Windows 10

The end of official support for Windows 10 is approaching rapidly, with Microsoft setting the sunset date for October 14, 2025. While that may seem distant, the implications for small and mid-sized businesses are immediate. This change is not simply a routine software update: It is a critical juncture that requires deliberate planning and action.

Understanding the business risk

Once Windows 10 reaches its end of life, Microsoft will stop issuing security patches, system updates, and technical support. This places any business still using the operating system at heightened risk for cyberattacks, compliance violations, and operational disruptions.

For businesses operating in regulated industries – such as healthcare, financial services, legal, or manufacturing – these risks carry significant weight. Running unsupported systems could jeopardize compliance with frameworks like HIPAA, FINRA, and CMMC. It may also raise red flags during cybersecurity insurance reviews and increase premiums or deny claims following a breach.

In addition to security concerns, unsupported operating systems can create incompatibility with newer software, degrade performance, and reduce the reliability of day-to-day operations. The cost of unplanned downtime or data loss often exceeds the investment required to modernize outdated infrastructure.

Windows 11: The next step – with caveats

Upgrading to Windows 11 is the natural path forward. However, Windows 11 is not simply a cosmetic update. It introduces stricter hardware requirements that may render many current business machines ineligible for upgrade.

The minimum system requirements for Windows 11 include:

• A compatible 64-bit processor (Intel 8th Gen or AMD Ryzen 2000 series and newer)
• 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)
• 64 GB of storage
• UEFI firmware with Secure Boot
• TPM version 2.0
• DirectX 12-compatible graphics with WDDM 2.0 driver

These requirements are significant, especially for businesses with aging fleets of desktops and laptops. According to recent industry estimates, nearly 40% of business PCs currently in use do not meet the minimum standard for Windows 11. This means replacement, not just an upgrade, may be necessary.

Why planning needs to start now

Delaying planning can lead to rushed purchases, limited hardware availability, and unnecessary business interruptions. Instead, organizations should begin with a full inventory of current systems to identify which devices are eligible for upgrade and which will require replacement.

It is advisable to phase replacements over time to manage costs and avoid overwhelming staff with abrupt changes. Partnering with a trusted IT service provider can ensure the transition is managed efficiently, minimizing downtime and disruptions.

Early planning also provides an opportunity to align new hardware investments with long-term IT strategies, including cloud integration, mobility, and security enhancements.

Looking ahead

Technology lifecycles should never be left to chance. The Windows 10 end-of-life deadline is more than a date – it is a call to evaluate the state of IT readiness across the organization.

Businesses that take proactive steps now will avoid reactive scrambles later, preserving both security and continuity.

Windows 10 has been a reliable workhorse for businesses for nearly a decade, but its time is running out. Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, and if your business is still relying on it after that date, you could be opening the door to serious financial, operational, and legal risks.

While it may seem easier (and cheaper) to delay an upgrade, the reality is that the cost of doing nothing can far exceed the cost of migrating to a supported system. Let’s take a look at why.

No more security updates = new threats every day

Once Windows 10 reaches end-of-life, Microsoft will stop releasing critical security updates. That means new vulnerabilities will be discovered by hackers – and left unpatched.

Cybercriminals actively look for outdated systems to exploit. It’s not a matter of if your business will be targeted – it’s a matter of when. And when that happens, you’re on your own.

A data breach or ransomware attack can bring your business to a halt, costing thousands in downtime, lost data, and recovery efforts – not to mention damage to your reputation.

Compliance risks: A lawsuit waiting to happen

If you’re in a regulated industry like healthcare, finance, legal, or government, continuing to use an unsupported operating system could put you out of compliance with major regulations like:

• HIPAA (Healthcare)
• PCI-DSS (Payment Processing)
• GDPR (General Data Protection)
• GLBA (Finance and Banking)

Many of these frameworks require the use of supported, up-to-date software to ensure sensitive information is protected. If you suffer a breach while running Windows 10 after support ends, you could face hefty fines and legal action for failing to maintain compliance.

Real-world risks: Lessons from the past

We’ve seen this story before. When Windows 7 went end-of-life in 2020, many businesses chose to wait. A Michigan medical practice that delayed upgrading was later hit with a ransomware attack that exposed patient records. The practice was fined $150,000 for HIPAA violations – and spent months rebuilding systems and trust.

Outdated systems don’t just make headlines – they make victims.

Total cost of ownership: It’s more expensive than you think

At first glance, keeping old systems may seem cost-effective. But when you factor in the hidden costs – security breaches, downtime, lost productivity, non-compliance fines, and expensive emergency IT support – the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) for unsupported systems skyrockets.
Modern systems are faster, more secure, and easier to manage.

