By Dr. Tim Sandle
June 23, 2025
DIGITAL JOURNAL
Photo courtesy of Windows on Unsplash
With the clock ticking down to 14th October 2025, several UK businesses face a critical decision: stick with Windows 10 and risk security, compliance, and mounting costs, or make the move to Windows 11 and future-proof their operations?
While a Windows 10 PC will still function after the date, it will be more susceptible to security breaches and performance issues without updates. For businesses and organizations, Microsoft may offer paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) for a limited time after the end-of-life date, but these are typically expensive and not a long-term solution.
Despite the urgency, over half (53%) of UK businesses are still running Windows 10, and many have yet to put a migration plan in place. The stakes are high: the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 found that around 50% of businesses suffered a cyber incident in the past year, and unsupported systems are a prime target.
Business technology provider FLR Spectron has explained to Digital Journal why it is important for firms to act now:
No more safety net:
After October, Microsoft will stop supplying security updates and bug fixes for Windows 10. That means every new vulnerability is an open door for hackers.
Without security updates, Windows 10 will become increasingly vulnerable to new malware, ransomware, and zero-day exploits. Older operating systems are prime targets for cyberattacks since attackers.
Compliance headaches:
Sticking with unsupported software could put you on the wrong side of GDPR and industry regulations, risking fines and reputational damage.
Mounting costs:
Extended security updates will cost at least £23 per device in year one, rising annually. For a 50-person company, that’s £1,150 just to stand still.
Productivity pitfalls:
Businesses that have switched to Windows 11 report up to 42% higher productivity, thanks to faster systems and smoother multitasking.
Compatibility crunch:
As software vendors focus on Windows 11, expect more headaches running the latest apps and hardware on Windows 10. As time passes, new software and hardware will be designed for Windows 11 and later versions, leaving Windows 10 users behind.
A strong return on investment:
Some UK organisations have already seen a 250% return on investment from moving to Windows 11, driven by fewer security incidents, lower IT costs, and improved efficiency.
The above represents the primary risks if a user ignores the Windows 10 deadline.
Photo courtesy of Windows on Unsplash
With the clock ticking down to 14th October 2025, several UK businesses face a critical decision: stick with Windows 10 and risk security, compliance, and mounting costs, or make the move to Windows 11 and future-proof their operations?
While a Windows 10 PC will still function after the date, it will be more susceptible to security breaches and performance issues without updates. For businesses and organizations, Microsoft may offer paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) for a limited time after the end-of-life date, but these are typically expensive and not a long-term solution.
Despite the urgency, over half (53%) of UK businesses are still running Windows 10, and many have yet to put a migration plan in place. The stakes are high: the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 found that around 50% of businesses suffered a cyber incident in the past year, and unsupported systems are a prime target.
Business technology provider FLR Spectron has explained to Digital Journal why it is important for firms to act now:
No more safety net:
After October, Microsoft will stop supplying security updates and bug fixes for Windows 10. That means every new vulnerability is an open door for hackers.
Without security updates, Windows 10 will become increasingly vulnerable to new malware, ransomware, and zero-day exploits. Older operating systems are prime targets for cyberattacks since attackers.
Compliance headaches:
Sticking with unsupported software could put you on the wrong side of GDPR and industry regulations, risking fines and reputational damage.
Mounting costs:
Extended security updates will cost at least £23 per device in year one, rising annually. For a 50-person company, that’s £1,150 just to stand still.
Productivity pitfalls:
Businesses that have switched to Windows 11 report up to 42% higher productivity, thanks to faster systems and smoother multitasking.
Compatibility crunch:
As software vendors focus on Windows 11, expect more headaches running the latest apps and hardware on Windows 10. As time passes, new software and hardware will be designed for Windows 11 and later versions, leaving Windows 10 users behind.
A strong return on investment:
Some UK organisations have already seen a 250% return on investment from moving to Windows 11, driven by fewer security incidents, lower IT costs, and improved efficiency.
The above represents the primary risks if a user ignores the Windows 10 deadline.
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