Windows 10 Is On Its Way Out. Are You Ready?

August 4, 2025

On October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will officially reach its end of support. This means that millions of users around the world will have to make a decision: upgrade to Windows 11, or continue without support. What does this end of support mean, and how should your business prepare?

What Actually Happens On the End of Support Date

Once we reach the end of support date, you can expect the following:

No more free security updates: You won’t be protected against new and emerging vulnerabilities discovered in Windows 10. They’ll go unpatched, leaving you susceptible, even more so over time.
No more non-security updates: Your systems will grow less reliable and get slower, as you’ll no longer be receiving bug fixes, performance improvements, and general stability updates.
No more technical assistance: Microsoft will no longer offer technical support for Windows 10 issues.

Your Computer Should Still Work

Despite the operational challenges, Windows 10 should still work, albeit in the form of an unsupported operating system. These operating systems are dangerous to use, especially when connected to the Internet. Here are some of the risks that you’ll have to manage:

Security vulnerabilities that target unpatched weaknesses
Software incompatibility as Windows 10 slowly phases out of developers’ purview
Performance degradation as bug fixes and other optimizations are phased out
Compliance issues for businesses that handle sensitive data (which is most of them)

Your Options

That’s not to say you don’t have options, though; here are some of the paths forward you can take:

Upgrade to Windows 11: This is the recommended option, and it’s easy enough if your hardware meets the specs required. Windows 11 offers enhanced security, a new user interface, new features like Copilot, and continued support for the coming years.
Check to see if you can upgrade: Click on Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update. Microsoft also offers a PC Health Check App to assess your system. We can also help evaluate all of the devices on your network to make sure they are ready to go.
Purchase a new PC: If your older device can’t handle Windows 11, you can purchase a new computer that is compatible with it. Modern PCs will come pre-installed with Windows 11.
Extended Security Updates Program: Microsoft is offering its ESU program for individual customers, even if you’re not running a business. It provides security updates for three years, although it’s not a viable long-term solution, as it doesn’t include new features or bug fixes.
Continue using Windows 10: This one isn’t really an option—not if you want to protect your devices, anyway. You’ll be at risk if you choose this path, and you’ll need to be careful about pretty much everything you’re doing on this device. Many applications might stop working altogether, including Microsoft’s Office applications, so we don’t recommend this path.

Start Planning Today

There isn’t much time left, so make sure you do what you can to be ready for this end-of-support date. We recommend upgrading away from Windows 10, but if you need help formulating a plan, you can count on First Column IT to help. Learn more by calling us today at (571) 470-5594.

‍

What is the Apple Mercenary Attack, and Why Should You Care?

Apple rarely sends out alerts about threats, and that is because threats that target Apple devices are somewhat rare in the first place. However, on April 10, 2024, Apple saw fit to send one to certain users in 92 nations by email. These notifications were “designed to inform and assist users who may have been individually targeted by mercenary spyware attacks.” What does this mean, exactly?

April 22, 2024

Endpoint Detection is Critical for Your Organization’s Security

In today’s world of perpetual security breaches and cyberattacks, it’s no surprise that the greatest response to such threats is to actively prevent them from harming your organization in the first place. One key tool in this effort is an endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution. With endpoint protection on your business’ side, you can leverage a robust and powerful security solution to handle a significant portion of your network security.

April 19, 2024

Tip of the Week: 3 Easy Methods to Police Your IT Infrastructure Policies

How clearly outlined are your IT-related policies and procedures in the workplace? It is difficult at best to manage these expectations alongside your employees, but it’s a necessary task all the same. Today, we want to help your organization walk the fine line between protecting your assets, data, and reputation, and granting your employees permissions to do what they must on your network infrastructure.

Welcome to the First Column IT Tech Blog