Windows 10 reached end of support in October 2025. That was months ago, yet we still walk into businesses every week where half the fleet runs it. The machines still boot, the software still works, and so the risk stays invisible until it is not.
What "End of Support" Actually Means
Microsoft no longer ships security updates for Windows 10 unless you pay for Extended Security Updates. Every vulnerability discovered from now on stays open on those machines forever. Attackers know this, and they actively scan for unsupported systems because they are the easiest way in.
This is not a theoretical concern. The largest ransomware outbreaks in history spread primarily through machines that had missed patches or run out of support. An unsupported OS on your network is a standing invitation.
The Compliance and Insurance Problem
If you handle regulated data, unsupported operating systems can put you out of compliance on their own. HIPAA expects systems that receive security patches. Cyber insurance carriers ask directly whether unsupported software exists in your environment, and a "yes" raises premiums or voids coverage.
Even a single forgotten Windows 10 machine in a back office counts. You cannot manage what you have not inventoried, which is why the first step is a proper device audit.
A Practical Upgrade Path
- Inventory first. Identify every device, its OS version, and whether its hardware supports Windows 11. Intune gives you this in one report.
- Upgrade what qualifies. Devices that meet Windows 11 requirements can be upgraded in place, scheduled in waves so nobody loses a workday.
- Replace what does not. Machines that cannot run Windows 11 are typically 6 or more years old and due for replacement anyway. With Windows Autopilot, new laptops ship directly to employees and configure themselves on first boot.
- Verify and document. Compliance policies confirm every device ends up encrypted, patched, and on a supported OS, with reporting to prove it.
A 30-device fleet can usually be fully migrated in two to three weeks without disrupting the business. The longer it waits, the more it competes with everything else on the calendar.
Get a free device audit from AventixIT and we will tell you exactly which machines are exposed, which can be upgraded, and what the full migration will cost. One report, no obligation.