Are you still running Windows 10 because “it’s fine for now”? The Extended Security Updates programme is keeping you safe today, but that safety net is on a timer. From October 2026, Windows 10 stops getting security updates altogether. For a UK business, the time to plan a calm Windows 11 upgrade is now, not in autumn 2026 when everyone else is scrambling.
Hi, I’m Andy from Initial IT. We look after Windows devices for businesses across Lichfield, Tamworth, Cannock and the wider West Midlands, and this is currently the most common “quietly putting it off” conversation we have. Here is the short version.
Key takeaways
- Windows 10 standard support ended October 2025. Extended Security Updates (ESU) only buys you time.
- ESU ends October 2026. After that, no patches, no fixes, no safety net.
- Cyber insurance, compliance and supplier contracts increasingly assume supported software.
- Most laptops bought from 2018 onwards can upgrade to Windows 11 in place.
- Older PCs that cannot upgrade need replacing. Plan that early, not in a panic.
Why Windows 10 still feels fine (and why that is the trap)
If you signed up for the Extended Security Updates programme, Windows 10 probably feels exactly the same as it always did. It turns on. It works. It even gets monthly security updates. No drama. That is the whole problem.
Windows 10 reached the end of standard support in October 2025. ESU was always meant to be a short-term safety net, not a long-term strategy. The net comes down in October 2026. From that point, staying on Windows 10 means running an operating system with known vulnerabilities and no patches for new ones. That is the cliff edge.
Why this matters as a commercial risk, not just a technical one
From a pure business angle, running unsupported software starts to bite in three places long before any attack happens:
- Cyber insurance. Most UK SMB policies now explicitly require supported operating systems. Renewal questionnaires ask. Some insurers will refuse to renew, or quietly drop a clause.
- Compliance and certifications. Cyber Essentials, the SRA’s technology expectations for law firms and the various sector-specific data rules all assume current, supported software.
- Supplier and customer expectations. Big customer? They are starting to ask their suppliers to certify they are running supported software. Saying “Windows 10, but we are on ESU” is increasingly a no.
Microsoft has not made the decision feel urgent
The same Windows screen that warns you about the end of support also makes it very easy to enrol in ESU. One click, accept the terms, carry on. For a lot of business owners, that feels like the problem has been solved. It has not. ESU only buys you a year. Then the cliff edge.
What to do now, calmly
Three steps that fit nearly every UK SMB we onboard:
- Run an inventory. Which devices are eligible for an in-place upgrade to Windows 11, which are not, and which are out of warranty anyway. We do this for free as part of an initial conversation with a Lichfield, Staffordshire or West Midlands business.
- Plan the upgrades in waves, ideally over a few months, not one panicked weekend. Use Microsoft Intune to make the rollouts predictable. If any of your devices are Windows Home, upgrade them to Pro first.
- Replace what cannot be upgraded. Some older PCs will not meet the Windows 11 requirements. Get them out of the fleet in an orderly way before the deadline forces a rushed purchase.
How we help
Windows 11 migrations are a normal part of our managed IT support. We do the inventory, plan the upgrade waves, manage devices through Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Intune, and keep your cyber security tight while the fleet changes. If you want a plain-English read on where your business stands, book a quick chat with me or call 01543 524 594.
Frequently asked questions
When does Windows 10 support actually end?
Mainstream Windows 10 support ended in October 2025. Extended Security Updates (ESU) keep monthly patches going until October 2026 for businesses that enrolled. After October 2026, Windows 10 receives no further security updates.
Can my PC upgrade to Windows 11?
Most laptops and desktops bought from around 2018 onwards meet the Windows 11 requirements (TPM 2.0, supported CPU). Older devices may not. The quickest check is to ask your IT partner to run an inventory across your fleet.
Should I just keep paying for Windows 10 Extended Security Updates?
Only as a short-term bridge. ESU is a holding pattern, not a strategy. It also gets more expensive each year, and ends entirely in October 2026 for most SMB customers.
What happens if we miss the Windows 10 deadline?
Your devices keep working but stop receiving security patches, so any new vulnerability is unfixed. Cyber insurance, Cyber Essentials and many supplier contracts will then be at risk.
How long does a business-wide Windows 11 upgrade take?
For an SMB of 20 to 60 staff, a planned upgrade in waves usually takes 4 to 8 weeks end to end, including testing, communications and a few hardware replacements. Far calmer than a last-minute scramble.
– Andy Price, Founder & MD, Initial IT · 01543 524 594 · hello@initialit.co.uk