Windows 10 End of Support: What Sydney Businesses Must Do Now

Zectron IT

Published 9 October 2026

Windows 10 end of support was 14 October 2025. Since then, Windows 10 PCs only receive security updates if they are enrolled in Microsoft’s paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, and the first ESU year finishes on 13 October 2026. If your business still has Windows 10 computers, you need to either upgrade them to Windows 11, replace them, or pay for another year of ESU while you plan the move.

This guide explains what end of support means in practice, how ESU works for businesses, and the simplest upgrade path for a small or medium business in Sydney.

Still have Windows 10 machines in the office? Our managed IT services team can audit every device and plan the upgrade, or start with a free IT Health Check.

What Windows 10 end of support actually means

Your Windows 10 computers did not stop working on 14 October 2025. They still turn on, run your software and open your files. What stopped was Microsoft’s free support:

• No more free security updates. New vulnerabilities discovered in Windows 10 are only fixed for devices enrolled in ESU.
• No feature updates or bug fixes. Windows 10 version 22H2 is the final version.
• No Microsoft technical support for Windows 10 problems.
• Growing software compatibility issues. Over time, software vendors and hardware makers stop testing and supporting their products on Windows 10.

The biggest risk is security. Attackers actively look for computers missing security patches, and an unsupported operating system on a single PC can give them a way into your whole network. Patching operating systems promptly is one of the core controls in the ASD Essential Eight, and an unpatched Windows 10 machine fails that test.

Extended Security Updates (ESU): how it works for businesses

Microsoft offers a paid ESU program so organisations can keep receiving critical and important security updates for Windows 10 while they finish upgrading. According to Microsoft’s ESU documentation, the key points are:

• Up to three years. Commercial ESU is sold one year at a time, for a maximum of three years after end of support. Year one ends on 13 October 2026, year two on 12 October 2027 and year three on 10 October 2028.
• Price doubles each year. Microsoft lists year one at US$61 per device, and the price doubles each consecutive year. Local pricing in Australian dollars is set through Microsoft licensing partners, so check a current quote.
• Payments are cumulative. If you join in year two, you must also pay for year one. You cannot buy only the months you need.
• Security fixes only. ESU does not include new features, non-security fixes or general technical support.
• Eligible editions. ESU applies to Windows 10 version 22H2 in Pro, Enterprise and Education editions used commercially.

Free ESU through Windows 365

Windows 10 devices connecting to Windows 365 Cloud PCs are entitled to ESU at no extra cost for up to three years while the Windows 365 subscription is active. Windows 10 virtual machines running in Azure Virtual Desktop also receive ESU at no additional cost. For some businesses, moving certain users to a cloud PC is a practical bridge while hardware is replaced.

What about the consumer ESU option?

Microsoft also ran a consumer ESU program aimed at home PCs, which only extends security updates to 13 October 2026. It is not designed for business fleets, and it does not continue beyond that date. Business computers should use the commercial ESU program or be upgraded.

The upgrade path: Windows 11

For most businesses, ESU should be a short bridge, not a long-term plan. The real fix is moving every computer to Windows 11. Here is the process we recommend.

Step 1: Take an inventory

List every computer in the business, including the reception PC, the machine running the label printer and any laptops sitting in a drawer. For each one, record the Windows version, age, processor and whether it supports TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.

Step 2: Check Windows 11 compatibility

Windows 11 needs a supported processor (broadly, Intel 8th generation or AMD Ryzen 2000 series and newer), TPM 2.0, UEFI with Secure Boot, at least 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. Microsoft’s PC Health Check app will tell you whether each device qualifies. In practice, most business PCs bought from around 2019 onwards can upgrade.

Step 3: Upgrade compatible PCs

Eligible Windows 10 PCs can upgrade to Windows 11 at no licence cost. Before upgrading, back up local files, confirm your business software supports Windows 11 and check printer and scanner drivers. If your devices are managed with Microsoft Intune, upgrades can be scheduled and rolled out centrally.

Step 4: Replace devices that cannot upgrade

Older computers that fail the hardware check need replacing. This is a good time to standardise on one or two models, which makes support simpler. Our guide on signs it is time to upgrade your business devices can help you prioritise.

Step 5: Cover the gap with ESU

If some machines cannot be upgraded or replaced before 13 October 2026, enrol them in ESU so they keep receiving security fixes. Because payments are cumulative and prices double, the sooner you finish, the less you spend.

Step 6: Securely dispose of old hardware

Old PCs still contain business and client data. Wipe or destroy drives properly before recycling them.

What if you do nothing?

Running Windows 10 without ESU is a risk that grows every month. Each new vulnerability that Microsoft fixes only for ESU customers becomes a known, unpatched hole on your computers. Other consequences include:

• Cyber insurance problems. Insurers commonly ask whether you run supported operating systems and apply patches promptly. Answering incorrectly can affect a claim.
• Client and contract requirements. Government, finance and health sector clients often require supported, patched systems.
• Privacy obligations. If personal information is exposed through an unpatched system, regulators will ask what reasonable steps you took to protect it.
• Software support. Line-of-business applications and security tools will gradually stop supporting Windows 10.

If something does go wrong, our guide on what to do in the first hour of a cyber attack sets out the immediate steps.

Use the upgrade to improve your setup

A Windows 11 rollout is a good opportunity to fix other long-standing issues at the same time:

• Enrol every computer in device management so settings, updates and security are enforced
• Turn on BitLocker encryption so a lost laptop does not mean a data breach
• Remove local administrator rights from everyday user accounts
• Make sure every staff member uses multi-factor authentication
• Move files off individual PCs and into OneDrive or SharePoint

Our article on Windows 11 features worth using in your business covers the improvements your team will notice day to day.

Frequently asked questions

Is it illegal or against the licence to keep using Windows 10?

No. You can legally keep using Windows 10. However, without ESU it no longer receives security updates, which makes it a growing security and compliance risk for any business.

How much does Windows 10 ESU cost for a business?

Microsoft lists year one of commercial ESU at US$61 per device, with the price doubling each year for up to three years. Payments are cumulative, so joining in year two means paying for year one as well. Australian pricing is quoted through licensing partners and can change.

Can my older PCs be upgraded to Windows 11 for free?

If a Windows 10 PC meets the Windows 11 hardware requirements, the upgrade is free. PCs without TPM 2.0 or a supported processor generally need to be replaced.