Microsoft ended standard support for Windows 10 in October 2025. Yet many organizations are still running Windows 10 across part or all of their environment.
In most cases, everything still appears to be working. Systems boot up. Users stay productive. Nothing has “broken” yet.
That’s exactly what makes this moment risky.
Once an operating system reaches end of support, continuing to run it is no longer a stable long-term option. The risk doesn’t arrive all at once. It builds quietly over time, showing up as security exposure, compatibility issues, and increasing operational friction.
What End of Support Really Means
End of support doesn’t mean Windows 10 suddenly stops functioning. It means Microsoft no longer provides routine security updates, feature updates, or standard support.
From that point forward, organizations are operating on an aging platform that is no longer being actively maintained. New vulnerabilities still emerge, but they are no longer addressed through regular patches. As the broader ecosystem moves forward, Windows 10 gradually falls out of alignment.
The Practical Risks of Staying on Windows 10
Organizations that continue to run Windows 10 after end of support typically encounter the same challenges over time:
- Increasing security exposure
Without ongoing updates, newly discovered vulnerabilities remain unpatched. Even well-managed environments become more exposed simply by remaining on an unsupported operating system. - Growing compatibility issues
New software, hardware, and security tools are increasingly designed for Windows 11. Over time, Windows 10 systems are more likely to experience limitations, degraded performance, or incompatibilities. - Diminishing support options
As vendors and service providers shift focus, troubleshooting Windows 10 environments becomes slower and more constrained. Clean, supported solutions are harder to find. - Rising operational friction
Small issues become more frequent and harder to resolve. Resolution times increase. Users experience subtle disruptions that collectively affect productivity and reliability.
These issues rarely force immediate action. Instead, they accumulate until the cost and disruption are much higher than they would have been with earlier planning.
Why Windows 11 Is the Right Path Forward
Windows 11 is the platform Microsoft is actively supporting and investing in. Moving to Windows 11 restores regular security updates, ensures compatibility with modern tools, and provides a more stable foundation for future systems and workflows.
Just as importantly, a planned transition allows organizations to move deliberately. Hardware can be evaluated properly. Applications can be tested. Rollouts can be phased to minimize disruption.
Organizations that delay often lose those options and end up reacting under pressure.
Planning Beats Reacting
The most resilient environments are not the ones that move fastest. They are the ones that plan ahead.
A proactive transition to Windows 11 reduces long-term risk, avoids surprise costs, and keeps teams focused on productive work instead of managing avoidable issues tied to unsupported systems.
How CMHWorks Helps
At CMHWorks, we help organizations take a practical, measured approach to moving off Windows 10. That starts with understanding where Windows 10 is still in use, assessing readiness for Windows 11, and planning a transition that fits real operational constraints.
The goal isn’t urgency for urgency’s sake. It’s stability, security, and fewer surprises over time.
If Windows 10 is still part of your environment, now is the right time to take action.
CMHWorks helps organizations identify where Windows 10 is still in use, assess readiness for Windows 11, and plan a transition that minimizes disruption and avoids surprises.
To discuss your environment or schedule a Windows 11 readiness assessment, contact CMHWorks.
