You’ll have to be careful with your online habits, use third-party security solutions, and operate at your own risk. Many applications might even lose functionality or stop working the way they’re supposed to due to no longer being supported on Windows 10, so again, you don’t want to go this route if you don’t have to.

If your computer is still using Windows 10, you need to take action now, whether that’s upgrading to Windows 11 or signing up for extended support. If you need further assistance with this, be sure to call First Column IT at (571) 470-5594.

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