Important
News: Microsoft will NO LONGER support Windows 10
after October 2025! While these PCs will still work after the official end date
of October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide product key free services
that keep your device working properly and securely. These services include:
- Security updates
- Non-security updates
- Technical support
Why Is This
Important For Business Owners?
- Security Risks:
Without regular updates, your computer will become more vulnerable to
viruses, malware and hackers. This could put your business data at risk,
which is why upgrading to a newer version of Windows is crucial.
- Software Compatibility: Many software programs are updated
regularly to work with the latest operating systems. After Windows 10
reaches its end of life, some of your favorite programs might not work as
smoothly or could stop working altogether.
- Compliance Issues: If your business deals with sensitive
information or follows strict regulations, using an outdated operating
system could lead to compliance issues. It's important to stay current to
avoid potential fines or legal problems.
What
Are Your Options?
Microsoft
encourages users to migrate to the latest version before the end-of-life date.
This can present challenges for some PC owners, as not all devices currently
running Windows 10 are compatible with Windows 11. If you try to upgrade one of
those PCs to Windows 11, but the device does not meet the stringent hardware
requirements of the new software, you'll encounter an error message.
If your device
isn't compatible with Windows 11, you have a few options. You can:
- Buy a new PC that is compatible
- Pay for Microsoft's Windows 10 security updates (available for up to three years but no longer free!)
- Switch from the Windows operating system to Linux
- Try to upgrade "incompatible" PCs, using a technical loophole
- Ignore the deadline and put your business at risk (we do NOT recommend this one!)
Whatever you decide, make sure to back up
your data! Before making any changes, always back up your important files. This
ensures that nothing gets lost during the upgrade process.
Planning
Ahead
It's important to
be proactive about the transition. There has been some discussion that
Microsoft will extend the deadline, but that's not a strategy you want to bet
your business on. You don't want to wait to take action until you're out of
options and your business is at risk because you no longer have security
protection.
The best step is
to work with your IT provider to determine what option makes sense for your
organization. If your computers are fairly new, paying for ongoing security
updates might make sense. If your devices are older and nearing the end of
their life anyway, new PCs could be the way to go. An experienced IT team or a
tech consultant can help you with the upgrade process. They can make sure
everything runs smoothly and minimize any downtime for your business.
If you're looking
for someone to guide you in making the right decision, get in touch with our
team to schedule a FREE 10-Minute Discovery Call. During this quick
conversation, we'll be able to map out the next steps to take to start
transitioning to Windows 11 efficiently. To schedule, call us at 914-923-0161 or click here.