Over time, they reduce your risk and lower your maintenance costs, making them a smarter investment.

Hidden productivity drain

Old systems don’t just create risk – they slow your team down. Unsupported systems often struggle with performance, compatibility, and reliability.

That translates into lost time, frustration, and inefficiency, especially when employees can’t access the tools or software they need.

If your team is spending 15-30 minutes a day dealing with tech issues, multiply that by every employee, every day. Over a year, it adds up to a massive loss in productivity – and profit.

It’s time to plan ahead

Upgrading from Windows 10 isn’t just a technical decision – it’s a business decision.

Whether you’re a five-person law firm, a small medical office, or a local manufacturing shop, staying on Windows 10 past its end-of-life is a gamble that could cost you far more than an upgrade.

At Tech Experts, we help small businesses like yours plan secure, cost-effective transitions to modern systems – without disruption.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today to protect your business, stay compliant, and keep moving forward.

Still using Windows 10? It’s time to start planning for a big change. Microsoft has announced that this October will mark the end of support for the operating system.

That means no more security updates, no bug fixes, and no technical support.

While your computers won’t suddenly stop working, staying on Windows 10 after its end-of-life date could put your business at serious risk.

Without regular updates, your systems will be more vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Cyber criminals love to exploit old, unsupported systems because they know the weaknesses won’t be fixed. If you handle sensitive customer data or financial information, this is a huge red flag.

On top of that, software compatibility could become a problem. New applications will be designed with Windows 11 and future systems in mind, meaning your current setup might not be able to keep up.

The result? Slower workflows or even critical tools that stop working entirely. And if something goes wrong, you’ll be on your own – Microsoft won’t be there to help.

But Windows 11 is here, and it’s built to make your business run more smoothly. From stronger security features to smarter productivity tools, the upgrade is packed with benefits… and it’s free!

Before making the move, you’ll need to check if your current computers meet the requirements for Windows 11. Not all Windows 10 devices will be compatible, but it’s easy to find out using Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool.

If some devices don’t make the cut, it might be time to invest in new hardware. While that sounds like a big step, newer machines offer better performance and security, saving you headaches down the line.

The key to a smooth transition is starting early. Back up your data, check compatibility, and plan your upgrade timeline so it doesn’t disrupt your team.

Making the move now means you’ll avoid scrambling later. And of course, you’ll set your business up for success with a system designed for the future.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed about where to begin, we can help every step of the way. Get in touch.

Windows 10 has served us well. But its time is running out. Microsoft plans to end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. This means no more security updates, no more patches, and no more support.

It’s time to upgrade to Windows 11. This is especially true for business users with many systems to check and upgrade. This change isn’t just about getting new features. It’s about ensuring your PC stays secure, fast, and capable.

Why you need to upgrade now

Security concerns: No more updates mean no more security patches. Upgrading to Windows 11 ensures you receive the latest security updates.

Enhanced performance: Windows 11 is designed to be faster and more efficient. It optimizes your hardware, providing better performance.

Improved features: The redesigned Start Menu and Taskbar offer a fresh, modern look. Snap Layouts and Snap Groups help you organize your workspace. Virtual Desktops allow you to create different desktops for different tasks.

Hardware requirements for Windows 11

Not all current PCs can run Windows 11. Here are the basic hardware requirements:

• A compatible 64-bit processor with at least 1 GHz clock speed and 2 or more cores.
• 16 GB of RAM or more.
• 64 GB of storage or more.
• UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability.
• TPM version 2.0.
• DirectX 12 compatible graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver.

If your PC doesn’t meet these requirements, consider upgrading.

Upgrading your PC

Opportunity to modernize: Newer PCs come with better processors, more RAM, and faster storage.

AI-enabled PCs: Consider PCs that offer advanced features powered by AI.

Energy efficiency: Modern PCs use less power without compromising performance.

Benefits of upgrading to Windows 11

Better user interface: Windows 11 offers a cleaner UI with a centered Start Menu and simplified Taskbar.

Improved multitasking: You can easily organize open windows, switch between tasks and create separate desktops.

Integrated Microsoft Teams: Quickly start a chat or video call directly from the Taskbar.

What are the risks of waiting to upgrade?

Increased vulnerability: Waiting to upgrade increases your vulnerability. As the end-of-support date approaches, the risk of security threats grows.

Potential compatibility issues: New applications and updates may not be compatible. By upgrading now, you ensure compatibility with the latest software.

Business disruption: Starting an upgrade for your office now gives time for a smooth rollout.

How to Upgrade

Check compatibility: Check if your PC meets the requirements using the PC Health Check tool.

