Windows 10 end of support and ESU: next steps for businesses

Windows 10 end of support came on 14 October 2025. Since then, Windows 10 computers receive security updates only through ESU, a paid Extended Security Updates subscription a company can buy for up to three years, until 10 October 2028. The first year of ESU ends on 13 October 2026. That is a good moment to decide whether to pay for a second year, upgrade your computers to Windows 11 or replace them. Treat ESU as a temporary measure.

Details of the ESU programme are based on Microsoft’s documentation as of 7 September 2026.

What the end of Windows 10 support means for a company

Computers with Windows 10 still start up and work. However, Microsoft no longer provides them with the following (Microsoft’s Windows lifecycle FAQ):

• security updates
• bug fixes and new features
• technical support

Every new vulnerability in the system stays open, so the risk to your company keeps growing. Some clients and business partners also have security requirements that often assume a current, supported operating system.

How much does ESU for Windows 10 cost, and how does it work?

According to the description of the ESU programme in Microsoft’s documentation, businesses buy ESU through volume licensing or from a partner in the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) programme, as described in the guide for CSP partners. The first year costs USD 61 per device, and the price doubles each following year. We are a Microsoft partner in the CSP programme, so you can buy ESU licences from us, even for a handful of computers.

ESU year	End of period (Microsoft’s ESU FAQ)	Price per device
Year 1	13 October 2026	USD 61
Year 2	12 October 2027	USD 122 (double year 1)
Year 3	10 October 2028	USD 244 (double year 2)

How the ESU programme works:

• ESU is cumulative. If you join in the second year, you also pay for the first. You cannot buy a period shorter than a year.
• The computer must run Windows 10 version 22H2. Older versions have to be updated first.
• ESU covers only security updates rated critical and important. It includes no new features, no fixes for other bugs and no technical support beyond problems with ESU itself.
• Windows 10 virtual machines in Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop and Azure Virtual Machines receive ESU at no extra charge.

Prices are given in US dollars from Microsoft’s price list. The price in PLN depends on the purchasing channel and the exchange rate, so we state it in the quote.

Does Microsoft 365 work on Windows 10?

It does, with limitations. Microsoft has announced (Windows 10 end of support and Microsoft 365 Apps) that:

• Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, Outlook) on Windows 10 receive security updates until 10 October 2028
• new features reach Windows 10 only up to version 2608, after which the apps stay on that version
• if you report a problem that does not occur on Windows 11, Microsoft support will ask you to move to Windows 11

A Microsoft 365 licence therefore protects only the apps. It does not replace ESU for the operating system.

Windows 11 requirements

The minimum Windows 11 requirements according to Microsoft are:

• a 64-bit processor from the compatibility list, with at least 2 cores and 1 GHz
• 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage
• UEFI firmware with Secure Boot
• a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) version 2.0
• a graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 (WDDM 2.0 driver)

Among our clients, the computers that most often failed the requirements were those without a TPM 2.0 security module. The second barrier is the processor: a fast, multi-core computer may still have a processor that is not on the compatibility list. You can check a single computer with the PC Health Check app. In a company, it is better to check all workstations at once from your management tools.

Meeting the requirements does not mean an upgrade makes sense. A laptop that is several years old, with its warranty running out and a weak battery, may be a better candidate for replacement than for an upgrade.

How we plan replacements and upgrades

When moving away from Windows 10, we follow a simple process:

1. Inventory. For each computer, we record the model, processor, TPM, age, warranty status, user and their software.
2. Three groups. The first group is upgraded to Windows 11 and the second is replaced. The third stays on Windows 10 for a good reason, and only for these computers do we consider ESU.
3. Application testing. We check line-of-business software, printer and scanner drivers, and devices connected to the computers. One incompatible driver or program can hold up the move for a whole department.
4. Sequence. Workstations with access to sensitive data and online banking come first, and computers with the lowest risk come last.
5. Backup before the change. We secure user data before the upgrade or before moving to a new computer. Backup software for the whole company is described on our business software page.
6. Workstation setup. We transfer data and settings, install software, and join the computer to the domain or enrol it in Intune.

Computers that stay on ESU are labelled with a planned replacement date. That way the cost of the second and third years does not catch your budget by surprise.

How much does it cost to set up a new workstation?

We quote workstation setup individually. The cost depends on:

• how much data and how many settings need moving from the old computer
• how many programs need installing and configuring, especially line-of-business software
• how the computer is managed: joined to an on-premises domain or enrolled in Microsoft Intune
• how many computers are set up at once

We select and supply new workstations as part of our business computers service. If you use our managed IT services on a monthly plan (a fixed monthly fee covering a set number of hours from our specialists), we can plan and carry out the move away from Windows 10 within those hours.

The first step is an inventory of your Windows 10 computers. It shows where ESU makes sense and where it is better to buy new hardware straight away. Get in touch to arrange one.