Microsoft has ended mainstream support for Windows 10. Machines still running it keep working exactly as they did the day before - which is precisely the problem. No more security patches means every vulnerability discovered from here on stays open, permanently, on every device that hasn't moved on.
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What "End of Support" Actually Means
End of support doesn't mean Windows 10 stops working. Computers keep booting, applications keep running, nothing visibly changes. What stops is the flow of security updates. When a new vulnerability is found in Windows 10 from now on, Microsoft won't be releasing a fix for it through standard channels - leaving an open door that simply never gets closed.
This matters more for businesses than home users. A home PC with an unpatched flaw is one person's problem. A business network with several unpatched Windows 10 machines is a foothold an attacker can use to move sideways into everything else connected to it.
Why This Is More Urgent Than a Normal Upgrade Cycle
- Compliance and insurance exposure - cyber insurance applications and security questionnaires increasingly ask whether all systems are on a supported, patched operating system. Running an unsupported OS can affect cover or even invalidate a claim.
- Attackers actively target known unsupported software - once an OS stops receiving patches, it becomes a known, static target rather than a moving one. Exploits for it don't need to keep up with monthly updates.
- It's not a problem you can "wait and see" on - unlike a feature update you can defer, there's no patch coming later to close gaps found after the cutoff.
Your Windows 10 End of Support Checklist
- Audit what's still running Windows 10 - including devices that aren't obviously "computers" - point-of-sale terminals, reception PCs, meeting room systems, and anything in a back office that gets forgotten.
- Check hardware compatibility with Windows 11 - Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements (TPM 2.0, supported CPU generations). Some otherwise-fine machines simply can't be upgraded in place.
- Decide: upgrade in place, or replace - compatible hardware can often be upgraded for the cost of time alone. Incompatible hardware needs replacing, which is a budget decision worth planning rather than rushing.
- Check line-of-business software compatibility - older industry-specific software can sometimes have issues on Windows 11; test before a full rollout, not during it.
- Plan a staged rollout - rather than switching every machine over a single weekend, a staged approach catches compatibility issues on a few machines before they affect everyone.
- If you genuinely can't migrate everything immediately - isolate remaining Windows 10 devices on a separate network segment with tighter restrictions while the migration finishes, rather than leaving them with full network access indefinitely.
What Not to Do
Continuing to run unsupported Windows 10 machines on your main network "because they still work fine" is the option that causes the most damage later. It's the kind of risk that sits quietly for months until it's the reason an incident spread further than it should have.
Where to Start
If you're not sure how many devices in your business are still on Windows 10, that's the first thing to find out - and a free IT health check covers exactly this kind of inventory as part of a broader review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Windows 10 computer just stop working now?
No, it will keep booting and running applications exactly as it did before. What's changed is that Microsoft is no longer releasing security patches through standard channels, so any vulnerability discovered from now on stays open permanently on that machine rather than getting fixed.
Can we just keep using Windows 10 if it still works fine for us?
You can, but it's a growing risk rather than a stable choice, since unsupported software becomes a known, static target for attackers rather than a moving one. If some machines genuinely can't move across straight away, isolating them on a separate network segment with tighter restrictions is a safer stopgap than leaving them with full network access indefinitely.
Does every Windows 10 device need replacing, or can some be upgraded?
It depends on the hardware. Windows 11 has stricter requirements, including TPM 2.0 and supported CPU generations, so some otherwise fine machines can be upgraded in place for the cost of time alone, while others simply aren't compatible and need replacing. Running Microsoft's compatibility check on each device is the quickest way to find out which is which.
Could running Windows 10 affect our cyber insurance?
It's worth checking your policy and any renewal questionnaire directly, since insurers are increasingly asking whether all systems run a supported, patched operating system, and running an unsupported OS could affect cover. Rather than assume either way, it's safer to confirm your specific obligations with your insurer or broker.
We help Perth businesses plan and roll out Windows 11 migrations - hardware checks, staged rollouts, and software compatibility testing included.
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