FrenchIT Support
In summary
From 14 October 2025, Windows 10 will no longer be supported by Microsoft. No more free security updates by default, no more patches for new vulnerabilities. Your PCs keep running, but every discovered vulnerability remains open – making them prime targets for ransomware. A reprieve exists in Europe, but it's just a sticking plaster. Here are your real options, the costs, and what an SME needs to decide now.
- Windows 10 still works, but without security patches by default: the risk is real and grows over time.
- The migration to Windows 11 is free if your hardware is compatible (recent processor + TPM 2.0 chip).
- For PCs that are not compatible, ESU for businesses extends security until October 2028, at an increasing cost.
- Staying on Windows 10 without protection can put you in breach of GDPR and NIS2.
- PCs that aren't compatible aren't good for the bin: Windows 365 or a refurbished one are valid alternatives.
What «end of support» really means
On 14 October 2025, Microsoft stopped support for Windows 10. Many executives think their PCs will stop working. This is not the case: your computers continue to start up and run normally.
What's changing is the security. Microsoft is no longer releasing security updates for Windows 10 by default. However, these updates are precisely what patch the vulnerabilities exploited by ransomware. Every new vulnerability discovered after this date remains open.
The risk is real but progressive. Your PC becomes increasingly vulnerable as flaws accumulate. And attackers know this: they prioritise targeting systems that are no longer updated, as they are predictable. With hundreds of millions of PCs still running Windows 10, it's a considerable hunting ground.
The European arrest warrant: a sticking plaster, not a solution
Under regulatory pressure (via the Digital Markets Act), Microsoft has agreed to offer individuals in the European Economic Area one year of free Extended Security Updates (ESU), until 13 October 2026.
For entreprises, the ESU programme also exists, but it is paid for and designed to be temporary. It covers up to three years of critical updates (until October 10, 2028), with a price that increases every year to encourage migration: of the order of several tens of euros per device in the first year, with annual doubling.
To remember: The ESU is a safety net to buy time, not a destination. It gives you a year or two to organise a clean transition, without being caught up in the urgency.
Your 4 practical options
1
Migrate to Windows 11
The most sustainable solution, free if the hardware is eligible. Retains files and applications, less than an hour per workstation. The most secure version of Windows to date.
2
Subscribe to ESU company
If part of the park cannot be migrated straight away, you gain 1 to 3 years, at increasing cost. This is to be reserved for incompatible machines.
3
Moving to Windows 365
A Windows 11 desktop in the cloud, accessible from an old machine. ESU updates are included at no extra cost.
4
Renew the equipment
If your PCs are over 7-8 years old. A refurbished post offers excellent value for money with Windows 11.
How to know if your PCs are compatible with Windows 11
The main constraint is hardware: Windows 11 requires a relatively recent processor (Intel 8th generation or AMD equivalent, i.e. from around 2018) and a security chip TPM 2.0.
The check is simple: the free tool PC Hälsa Kontroll Microsoft indicates in a few seconds if a machine is eligible. On some recent PCs deemed «incompatible», it is enough to activate the TPM in the firmware (UEFI/BIOS) to unblock the migration.
For a multi-station park, it is better to have this inventory carried out by your IT provider it immediately identifies the machines to migrate, those to move to ESU or virtual desktop, and those to renew.
The blind spot: compliance
An insecure system can put you in regulatory default
The GDPR requires that the security of personal data be guaranteed (Article 32), which includes keeping your systems up to date. For businesses concerned by NIS2, the obligation is even more explicit.
In other words, if you manage customer data on unprotected Windows 10 workstations, migration is not just a matter of convenience or performance: it's a matter of compliance, with legal risks in the event of an incident.
How GVISION supports your migration
At GVISION, we manage the end-to-end transition for Brussels and Belgian SMEs: inventory of your equipment's compatibility, choice of the best option workstation by workstation (Windows 11 migration, ESU, Windows 365 or renewal), Previous data backup, zero-downtime deployment, and change management.
Our approach is that of a close partner who optimises your security, budget and the lifespan of your equipment – without pushing you to replace everything unnecessarily.
How many of your PCs are Windows 11 compatible?
Enjoy our free audit: we'll assess your estate and offer you a clear, costed, and no-obligation migration roadmap.
Request my free audit Contact usFAQ — End of Windows 10
Will my Windows 10 PC stop working?
No. Windows 10 will continue to start and function normally after 14 October 2025. What will stop is the free security updates by default, which will make the PC more and more vulnerable over time.
Is the upgrade to Windows 11 free?
Yes, if your hardware is compatible (recent processor and TPM 2.0 chip). The upgrade is done via Windows Update, keeps your files and applications, and usually takes less than an hour.
What to do if my PC isn't compatible with Windows 11?
Several options: subscribe to ESU to temporarily extend security, switch to a Windows 365 virtual desktop (which includes security updates), or renew the workstation — a professionally refurbished one being an economical and sustainable option.
How much does the ESU cost for a business?
The Extended Security Updates (ESU) for business programme is paid for per device, per year, with a price that increases each year (from several dozen euros in the first year to several hundred in the third). It covers up to October 2028. Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop include it at no extra cost.
Is remaining on Windows 10 a compliance issue?
It can. GDPR requires personal data to be secured, which includes keeping systems up to date. Running unsecured workstations that process customer data can expose you legally, and even more so if you are subject to NIS2.
Until when can I safely stay on Windows 10?
With ESU for businesses, up to 10th October 2028 at the latest. However, the increasing cost makes it a transitional solution, not a destination. The ideal is to migrate compatible workstations now and plan for the rest.
This article is for information only. The dates, prices and conditions of the ESU programme, as well as the hardware requirements for Windows 11, are subject to change and reflect the situation as known in 2026. For an assessment tailored to your own environment, please contact our experts.
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