In case you missed the news, Microsoft is bringing all support for Windows 10 to a hard halt on October 14th 2025. A lot of businesses are still using this operating system. If that’s you then it’s time to make the leap and upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as is viable for you. Failing to do so could have negative impacts ranging from security concerns to compliance issues and all the loss of efficiency in between! Let’s review some of your business’s risks from sticking to Windows 10.
No More Updates for Windows 10
This is a big one, because no more updates means no more critical security patches to protect against the latest threats. You’re open to cyberattacks, ransomware and data breaches, with hackers always on the lookout for unsupported operating systems. Being on Windows 10 will be a serious chink in the armour of your cyber defences. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach for businesses in Australia has gone up to AUD$4.26-million – so you really don’t want that chink to be exploited. The upfront cost of upgrading to Windows 11 is a lot more enticing than the financial and reputational damage a data breach brings.
Missing Out on Advanced Threat Protection
One of the key areas Microsoft has focused on with Windows 11 is security, and it brings a raft of robust enhancements that simply aren’t available to Windows 10. Advanced protection is provided through features like Windows Hello, hardware-enforced stack protection, virtualisation-based security (VBS), brining critical safeguards to your work and data. If you stay on Windows 10, you forgo these, opening yourself up to cyber threats and exploits in the process.
Regulatory Compliance Risks
Depending on the industry you work on, there’s going to be regulatory requirements around how you store and protect data. Industries like healthcare, education and finance are particularly stringent with how they approach this, and you don’t want to create any compliance headaches for yourself. Using an unsupported operating system will do exactly that, as you won’t be able to maintain up-to-date software with the latest security patches. This can lead to legal complications, including fines and loss of certifications. Windows 11 meets modern compliance standards, aligning with industry best practice thanks to enhanced encryption, secure boot capabilities and other powerful security features.
Increased Maintenance Costs
Unsupported systems tend to become obsolete pretty quickly, so you can expect that to happen to Windows 10. Your business will face an increasing amount of maintenance issues, with more frequent troubleshooting required to try and find solutions. That’s a drain on time and resources, which will only be accentuated as vendor support and third-party compatibility drops off. It’s not just the cost of repairing hardware that’s no longer optimised for the modern digital landscape, it’s also the inefficiencies that arise from using outdated software. Eventually, your hand will be forced and you’ll simply have to upgrade to Windows 11. We recommend getting ahead of the curve and taking the leap before Windows 10 support ceases.
Vendor Support Will Fade
Once Windows 10 begins to drift into obscurity, you’ll find that hardware and software vendors will shift all their focus to Windows 11. This means that everything coming out will be optimised for the Windows 11operating system, from apps to devices, software to hardware. The programs you rely on for your day-to-day work will stop working reliably, and there could be some serious effects on your team’s productivity.
Device manufacturers are already designing their products with Windows 11 in mind. Your older machines are simply going to struggle to keep up.
Falling Behind Competitors
It’s not just the machines that will struggle to keep up. If you don’t want to lag behind your competitors, you need to take advantage of the latest tools and tech out there. We live in a tech-driven business world, with efficiency and productivity at its core. If you fail to keep up with the times and innovate, customers will simply choose a business who does.
The incredible productivity features of Windows 11, which include an integration with Microsoft Teams and the introduction of virtual desktops, will help you work smarter and faster. If you don’t upgrade, your competitors will be working smarter and faster than you, and you’re going to fall behind. Stay efficient, stay innovative and stay ahead of the latest tech by upgrading before support to Windows 11 ends.
Contact the Microsoft Experts
As you can see, the risks start of not upgrading your operating system to Windows 11 start to add up. They’re far more than just a minor inconvenience – the threat of compliance risks, cyber breaches, increasing costs and decreasing efficiencies become very real. Your business and all its data, including sensitive client data, becomes endangered.
When you upgrade, these risks dissipate. It doesn’t have to be an overwhelming and stressful experience either – the Smile IT team can guide you through the entire process. We’ll assess your existing infrastructure and advise on whether it is equipped for Windows 11, and advise what upgrades to perform if it isn’t. Get in touch today and we’ll get the ball rolling!
When he’s not writing tech articles or turning IT startups into established and consistent managed service providers, Peter Drummond can be found kitesurfing on the Gold Coast or hanging out with his family!