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Expert Intel

Windows 10 End of Life: Your Essential Guide to Upgrading to Windows 11

Published: June 13, 2025
Updated: June 18, 2025
Tom N

Expert: Tom Nickel

Role: NOC and Automation Lead

Specialises in: Automation, procedures, centralized management (MDM), Microsoft stack, BCDR

What you will learn:
2025 is the end of life for Windows 10 - no more patches, no more support. This guide gets to the point to help you plan a smooth Windows 11 upgrade. Discover, the biggest rollout risks, how to not break legacy apps and our downloadable checklist
“Windows 11 isn’t an optional upgrade, its a business requirement for maintaining a secure and compliant environment.”

If you haven’t heard by now, Windows 10 reaches end-of-life on October 14, 2025. After that, it’s no more security updates, no support, and no safety net.

For most businesses, that means upgrading to Windows 11. But here’s the thing, an OS migration isn’t just a tick-box IT task – it’s a complex project with real risks, dependencies, and long-term consequences if mishandled.

This isn’t a deep dive into every Windows 11 feature and why you need to upgrade. It’s a straight-talking guide to help you assess your next steps.

First some quick context, if you’re still running Windows 10 after the deadline, here’s what you’re exposing your business to:

No security patches – leaving you wide open to zero-days and malware
Compliance risks – particularly in regulated sectors like legal, finance or healthcare
Third-party tool issues – vendors may stop supporting Windows 10
Cyber insurance complications – outdated software could void or reduce coverage

“Threat actors love unsupported systems. Our SOC still sees legacy OS attacks years after EOL.”

Windows 10 Wallpaper
Soon to be relegated to the history books – Windows 10

Upgrading to Windows 11 can seem straightforward – until you hit real-world complexities. Even vendors like CrowdStrike have recently shown us how one misstep in a deployment can cause serious disruption…

These are the most common rollout pitfalls we see:

Hardware Compatibility Gaps
TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are mandatory, but many older devices fall short. Without a proper audit, you’re flying blind.
Application Breakage
Legacy or bespoke tools may behave unpredictably (or stop working entirely) if not tested in a Windows 11 environment.
Deployment Disruption
Uncontrolled rollouts can eat bandwidth, interrupt users mid-task, and flood your IT helpdesk with avoidable tickets.
Endpoint Drift
Rolling out without modern endpoint management (like Intune or Autopilot) can lead to configuration inconsistencies and patching failures.

Yes, we all know the OS looks nicer, but here’s what’s genuinely useful for your business (from my perspective anyway) :

FeatureWhy it matters
Snap Layouts & Virtual DesktopsSimplifies multitasking, improves productivity
TPM 2.0 & Secure BootHelps block firmware-level attacks
Modern Device ManagementIntune/Autopilot-ready for secure, remote deployments
Streamlined UIEasier onboarding for new users & hybrid teams
Future SupportWindows 11 is Microsoft’s primary OS – support, features, and patches will all focus here

“Windows 11 isn’t an optional upgrade, its a business requirement for maintaining a secure and compliant environment.”

So you don’t risk missing something crucial during your upgrade process, I’ve created a free, Windows 11 readiness checklist covering:

  • Hardware and software audits
  • Compatibility testing
  • Rollout planning
  • Endpoint readiness
  • Support and optimisation 

This is Not Just an Upgrade. It’s Risk Mitigation.

Whether you’re managing 30 or 3,000 devices, this isn’t something to leave to the last minute. A secure, staged upgrade takes time – but it’s far better than trying to fix it after the fact.

Crucially, rolling out a new OS without thinking about security, user disruption, and operational risk can create more problems than it solves.

If you’re looking for someone to support you with your Windows 11 project, get in touch here.