How UK Businesses Can Save Time and Money During the Transition
With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, UK businesses face a critical decision point. This transition is not merely a technical upgrade – it represents a strategic business challenge with significant implications for security, productivity, and operational costs.
The Problem: Windows 10 end of support will leave systems vulnerable to security threats, create compliance issues, and potentially disrupt business operations. Recent studies from Canalys show that over a third of UK SMBs have no clear migration plan, risking significant disruption and unnecessary costs.
Asygma’s Solution: Through our Timeback Method, we transform this challenge into an opportunity to optimise your technology infrastructure, streamline operations, and reclaim valuable time. Our Microsoft-first approach ensures a seamless transition while enhancing productivity and security.
The Countdown Has Begun: Understanding the Windows 10 End of Support Timeline
Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. After this date, your Windows 10 devices will no longer receive:
- Security updates and patches
- Technical support from Microsoft
- Bug fixes or feature enhancements
- Support for Microsoft 365 apps and services
This is not just an IT department concern – it’s a business-critical issue that affects every aspect of your operations, from security and compliance to productivity and customer service.
According to research published by TechRadar Pro in April 2025, 35% of UK SMBs either have no plans to upgrade from Windows 10 or are completely unaware of the impending deadline. This lack of preparation could lead to significant business disruption and unnecessary costs.
The Historical Context of Windows End of Support
To understand the significance of this transition, it’s worth examining previous Windows end-of-support events. When Windows 7 reached end of support in January 2020, many organisations were caught unprepared. According to a report by Kaspersky, approximately 22% of UK businesses were still running Windows 7 three months after its end-of-support date, exposing themselves to significant security risks.
The WannaCry ransomware attack of 2017 provides a sobering example of what can happen when systems remain unpatched. This global cyberattack affected more than 200,000 computers across 150 countries, with the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) being one of the most high-profile victims. The attack exploited a vulnerability in older Windows systems, demonstrating the real-world consequences of running unsupported operating systems.
Critical Impact: Microsoft 365 Support Ending for Windows 10
One of the most significant yet underappreciated consequences of Windows 10 end of support is that Microsoft 365 applications will also cease to be supported on Windows 10 devices after October 14, 2025. This represents a double impact that many businesses have not fully considered in their planning.
Microsoft's Official Position
According to Microsoft’s official announcement, “Microsoft 365 apps and services will no longer receive updates when running on Windows 10 after October 14, 2025.” This means:
- Microsoft 365 applications (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams) will no longer receive feature updates, security patches, or bug fixes when running on Windows 10
- Technical support for Microsoft 365 issues on Windows 10 will be discontinued
- New features and capabilities released after October 2025 will only be available on supported operating systems
- Integration between Microsoft 365 services and Windows 10 may degrade over time.
Microsoft has clarified that this is not merely a recommendation but a firm support boundary: “Running Microsoft 365 apps on unsupported operating systems may cause performance and reliability issues for which no support will be available.”
The Real Business Impact: Beyond Security Risks
While security vulnerabilities are the most obvious concern, the business impact of continuing to run Windows 10 after support ends extends far beyond cybersecurity:
Escalating Costs and Limited ESU Availability
For businesses unable to migrate by the deadline, Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates (ESU), but with significant restrictions and costs that increase annually. For a business with 50 computers, ESU costs could exceed £12,000 in the first year alone – money that could be better invested in growth initiatives or new technology.
ESU is not a long-term solution but rather a temporary bridge with important limitations:
- Available primarily through volume licensing agreements or Cloud Solution Providers
- Requires minimum purchases and 12-month commitments
- Covers only critical security updates – no feature updates or technical support
- Requires organizations to document their migration plans and timeline
Windows 11: Key Improvements and Business Benefits
To understand the value proposition of migrating to Windows 11, it’s important to examine the specific improvements and business benefits the new operating system offers:
Enhanced Security Architecture
Windows 11 introduces several fundamental security improvements:
- Hardware-based isolation: Virtualization-based security (VBS) and hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI) create isolated environments that prevent malicious code from accessing critical system resources.
- TPM 2.0 requirement: The Trusted Platform Module provides hardware-based security functions that are essential for modern cybersecurity:
- Secure storage of encryption keys, preventing theft even if a device is physically compromised
- Hardware-based random number generation for stronger encryption
- Secure boot attestation to verify system integrity
- Protection against firmware and rootkit attacks
- Resistance to brute force attacks through hardware-enforced anti-hammering technology.
According to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), “TPM 2.0 provides significantly stronger protection against sophisticated attacks compared to software-only solutions or earlier TPM versions. It represents a fundamental shift from reactive to preventative security.”
