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Microsoft's decision to end free support for many editions of Windows 10 has left enterprises with a significant financial burden, with estimates suggesting that sticking with the operating system could cost upwards of $7.3 billion in the first twelve months alone. The transition to Windows 11 is complex and fraught with challenges, but for those who choose to stick with an outdated operating system, the consequences are likely to be severe.
The cost of sticking with Windows 10 could be $7.3 billion in the first twelve months alone for customers wanting extended security updates.About 420 million enterprise Windows devices are still running Windows 10, and they will receive a year of Extended Security Updates at $61 per device.Many enterprises are struggling to make the switch to Windows 11 due to issues with driver compatibility and poorly planned migrations.The transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is a complex issue that requires careful planning and consideration. Enterprises must weigh their options carefully and consider the potential risks and benefits associated with each choice.
Microsoft's decision to end free support for many editions of Windows 10 on October 14 has left enterprises with a significant financial burden. According to IT workplace management outfit Nexthink, the cost of sticking with Windows 10 could be in the order of $7.3 billion in the first twelve months alone for customers wanting extended security updates.
Nexthink's analysis suggests that there are approximately 420 million enterprise Windows devices, with around 181 million still running Windows 10. The company estimates that these devices will receive a year of Extended Security Updates at $61 per device, resulting in a collective bill of over $7.3 billion. This figure is based on the assumption that trends continue, with a 33% decrease in Windows 10 devices between May 19 and August 1.
The decision to end free support for Windows 10 has been met with skepticism from some experts, who argue that it should be viewed as an opportunity for enterprises to improve how employees work every day. According to Tim Flower, Digital Employee Experience (DEX) Strategist at Nexthink, "Moving from one operating system to another shouldn't feel like a disruption. It should be an opportunity to improve how employees work every day."
However, the reality is that many enterprises are struggling to make the switch to Windows 11, with some citing issues related to driver compatibility and poorly planned migrations. According to Nexthink's analysis of customer devices, Windows 11 accounts for more system crashes (1.2% versus 0.6%) and hard resets (9.9% versus 8.5%) than Windows 10.
The company points to driver issues and poorly planned migrations rather than Microsoft's quality control as the cause. Flower generously said: "Every migration comes with teething problems, and what we're seeing with Windows 11 is no different. These issues aren't necessarily due to Windows itself, but are often linked to the underlying hardware, drivers, or the way systems are deployed."
Despite these challenges, many enterprises are choosing to stick with Windows 10, citing concerns about the stability of Windows 11 and the potential for disruptions during the migration process. The decision to continue using an outdated operating system will likely have significant implications for enterprises in terms of security, performance, and employee productivity.
In light of these findings, it is clear that the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is a complex issue that requires careful planning and consideration. Enterprises must weigh their options carefully and consider the potential risks and benefits associated with each choice.
As the deadline for extended support ends on October 14, enterprises will need to make a decision about whether to stick with an outdated operating system or take the plunge into the unknown world of Windows 11. Whatever they choose, it is likely that the consequences will be significant, with billions of dollars on the line for those who choose to continue using Windows 10.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Windows-10-Support-Dilemma-A-Billions-Dollar-Problem-for-Enterprises-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/09/04/windows_10_esu_costs/
Published: Thu Sep 4 08:57:37 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