Backup your data: Avoid losing important files during the upgrade process.

Follow upgrade instructions: This may involve downloading the installation file and running the setup.

Seek professional help: If you’re unsure about upgrading, seek the help of Tech Experts.

It seems like every time I turn around I have a new Windows 10 story to share. The combined abundance and variety of issues has been frustrating to say the least. The number of users affected normally varies as people will install updates at different times, but those updates are the most likely cause of a widespread issue.

Microsoft recently had one of the most widespread issues in its Windows 10 OS history, and that is quite a statement. It likely affected more users than any group on a given operating system version.

When trying to update something in its own programming for Windows 10, Microsoft broke the search feature.

First, some background information: Windows 10 search is built-in and Microsoft has integrated the search with Bing to allow for both local searching of your system and online results as well.

The option can be very useful for users as it allows a centralized location to look for whatever you might need to find. Personally, I still use the search feature for Windows functions and use Google to do any web searches. That said, I can see the value the search feature has for some.

For each person it works well for, there is a user that will search for something on their computer then accidentally open a Bing search result for something they never had any intention of opening.

It happened recently to someone I know. They were searching for their scanner and nearly downloaded a third party application from an untrusted source. It can happen easily and frequently.

Whether you find use in local and online results or you are more like me and use the search purely for Windows functions, you likely rely on it to some degree.

So what would you do if you had no ability to search at all? What if the entire functionality of searching was broken in Windows 10? That is what happened recently to just about every person who happened to login over a few day period recently. Microsoft was updating some of its backend search code (likely making changes to Bing itself) and didn’t account for an impact on the integrated search.

The impact on each user varied, but even as someone who is very comfortable using Windows 10, the broken search function really made things more difficult. Fortunately, the problem was very quickly resolved.

In terms of a Microsoft turnaround, a 1-day fix is quite incredible. Some users experienced it for a bit longer as the fix was not always applied automatically. The problems were sporadic, but some machines took a few restarts to apply the hotfix.

When you break Windows for almost all of your users (especially right after taking away the most loved operating system of all time), fixing it quick is in your best interest. That is exactly what Microsoft did. Let’s just hope we all achieve a little stability now that some of their resources have been freed up with the end of Windows 7.

January marked the end for Windows 7. After ten years and more than a few extensions, Microsoft finally made the cut-off and will no longer be updating what many would call its most reliable operating system ever.

Many businesses held out as long as possible, and some have even paid for privatized extended support.

Microsoft certainly had to split its focus while having more than one operating system in production, but with the end of Windows 7, one would assume that Windows 10 would have more developers working on the issues and updates as they arise.

It hasn’t been long, but so far, we have not seen anything to indicate a brighter future for Windows 10.

Now, Microsoft is no stranger to a failed OS. Who can forget Windows ME (Millennium Edition), Windows Vista, and even Windows 8? These were deemed failures and had a much shorter life span than favorites like Windows XP and Windows 7.

That said, Windows 10 won’t fall into the same category as ME, Vista, or Windows 8. Windows 10, when correctly functional, really is one of the better user experiences there has been. It has already proven commercially to be more successful with a larger market share than any of the failed systems.

Of course, that could also be attributed to the fact that there was another OS available at the times of ME, Vista, and Windows 8. Windows ME couldn’t break the grasp that Windows XP had. Vista was a victim of Windows XP and Windows 7. Windows 8 was decimated by Windows 7 and Windows 10.

Windows 10 from a user standpoint is not a failure, but there are a few ways that it exceeds the issues that some of these failed operating systems had.

Windows 10 has had some fairly widespread issues. The most recent problem? A majority of Windows 10 users found themselves unable to use the search feature in Windows. The start menu would allow you to open it, but the search never returned results.

Microsoft was able to fix the issue within a day or so, but what caused the issue?

The broken search was related to a broken link to Bing search. The search function is integrated with Bing, and the functionality of the feature was completely broken because of it.

There have been other issues as well. One of my favorite and most unique problems with Windows 10 was a few month span during an entire feature update where Microsoft had broken the ability to install Microsoft Office.

There was no fix. If the problem occurred, you had to either roll back to install Office or wait until the next feature update.

You almost expect there to be issues with third party software during a new update, but when it’s the company’s own product? It is definitely a headscratcher. Relatedly, there were frequent problems with Office activation and the Microsoft store being completely missing or broken.

While Windows 7 didn’t have all of the features that Windows 10 did, it seemed to be much more reliable.

We can only hope that Microsoft gets those extra developers working so Windows 10 can be as reliable as its predecessor. Despite these issues, the potential is there.