A colleague once told me about a mid-sized professional services firm — around forty people — that had modernised almost everything.
New servers, regular backups, strong antivirus. The works. Except for one ageing workstation.
It ran a legacy accounting tool that wouldn’t run on newer systems. Replacing it meant buying new software, retraining staff, and rewriting internal workflows. Too much effort, they thought. So they kept that one old PC — the one that sat in the corner where the interns worked — and switched it on maybe once a week when they needed to pull a report.
It seemed harmless. Contained. A single, quiet machine doing one small job.
But it wasn’t. Attackers exploited a known flaw, slipped in, and within hours encrypted the firm’s shared drives and backups. The irony? They’d spent thousands on cybersecurity — yet the weak link was the computer nobody wanted to upgrade.
And that story feels familiar again. Windows 10 is done. Support has ended. The systems that still run it are the ones quietly waiting to trip you up.
When Did Windows 10 Support End — and What It Means Now
So, it’s done. Windows 10 reached the end of its support life on 14 October 2025. No more security updates, patches, and quiet overnight fixes from Microsoft. Just silence.
For most businesses, that means one thing: risk. Every week that machine stays connected, the gaps widen. A missing update here, an unpatched driver there — small cracks that invite trouble.
IT support in London and beyond are already busy fielding the aftermath — emergency calls, rushed migrations, and questions that should’ve been asked last summer. If your firm’s still running Windows 10, you’re not alone. But now the clock’s ticking in a different direction.
What Happens After Windows 10 Reaches End of Life
The end-of-life date for Windows 10 passed on 14 October 2025, but for many businesses it felt like business as usual. The PCs still boot. Staff still log in. Emails still arrive. All seems fine.
But inside, a different clock is ticking. Without security patches, every new vulnerability becomes a permanent door unlocked. Evidence shows unsupported operating systems are now flagged by insurers as a reason to refuse claims or raise premiums.
It’s not just a hack-risk. For firms relying on contracts, supply chains, or certifications like Cyber Essentials, running an unsupported OS can invalidate compliance.
Your business could be paying more for cover — or worse, have none when a breach hits.
The up-shot? If your team still has any machine on Windows 10, you’re not “just behind”. You’re exposed.
Why End of Life Matters for Your Business Security
Old systems don’t fail loudly. They just fall behind quietly. Updates stop, threats don’t.
For professional firms — accountancy, legal, financial — that gap is dangerous. Sensitive data, client files, payroll information… all sitting on an operating system that no longer gets protection. A single unpatched PC can give attackers a bridge into everything else.
Cyber-criminals know this. After every end-of-life announcement, they start scanning for machines still running the old version. The NHS learned this the hard way after Windows 7 expired — one forgotten laptop caused weeks of chaos.
And the cost isn’t small. The UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 found the average cost of a cyber incident for medium-sized businesses was £3,230 — excluding lost time or reputational harm.
Proactive managed IT services catch these risks early. Regular audits, patch management, and network segmentation make sure a “quiet” device can’t bring the whole network down. Because real protection isn’t just software. It’s awareness.
(Source: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology — Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025)
Windows 11 Upgrade vs New Hardware: Your Options
Here’s the question most businesses are wrestling with now: do we upgrade or replace?
Some PCs can make the jump to Windows 11 with a simple upgrade. Others can’t. Microsoft tightened hardware requirements — things like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot — so older kit often doesn’t qualify. You can still install it manually, but you’ll lose official support. That’s a risk few firms should take.
For many, a phased hardware refresh is the smarter play. Start with the oldest machines, then rotate newer models through. That way budgets stretch, and downtime stays low.
And if the software you rely on doesn’t behave under Windows 11? That’s where good IT consultancy earns its keep. Testing, compatibility checks, and migration planning all come before the big switch.Outsourcing this to IT support services means you’re not guessing. You’re upgrading with a plan — not just plugging holes.
How to Plan a Smooth Migration to Windows 11
Panic never helps. Planning does.
A good migration starts long before the install screen appears. First, take stock — every laptop, desktop, and server. Know what’s running where. Then check compatibility: hardware age, software versions, storage, and licences.
Next comes timing. Pick a quiet week, not year-end or payroll season. Upgrade a few machines first. Watch for snags. Adjust. Then roll out to the rest.
Training matters too. Even small interface changes can trip people up. A half-hour session saves days of confusion later.
Finally, don’t walk away once it’s done. Run post-upgrade checks, confirm backups, and keep remote IT support handy for that one machine that always acts up.
Smooth migrations aren’t magic. They’re just planned chaos turned into organised progress.
Why Partner with a Managed IT Service Provider
You can patch and plan on your own. Many firms try. It works — until it doesn’t.
A managed IT service team does more than fix things when they break. They track updates, monitor logs, and spot trouble before it hits the surface. The quiet stuff most people never see.
Think of it as having an IT department that never clocks off. 3 a.m. alerts, patch management, vendor calls — handled. You get to focus on clients, not code.
Good IT managed support services also help you think ahead. Replacing kit before it fails. Keeping compliance steady. Coordinating licences so you don’t pay twice for the same product.
And when something does go wrong, response time isn’t “next week”. It’s minutes. Because with the right partner, the problem’s already halfway fixed before you even send the email.
Proactive IT Support Keeps You Ahead of Outages
Downtime isn’t random. It’s the result of missed warnings — the logs nobody checked, the update that got postponed.
Proactive IT support spots those signals early. Disk errors, network spikes, creeping latency — all seen before users notice.
That’s how you stay ahead of outages: by never waiting for one to happen.
Local IT Support in London for On-Site Migration Help
Sometimes remote tools aren’t enough. When you’re moving servers or replacing hardware, you need people on-site.
Local IT support in London gives that safety net. Engineers who know your setup, your wiring cupboard, your quirks.
They turn what could be a frantic weekend rebuild into a calm, scheduled upgrade.
Microsoft 365 and Cloud Backup Integration After the Upgrade
Once the move to Windows 11 settles, the next step is resilience.
Tie your systems to the cloud — Microsoft 365, secure file sync, automated cloud backup.
So even if a laptop dies or a site loses power, your work doesn’t. It’s sitting safely in the cloud, ready to restore.
That’s what modern IT support is really about: less panic, more continuity.
Next Steps: Check Your Windows 10 Readiness Today
If you’re still on Windows 10, now’s the moment to take stock. Support has ended, and each month the risks grow.
A short readiness audit shows exactly where you stand — which machines are safe, which need replacing, and where the real exposure lies. Once you know that, the path forward is simple.
Our IT support team cover North London, Hertfordshire, and the surrounding counties. Whether it’s five machines or fifty, we’ll plan the route, carry out the migration, and keep your business running while we do it.
Get in touch for a complimentary assessment.
Clear, practical, and focused on what matters — keeping your systems secure and your team working.
