Windows 10 End of Life: Security, Compliance Risks & What to Do Next

Windows 10 officially reached its end of life on October 14, 2025. That means Microsoft no longer provides security patches, feature updates or technical support.

For businesses still running Windows 10, this creates a growing security and compliance risk. Systems may continue to operate normally, but every newly discovered vulnerability now goes unpatched—exposing data, users and operations to avoidable threats.

Many organizations delay upgrading due to legacy applications or hardware dependencies. That hesitation is understandable. But history shows that unsupported systems quickly become targets once protections are removed.

This guide explains what Windows 10 end of life means for your business and the practical steps leaders should take to manage risk and plan a secure transition.

Why End-of-Life Operating Systems Create Real Risk

Operating systems, like all software, have a defined support lifecycle during which the developer provides updates, including security patches and feature enhancements. Once an OS reaches its end of support, these updates cease, leading to potentially severe consequences.

• Increased Vulnerability to Cyber Attacks: Without regular security patches, known vulnerabilities remain unaddressed, making systems prime targets for cybercriminals. Unsupported OSs are more susceptible to malware, ransomware and other malicious attacks.
• Compliance and Legal Issues: Many industries are governed by strict data protection regulations requiring the use of supported and secure software. Utilizing an unsupported OS can lead to non-compliance, resulting in legal penalties and loss of business reputation.
• Software Compatibility Problems: As software vendors update their applications, they optimize them for supported OSs. This can lead to compatibility issues with outdated systems, causing operational disruptions and inefficiencies.

Lessons From Windows 7 and Other Unsupported Operating Systems

If you haven’t made the switch to Windows 11, you have plenty of company. Many hesitate to upgrade to a new operating system because not only do they feel comfortable with the way their computer runs, legacy software and hardware systems often rely on the old OS. It’s why you find warnings in 2025 about vulnerabilities found in Windows 7, which hit its end of life in January 2020 while Microsoft’s paid extended security updates for the OS ended in 2023.

The warnings are there for a good reason, too. Threat actors targeted devices using the unsupported operating system to launch cyberattacks, including an attack on a water treatment plant and a ransomware-based data breach.

Can You Keep Using Windows 10 After End of Life?

Yes, but only with added risk and limited protection.

Organizations that purchased Extended Security Updates (ESU) can receive critical patches through October 13, 2026. This reduces immediate exposure but does not restore full support.

Keep in mind that ESU does not include feature updates, compatibility improvements or long-term stability. It should be treated as a short planning window, not a permanent solution.

Extended Security Updates vs. Upgrades: What Actually Protects You Now

Updates and upgrades solve different problems—and that difference matters now.

Updates address issues within a supported system. Upgrades move the business to a platform that is actively secured and maintained. Once Windows 10 reached end of life, updates alone stopped providing meaningful protection.

Extended Security Updates may temporarily reduce risk, but they are limited and expire. Upgrading to a supported operating system, such as Windows 11, is the only way to fully restore security coverage, maintain compliance and ensure long-term stability.

Watch: What Windows 10 End of Life Means for Your Business

Prefer a concise, non-technical overview?

This short video explains why Windows 10 end of life matters to business leaders and what steps organizations should be thinking about now.

Compliance and Governance Risks of Unsupported Systems

Once Windows 10 reaches end of life, responsibility shifts entirely to the organization.

Unsupported systems place sensitive data, regulatory compliance and business continuity at risk. Many industry and government frameworks require the use of supported, secure software. Falling out of compliance can result in fines, audit findings or insurance challenges.

Building Governance Around End-of-Life Technology

Almost all government and industry regulatory frameworks require the use of software with supported, secure systems. Having a governance risk compliance (GRC) system in place will help you create a plan to ensure compliance continuity in end-of-life situations. With or without a GRC system, organizations must take steps toward the following:

• Asset management that locates and tracks all data, applications and access privileges across the network
• Risk and vulnerability management that will identify potential security gaps before end-of-life
• Continuous monitoring to alert potential threats when moving between the old and new system
• Business continuity through the changes

The Challenge of Legacy Systems

Legacy systems are often the biggest barrier to upgrading. Older applications and hardware may depend on outdated operating systems. In many cases, the legacy system itself is also approaching—or past—end of life.

Managing this transition requires a phased approach that balances security, continuity and operational reality:

• Step 1: Inventory data and applications – Inventory all data and applications used in the legacy systems and document the role of the legacy system in overall business operations.
• Step 2: Evaluate legacy system risks – Is it also at end of life?
• Step 3: Migrate where possible – Migrate data and applications to newer and more secure systems.
• Step 4: Isolate legacy systems from any end-of-life software.  

Note: Addressing legacy systems early allows organizations to reduce risk without disrupting critical operations.

What Businesses Should Do Now

Windows 10 end of life does not require an immediate overhaul—but it does require clear decisions. Organizations that act early gain flexibility. Those that wait face tighter timelines, higher costs and greater risk.

1.     Assess Your Current Environment

Start by understanding exactly where Windows 10 exists in your organization. Many businesses are surprised by how many devices, applications or workflows still depend on an aging operating system.

Take inventory of:

• All desktops, laptops, and virtual machines running Windows 10
• Applications that may rely on the operating system, including line-of-business and legacy software
• Hardware compatibility with Windows 11
• User roles and access levels tied to those systems

This baseline gives you visibility into scope, risk and urgency.

2.     Plan for a Phased Transition

Upgrading doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. A phased approach allows businesses to prioritize high-risk systems while planning upgrades around operational and budget realities.

As part of your transition plan:

• Identify which devices can be upgraded to Windows 11 and which require replacement
• Confirm software compatibility before making changes
• Build a realistic timeline that minimizes downtime
• Budget for hardware, licensing and implementation support

For organizations using Extended Security Updates, this planning should happen well before the ESU expiration to avoid compressed timelines and rushed decisions.

3.     Reduce Risk During the Transition

Even with a plan in place, risk doesn’t disappear overnight. Systems running Windows 10 during the transition period require additional safeguards to limit exposure.

Risk-reduction steps may include:

• Enhanced monitoring and alerting for suspicious activity
• Limiting access to unsupported systems where possible
• Isolating legacy systems that cannot yet be upgraded
• Strengthening backup and recovery processes

These measures help protect your business while upgrades are underway and ensure continuity if issues arise.

How Fairdinkum Supports Secure OS Transitions

Navigating the complexities of OS transitions can be challenging. As a Managed Service Provider (MSP), Fairdinkum offers comprehensive services to ensure a smooth and efficient upgrade process:

• Strategic IT Consulting: Our experts assess your current infrastructure and provide tailored recommendations that align with your business goals and budget.
• Hardware and Software Procurement: We assist in selecting and acquiring the right hardware and software solutions that meet your operational needs.
• Seamless Deployment and Migration: Our team ensures minimal disruption to your business by efficiently managing the installation and migration processes.
• Ongoing Support and Maintenance: Post-transition, we offer continuous support to address any issues and keep your systems running optimally.

Conclusion

Windows 10 end of life is not just a technical milestone—it is a leadership decision point. Unsupported systems increase security exposure, complicate compliance and limit long-term stability. Organizations that plan ahead can reduce risk while maintaining operational continuity.

End-of-life events will continue across software and hardware platforms. Businesses that treat them as part of ongoing lifecycle planning are better positioned to remain secure, compliant, and resilient.

If you’re unsure where your environment stands, Fairdinkum can help assess your systems and build a practical path forward—before unsupported technology becomes a liability.