Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Rather than replace hardware immediately, many organizations bridged the gap by enrolling devices in Microsoft's paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. That bridge is now running short. Year One of commercial ESU coverage ends on October 13, 2026, and the cost of remaining on Windows 10 rises sharply after that date.
The transition is far from finished. Statcounter recorded Windows 10 at roughly 28% of worldwide desktop Windows activity in June 2026, which suggests a meaningful share of business endpoints are still running the older platform.
In this blog post, we will explain what changes in October, why delayed migration increases exposure, and the steps businesses can take now. We will also discuss how Techmedics supports Windows 11 migration and hardware lifecycle planning.
According to Microsoft, commercial ESU is sold through Volume Licensing at $61 per device for Year One, and the price doubles every consecutive year for a maximum of three years. Two details frequently catch businesses off guard:
1. ESU pricing is cumulative. Microsoft states that organizations buying into Year Two must also pay for Year One. Waiting does not defer the expense; it compounds it.
2. ESU is not technical support. The program delivers critical and important security updates only. It excludes new features, customer-requested non-security updates, and general technical support for Windows 10 itself.
Verizon's 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report found that exploitation of vulnerabilities has become the leading initial access vector, accounting for roughly 31% of initial access compared with 20% the year prior. Endpoints that fall outside a vendor's patch cycle sit outside that remediation window entirely, and attackers tend to concentrate on software with known, unpatched flaws.
Unsupported endpoints can also complicate vendor security questionnaires, cyber insurance renewals, and internal control reviews, depending on the frameworks and contractual commitments a business operates under.
Inventory every endpoint. Confirm which machines run Windows 10 version 22H2, the version Microsoft requires for ESU eligibility, and which are already on Windows 11.
Assess Windows 11 readiness. Sort devices into upgrade-eligible and replacement-required groups so budgeting reflects actual hardware condition.
Stagger hardware replacement. Spreading a refresh across quarters avoids a single large capital outlay and reduces strain on internal teams.
Validate application compatibility. Line-of-business and industry-specific software should be tested before broad deployment to prevent productivity disruptions.
Techmedics helps businesses plan and execute operating system transitions through managed IT services. Our hardware lifecycle forecasting keeps inventory tracking, scheduled upgrades, and workload reviews current, so replacements are planned rather than reactive. Our IT procurement team sources, purchases, and deploys replacement devices aligned to your requirements, while our device management and patching services keep desktops, laptops, and servers current once migration is complete. Our vCIO leadership also helps align refresh spending with your broader technology budget.
Request a consultation with Techmedics today to build a Windows 11 migration plan before the October deadline.
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