November 13, 2025
October 14, 2025, has come and gone, marking the official end of support (EOS) for Windows 10 after a decade of service.
If your organization hasn't fully migrated to Windows 11 yet, your devices will continue to function — for now. But the clock is ticking on making a strategic decision about your next steps. Every time an operating system is sunsetted, you take on risk when you continue using it after its EOS date. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is that a lot of organizations are pushing off their migrations.
Why So Many Windows 11 Migrations Have Stalled
While Windows 10 reached 50% adoption in just three years, Windows 11 has taken four years to hit that same milestone. Many organizations are still mid-migration, with substantial numbers of businesses planning upgrades well into 2026 and beyond.
We’ve talked with a number of our clients who haven’t yet made the move about why their migrations have hit a wall. Here’s what we’re hearing:
- Windows 11 has more hardware requirements than Windows 10
- Windows 11 isn’t compatible with critical legacy software
- There’s no room in the budget to buy all of the new software and devices needed in a single year
What Happens After Windows 10 End of Life
Obviously, your Windows 10 devices didn’t suddenly stop working on October 15. The real issue is that Microsoft has stopped releasing free security updates and patches for Windows 10.
Security vulnerabilities didn’t suddenly appear on October 16th either. They accumulate gradually over months and years as new exploits are discovered and remain unpatched. This gradual increase in risk is why many organizations continue using Windows 10 for a period after the EOS deadline. But again, the longer you wait, the riskier it gets.
Your Three Options Moving Forward
Technically, you have more options, but unless you’re planning on using a non-Windows operating system — which will also require a migration process — here are the three paths that make the most sense for most organizations.
Option 1: Migrate to Windows 11 ASAP
Even if your budget is tight and so is your time, the sooner you can migrate, the better. Not all devices carry the same amount of risk, so even if you continue to migrate more slowly, prioritizing mission-critical apps and devices can help you get over the finish line on your own time, but without taking on as much risk.
Here are the benefits of migrating sooner rather than later:
- Demand for new devices may peak in early 2026, which can drive up costs
- You'll keep security and compliance risks low — unsupported systems can expose you to both cyberattacks and regulatory violations
- You’ll gain access to new productivity and security features
- If you need outside help, it’s typically cheaper to get that help when you’re not already experiencing an emergency
- It’s not too late to take advantage of special deals from providers who want to incentivize early migration
Don’t just rush past that last bullet point. Even if a lot of businesses were caught by surprise by Microsoft’s decision to sunset Windows 10, IT providers knew it was coming and had some time to do what they could. At Marco, we were able to negotiate a unique deal with HP so that our clients could get new AI-powered laptops at a hard-to-find price point.
Option 2: Purchase Windows 10 End of Life Extended Support
Just because support is no longer included for Windows 10 doesn’t mean you can’t buy it. Some third-party providers are offering their own Windows 10 support plans — although you’d be putting an incredible amount of trust in a company without the resources or the credibility of Microsoft.
Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is also available through October 2028. There are some device prerequisites, and it’s expensive, but at least it’s a company you can trust. The program costs $61 per year, per device, and doubles every year after that, for a total of $244 per device in year 3.
That said, here’s why this plan might make sense for some:
- It can buy you more time without adding risk
- By the time it gets prohibitively expensive, many older devices would be phased out anyway
- Organizations with custom legacy software will have more time to adjust
The problem with this option is that you’ll be paying quite a bit more to keep around older devices. That’s not a good long-term strategy overall, but if some PCs need to, for example, run non-compatible software for another year while you make other updates, Microsoft’s ESU program may make sense in moderation.
Option 3: Continue Without Support
According to a recent poll of channel partners (companies like Marco), survey respondents said that 18% of their customers plan on continuing to use Windows 10 without a defined migration path, while another 29% expect migrations to take six months or longer.
We would caution any organization against continuing to use Windows 10 devices without a plan to minimize risk. However, we understand that this is a difficult time for many businesses, and some have had to make difficult choices with their time and with their budget.
How To Upgrade to Windows 11 the Easy Way
On paper, budget concerns are the biggest reason projects get stalled, but for a lot of companies, just figuring out which devices need to be prioritized and which can wait is actually pretty complicated. And for a lot of companies, getting those new devices set up and in the hands of their end users isn’t that easy either. That’s why we knew we’d have to offer more options.
If you’re stuck, here are your options to get unstuck on a budget and timeline that works for you:
Personalized Assessment and Recommendations
We can help you identify exactly how many devices need upgrading, your budget parameters, and your specific application requirements. Then, we can tailor recommendations specifically for your organization, so you can update your devices on a schedule that doesn’t break your budget or significantly increase your risk.
Exclusive Deals and Simplified Delivery
Windows 11 represents a big leap forward, and we wanted to offer our clients more perks to help them get there faster.
Need to push the easy button on your migration? Here are a few more Marco options:
- HP AI-powered PCs with special pricing for enhanced productivity and security
- Microsoft 365 discounts and license optimization, including optional E5 security and compliance add-ons for Business Premium
- Simplified setup and delivery with devices configured with your apps and delivered directly to employees throughout the US
Outsource Your Migration Entirely
Not every organization just needs to buy some new devices on a schedule and call it good. If your infrastructure is complex, and your migration keeps getting postponed because your in-house IT team has competing priorities, we can partner with you through the entire migration process.
Every organization is different, but if you’ve been considering paying the steep price for extended Microsoft support, bringing in an outside partner to get your migration done quickly is probably a more cost-effective option in the long run.
Choosing Your Best Support Option
We understand that there's no one-size-fits-all answer. What works for a 500-employee organization with a dedicated IT team looks completely different from what makes sense for a 30-person business.
That's why we start with a conversation — not a sales pitch.
We'll take time to understand where you are today: how many devices you're working with, what your budget looks like, which applications are mission-critical, and what timeline makes the most sense. Then we'll talk through your realistic options — whether that's a full migration now, a phased approach over the next year, or using ESU as a bridge while you plan.
Along the way, we can talk a bit more about the opportunities we've secured with partners like HP and Microsoft, help you understand the true costs of each path forward, so you can get the clarity you need.
Our consultation is free, and what you do with the information you’re given is entirely up to you. Click the link below to learn more about how we can provide clarity and support, including a free consultation.
