Heads-up from me: Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Your PCs won’t suddenly stop working on that date, but they will stop getting security patches and feature updates from Microsoft. That’s the real risk. Microsoft SupportMicrosoft
Why this matters to local businesses
- Security – No security updates means growing exposure to new threats over time. That’s not a scare tactic; it’s just how the threat landscape works once an OS stops getting patches. Microsoft Support
- Software compatibility – As vendors target newer platforms, some apps will get buggy or stop supporting Windows 10 altogether. (Microsoft 365 apps end mainstream support on Windows 10 at the same time.) Microsoft Support
- Compliance – If you deal with regulated data, running an unsupported OS invites audit findings and liability.
Your options (plain and simple)
- Upgrade to Windows 11 (if the PC qualifies). Many machines do, and the upgrade is free for eligible Windows 10 devices. We can check eligibility and handle the upgrade for you. Microsoft Support
- Replace older PCs that don’t meet Windows 11 requirements. In a lot of cases, this is the most economical long-term move.
- Use Extended Security Updates (ESU) as a temporary bridge. Microsoft offers a consumer ESU for Windows 10 that keeps security updates coming through October 13, 2026. It’s $30 per device for one year, and Microsoft also lists additional enrollment paths like redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or a no-additional-cost path tied to syncing your settings/apps with your Microsoft account (you’ll see these options in the ESU enrollment tool in Settings). ESU is security-only—no features, no general tech support—and it’s meant to buy time, not to avoid upgrading. Microsoft SupportMicrosoft Learn
Note: You don’t have to enroll before Oct 14 to qualify—Microsoft says you can enroll after, but enrolling earlier gives you the full coverage window. Microsoft Support
- Switch to Linux (select use cases). It can work for specific workloads, but it’s a case-by-case conversation.
No matter what you choose, back up first. We’ll make sure data is safe (cloud + local) before any upgrade or replacement.
My recommended game plan
- This week: We’ll inventory your Windows 10 machines and check Windows 11 eligibility.
- By September/early October: For PCs that can upgrade, we’ll schedule it. For the rest, we’ll decide: replace now or use ESU as a short-term bridge.
- By October 14, 2025: If you’re staying on Windows 10 temporarily, we’ll enroll those devices in ESU so they continue receiving security updates. (Again, ESU runs through Oct 13, 2026.) Microsoft Support
Want me to handle it?
If you want this done with minimal disruption, my team will map it out, do the backups, upgrades, enrollments, and replacements—whatever your situation needs—so your business stays protected.
Schedule a time with me for a quick 15-minute discovery call. I’ll give you a straight answer on what to do with each PC and the fastest path to get compliant and secure.