Don Sesler, The Technology Whisperer: As the owner, I have the honor of leading a team of super-smart individuals who share my passion for helping entrepreneurs and business owners not fall victim to complex technology challenges that can kill productivity. We want to tame your technology so that it works for you and not the other way around. What technology problem is making your life more complicated than it should be? Reach out to me and tell me your story.

Windows 10 Sunset Is Happening

Microsoft has announced the end of official support for the operating system in October of this year. If you are still using Windows 10, it’s time to start making a plan for this upcoming change, or risk increasing your exposure to cybersecurity risks, software compatibility, and other costly disruptions.

Windows 11 launched in 2021, and after a somewhat bumpy start, it is now widely accepted as the go-to choice for most small businesses. Windows 11 offered several important upgrades over Windows 10, including better cybersecurity, more robust collaboration tools, including Teams, and even some nifty integrations with Android that come in handy for the 40% of people in the US who prefer it over iOS. All of that was great, but now that AI is beginning to work its way into our everyday lives, Windows 11’s built-in AI capability has added yet another advantage over Windows 10.

Still, there are plenty of people who are still using Windows 10. We have plenty of clients who have been slow to make the migration, and their reasons for not making the change run the gamut. Some simply don’t feel there is a big enough advantage to justify the expense, especially if they are also going to have to upgrade their computers to Windows 11-compatible equipment. Others want to delay having to learn the new interface, preferring to stick with what they know.

But the big issue that several companies face is losing compatibility with the software or hardware that they use to run their business. We see this most often in the medical and dental community, where equipment and software that has been in use for years does not work as well with Windows 11 as it does with Windows 10, if it works at all. In that case, it’s not only the time and expense of updating computers and operating systems, but it may mean needing to upgrade, or even abandon, expensive medical equipment.

Can’t Make The Upgrade Yet? Here Are Some Tips.

If you are one of the unfortunate businesses faced with legacy software or equipment that is not fully compatible with Windows 11, it’s time to start planning how to address the Windows 10 sunset. If you cannot make the switch today, you should know that keeping your IT environment operational and safe will get more expensive and time-consuming as time goes by. That being said, here are a few options to consider if you cannot make the upgrade for whatever reason:

  • Isolate the Windows 10 computer from the world: If you are using a Windows 10 machine to connect to a piece of manufacturing or medical equipment, consider removing all external connections to that computer. If the hackers cannot get to it, they cannot hack it.
  • Strengthen your security settings: Windows 10 security is lower than Windows 11, but you should still ensure that all the protection that you do have is active. Turning Windows Defender, Third-Party antivirus software, and ensuring that user accounts do not include admin privileges are all good steps in the right direction.
  • Consider Paying For Extended Security Updates: Once the official support ends, Microsoft plans to offer critical security updates for Windows 10 customers as a paid service. This can buy you a little more time to come up with a long-term solution.
  • Update Your Disaster Recovery Plan: Regardless of the steps you take, the odds that something bad happens with a Windows 10 computer will continue to rise over time. Make sure you have good offsite backups in place for all of your data, and a written plan on how to recover all of that information if you ever need to.
  • Figure Out A Long-Term Plan: Most people who are still using Windows 10 are doing so because there is some mix of time, money, and business risk involved in making the upgrade to Windows 11. With Windows 10 support going away, it is time to re-assess the risk/reward equation of not making the upgrade.

The bottom line for the remaining Windows 10 users out there is that it is time to pull together an upgrade plan. If you have to stick with Windows 10 for now, there are some steps you can take to extend its life, but time is running out.

If you need help putting your Windows 10 to Windows 11 plan together, feel free to schedule a free consultation with me and I’ll be happy to help.