Windows 10 End of Life:
What it Means for Your Business
This page highlights the main points and recommendations regarding the end of life of Windows 10. For additional information regarding the upgrade processes, scheduling, cost, etc, please reach us by clicking the "Contact Us" tab below and filling out the contact form.
Windows 10, Microsoft's long-standing operating system, has officially reached its end of life (EOL). This critical milestone signifies the cessation of critical support from Microsoft, including:
Impact of Windows 10 EOL on Your Business
The consequences of continuing to use Windows 10 after its EOL are significant and far-reaching:
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Heightened Cybersecurity Risks: Operating without security updates leaves your systems extremely vulnerable to cyberattacks. This can lead to data breaches, system disruptions, and severe financial losses.
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System Instability and Crashes: Lack of updates can result in system instability, frequent crashes, and compatibility issues with newer hardware and software.
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Compliance Issues: Many industries have strict security and compliance regulations. Operating on an unsupported OS can lead to non-compliance and hefty fines.
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Disruption of Business Operations: Third-party application providers are discontinuing support for their applications running on Windows 10. This means your critical business applications may stop functioning correctly, leading to significant disruptions and productivity losses.
What you need to do now...
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Upgrade to Windows 11: Upgrading to Windows 11 is the most critical step to ensure the security, stability, and continued operation of your business systems.
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Assess Hardware Compatibility: Check if your existing hardware meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11.
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Verify Application Compatibility: Thoroughly check and review all of your business-critical applications with the application provider regarding Windows 11 to ensure seamless functionality.
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Plan a Phased Rollout: Implement a phased rollout plan to minimize disruption to your business operations during the upgrade process.
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Explore Alternative Options: While upgrading to Windows 11 is recommended, explore alternative options like:
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Extended Security Updates (ESU): For a limited time, you may be able to purchase ESU from Microsoft for continued security updates.
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Virtualization: Virtualize Windows 10 in a secure environment to isolate it from potential threats for legacy applications that may not be compatible with Windows 11. (Clients that have legacy applications will want to secure a replacement application at some point. Legacy applications may be business critical, but often times are out of compliance with industry security regulations. A replacement application should be vetted and implemented going forward.
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Windows 10 End Of Life presents a significant challenge to businesses. By proactively planning and executing a well-defined upgrade strategy, you can mitigate the risks associated with EOL, enhance your cybersecurity posture, and ensure the continued smooth operation of your critical business applications.