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.

‍

We Aren’t Miracle Workers (But We’re Pretty Darn Close)

For a fun little exercise, imagine you’ve just signed up for our managed IT services. Everything’s well and good, but then, something goes wrong with your computer. What gives? Aren’t we supposed to prevent issues from occurring in the first place? It’s easy to get discouraged when freak situations like this occur, but it’s important to highlight what proactive IT solutions can do, and more importantly, what they can’t do.

March 13, 2026

The 3 Legal Risks That Could Tank Your Business

It sounds like the perfect get-out-of-jail-free card: “I’m so sorry for that error, the AI wrote it!” Unfortunately, that excuse works about as well today as the dog ate my homework in third grade. While AI is an incredible tool, you are still the one holding the leash. If your AI makes a mess, you’re the one who has to clean it up.

March 11, 2026

The Landscape of Managed Services Has Shifted (Here’s What That Means for You)

As we push onward into 2026, it’s helpful to remember that the “good old days” are not necessarily as good as we remember them to be. When you would call your technology provider to deploy a patch or upgrade a system, you weren’t necessarily being “proactive”; you were being reactive without realizing it. In fact, managed service providers have evolved their model to reflect major disruptions in the tech industry.

Welcome to the First Column IT Tech Blog