On October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will be End-of-Life. This means that Microsoft will no longer provide monthly security updates for the operating system. Readers of this blog will know that patching is a key component of cybersecurity, so if your system is no longer receiving patches from the manufacturer, it is time to upgrade. You may also find that running End-of-Life systems may void your cyber liability insurance. You definitely want to read the exclusions section of your policy for language regarding the timely installation of patches.
The first step in this process is to inventory your desktop and laptop computers. If you work with an MSP, this has probably been done for you. You will want to know which operating system the machines are running and what hardware platform is in use. For some machines, the process will simply involve upgrading the operating system. Other systems will require minor upgrades (memory for example). Other systems will need to be replaced.
The table below shows the requirements for Windows 10 and Windows 11.
| Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
Processor | 1 Ghz or faster or SoC | 1 Ghz or faster w 2 or more cores |
RAM | 1GB (32 bit) 2GB (64 bit) | 4 GB |
Hard Disk | 16 GB (32 bit OS) 20 GB (64 bit OS) | 64 GB |
Graphics Card | DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver | Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver. |
Display | 800 x 600 | High definition (720p) Greater than 9” Diagonal 8 bits color per cahnnel |
For MTSi managed services customers, a list of your devices has already been prepared, identifying the necessary steps to upgrade each machine to Windows 11. Now is a great time to review the list and budget this upgrade for 2025.
If you are not an MTSi managed services customer and would like help with this process, please reach out to our sales team. Given the number of machines affected by this deadline next October, it is best to get started on this process soon.