Compliance Implications: Why Upgrading is Non-Negotiable
Cyber Essentials Plus Certification
The UK government-backed Cyber Essentials Plus certification has specific requirements that Windows 10 systems will no longer meet after October 2025:
- Supported operating systems: Cyber Essentials Plus explicitly requires that “all operating systems must be supported by the developer.” After October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will fail this fundamental requirement.
- Security updates: The certification mandates that “security updates are installed within 14 days of release.” With no security updates available for Windows 10 (outside of ESU), this requirement cannot be met.
- Malware protection: The certification requires effective and updated malware protection, which becomes increasingly difficult on unsupported operating systems.
PCI DSS Compliance
For businesses that process card payments, PCI DSS compliance is mandatory. Requirement 6.2 of PCI DSS 4.0 states:
“All system components and software must be protected from known vulnerabilities by installing applicable security patches within one month of release.”
The PCI Security Standards Council has clarified that “systems running unsupported operating systems cannot be compliant with PCI DSS, as security patches are no longer available from the vendor.” This means businesses running Windows 10 after October 2025 will be in violation of their payment processing agreements.
The Asygma Approach: Turning Technology Transitions into Business Advantages
Unlike traditional Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who focus solely on keeping systems running, Asygma operates as a Technology Success Partner (TSP). We do not just manage your migration – we transform it into a strategic advantage for your business.
Our Timeback Method for Windows Migration
Our proprietary Timeback Method identifies where your business is losing time to inefficient processes and technology friction, then implements solutions that give that time back to you and your team.
Asygma’s Timeback Method is split into four phases:
- Assessment Phase: Comprehensive evaluation of current technological infrastructure, workflows, and pain points to identify time-draining inefficiencies.
- Strategic Planning Phase: Development of tailored solutions based on assessment findings, with clear implementation roadmaps and expected time-saving outcomes.
- Implementation Phase: Seamless deployment of solutions with minimal disruption to business operations, including staff training and change management support.
- Continuous Optimisation Phase: Ongoing monitoring, regular reviews, and iterative improvements to ensure maximum time savings and ROI are maintained as business needs evolve.
Each phase is designed to systematically identify, address, and optimize technology usage to reclaim valuable business time while ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Next Steps: Do Not Wait Until It Is Too Late
With less than 6 months until Windows 10 end of support, the time to act is now. Businesses that start planning today can execute a controlled, strategic migration that minimises disruption and maximises value.
Immediate Actions to Take:
- Schedule a Windows Environment Readiness Assessment to understand your current state and migration requirements.
- Identify your critical applications and systems that may require special attention during the migration.
- Begin hardware inventory and compatibility checking to determine which devices can be upgraded and which need replacement.
- Develop a preliminary budget and timeline for your migration project.
- Communicate the upcoming changes to key stakeholders to begin building awareness and support.
Contact Asygma today to schedule your Windows Environment Readiness Assessment and begin developing your strategic response to this significant technology transition.
References
- Microsoft – Windows 10 End of Support
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/end-of-support - Microsoft – Microsoft 365 Apps End of Support on Windows 10
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/endofsupport/microsoft-365-services-connectivity - Microsoft – Extended Security Updates Program
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/extended-security-updates - National Cyber Security Centre – Cyber Essentials Requirements
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberessentials/requirements - PCI Security Standards Council – PCI DSS Requirements
https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/ - International Organization for Standardization – ISO 27001
https://www.iso.org/standard/27001 - Gartner – IT Spending Forecast
https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-10-18-gartner-forecasts-worldwide-it-spending-to-grow-8-percent-in-2024 - Deloitte – Digital Transformation Survey
https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/technology/articles/digital-transformation-business-survey.html - CompTIA – UK Business Technology Adoption Report
https://www.comptia.org/content/research/uk-business-technology-adoption-trends - UK Government – Cyber Security Breaches Survey
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2023 - Microsoft – Windows 11 Hardware Requirements
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/windows-11-specifications - Microsoft – Intune Deployment Guide
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/intune/fundamentals/deployment-guide-intune - Microsoft – Autopilot Documentation
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/autopilot/ - Microsoft – Modern Workplace Solutions
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/industry/modern-workplace - Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) – Data Protection Guidelines
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/ - Canalys – PC Market Analysis and Forecasts
https://www.canalys.com/analysis/pc-market - Kaspersky – Security Risks for Outdated Operating Systems
https://www.kaspersky.co.uk/resource-center/threats/risks-of-using-outdated-os - Tech Radar – Windows 10 End of Support Analysis
https://www.techradar.com/pro/windows-10-end-of-support
