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Ian Harkess
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โWe needed to find solutions to a variety of issues whilst being a complex business, operating in a 24/7 environment. Stripe OLT listened and understood immediately the challenges we faced.โ
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
โWindows 11 isnโt an optional upgrade, its a business requirement for maintaining a secure and compliant environment.โ
Jump to…
Windows 10 End-of-Life
If you havenโt heard by now, Windows 10 reaches end-of-life on October 14, 2025. After that, itโs no more security updates, no support, and no safety net.
For most businesses, that means upgrading to Windows 11. But hereโs the thing, an OS migration isnโt just a tick-box IT task – itโs a complex project with real risks, dependencies, and long-term consequences if mishandled.
This isnโt a deep dive into every Windows 11 feature and why you need to upgrade. Itโs a straight-talking guide to help you assess your next steps.
Why Windows 10 End of Life Matters
First some quick context, if youโre still running Windows 10 after the deadline, hereโs what youโre exposing your business to:
No security patches โ leaving you wide open to zero-days and malware
Compliance risks โ particularly in regulated sectors like legal, finance or healthcare
Third-party tool issues โ vendors may stop supporting Windows 10
Cyber insurance complications โ outdated software could void or reduce coverage
“Threat actors love unsupported systems. Our SOC still sees legacy OS attacks years after EOL.”
Soon to be relegated to the history books – Windows 10
What IT Teams Miss During a Windows 11 Rollout
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 disruptionโฆ
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.
What You Gain with Windows 11(That Actually Matters)
Yes, we all know the OS looks nicer, but hereโs whatโs genuinely useful for your business (from my perspective anyway) :
Feature
Why it matters
Snap Layouts & Virtual Desktops
Simplifies multitasking, improves productivity
TPM 2.0 & Secure Boot
Helps block firmware-level attacks
Modern Device Management
Intune/Autopilot-ready for secure, remote deployments
Streamlined UI
Easier onboarding for new users & hybrid teams
Future Support
Windows 11 is Microsoftโs primary OS – support, features, and patches will all focus here
โWindows 11 isnโt an optional upgrade, its a business requirement for maintaining a secure and compliant environment.โ
The Essential Windows 11 Migration Checklist
So you donโt risk missing something crucial during your upgrade process, Iโve created a free, Windows 11 readiness checklist covering:
This is Not Just an Upgrade. Itโs Risk Mitigation.
Whether you’re managing 30 or 3,000 devices, this isnโt something to leave to the last minute. A secure, staged upgrade takes time – but itโs 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 youโre looking for someone to support you with your Windows 11 project, get in touch here.
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