Windows 10 End of Life is less than two weeks away, what are your options?

Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will reach its official End of Life (EOL) on October 14, 2025. After that date, Windows 10 devices will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or technical support. For businesses, this isn’t just a technology change, it’s a security and compliance concern that can affect daily operations.

The good news: there’s still time to prepare. Here are five practical steps businesses can take now to minimize disruption and risk.

1. Build an Inventory of All Windows 10 Devices

Many organizations underestimate how many endpoints are still running Windows 10, so the first step in addressing your Windows 11 migration is creating a complete inventory.

• Use management tools like Intune or RMM software to pull a report, or request one from your IT provider (they probably already track this for you or should be doing so).
• Don’t forget “hidden” machines: conference room PCs, test laptops, or desktops at satellite offices.
• Flag devices with hardware limitations that can’t support Windows 11.

This inventory becomes the foundation for your migration plan.

2. Evaluate Hardware Compatibility and Upgrade Paths

Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, supported CPUs).

• Run Microsoft’s PC Health Check or your RMM’s audit tools to test eligibility.
• For machines that qualify, plan a phased rollout of Windows 11 upgrades.
• For those that don’t, decide whether to replace hardware or explore virtual desktop options like Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop.

Upgrading early avoids the supply-chain crunch that often comes as EOL deadlines approach.

3. Prioritize Security and Compliance

Running an unsupported operating system introduces significant risk:

• No more security patches mean vulnerabilities will remain exposed.
• Compliance frameworks (HIPAA, PCI, SOC 2, etc.) may flag unsupported systems as violations.

Businesses in regulated industries should update risk assessments and document their transition plan now to stay audit-ready.

4. Test Critical Applications on Windows 11

Compatibility issues can delay migrations.

• Identify your line-of-business apps and test them on Wihttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/extended-security-updatesndows 11 in a controlled pilot.
• Confirm vendor support timelines (some software vendors stop supporting apps on old OS versions).
• If a key application won’t run on Windows 11, plan for an upgrade, replacement, or virtualization workaround.

This avoids last-minute surprises that can derail a rollout.

5. Create a Timeline and Communicate with Staff

Don’t wait until October 14^th, 2025 - by then, IT teams and vendors will be overwhelmed with last-minute requests, we suggest:

• Break the rollout into manageable phases: pilot group → department-by-department deployment.
• Train end-users on Windows 11 changes so adoption is smooth.
• If you cannot upgrade and replace devices, consider utilizing Microsoft’s Extended Security Update (ESU) option, currently priced at $61 per device for the first year.

Windows 10 End of Life isn’t just another “patch Tuesday” event, it’s a business risk that requires planning. By taking inventory, checking compatibility, prioritizing security, testing apps, and building a timeline, businesses can transition on their own terms rather than being forced into reactive upgrades.

If your business isn’t sure where to start, Valley Techlogic can assist you with a migration assessment that includes a full scope of your existing inventory. Preparing today will save money, reduce headaches, and keep your organization secure tomorrow – request a consultation today.

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