Is your business still working from a Windows 10 operating system? If so, now is the time to start exploring your upgrade options. Windows 10 will officially come to its end of life on 14 October 2025. This means that Microsoft will no longer provide any patch updates or security fixes after this date, which could put your IT system at increased risk.
End-of-life support is relevant for the following:
- Microsoft Windows 10 Home
- Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
- Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Education
- Microsoft Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
Why is this a problem?
It’s always important to move away from legacy systems. Although your operating system will continue to function as usual, the end-of-life support means that it will no longer be eligible for any updates. This means that if a new vulnerability were to emerge, there would be no fixes available to protect your files or your data.
In today’s ever-escalating risk of cybersecurity breaches, no one can afford to run the risk that their data isn’t fully protected at all times. If you were affected by a cyberattack or a data breach, you may find that your insurance policy might not pay out because you are not working from a secure system.
What can I do if I am using a Windows 10 system?
If you’re not sure what OS you are currently using, or you need help to upgrade to something new, please pick up the phone and give us a call.
Ideally, most people will upgrade to Windows 11, which is the latest operating system. It will allow you to benefit from the latest technology and stringent security standards. If you’re upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11, you need to know that your devices meet the minimum standards required.
Our support is there to guide you along that transition.
While it may be necessary to upgrade your OS rather than replace specific devices, the final choice will depend on the hardware warranty status and age of each device. We focus on delivering value for money, so we will provide detailed recommendations of which devices need to be replaced and which can be upgraded.
Not all devices are compatible with Windows 11 – what then?
You may find that your device isn’t compatible with an upgrade to Windows 11. That may be because your system is lacking a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). This is a specific tamper-resistant chip on a motherboard – and without it, that device will encounter errors during the upgrade process.
“The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a chip that is either integrated into your PC’s motherboard or added separately into the CPU. Its purpose is to help protect encryption keys, user credentials, and other sensitive data behind a hardware barrier so that malware and attackers can’t access or tamper with that data.”
David Weston, Vice President, Enterprise and OS Security, Microsoft Blog
This is a global problem, with millions of customers concerned that their devices do not have a TPM chip installed. However, the good news is that in many devices, that chip may already be installed – it’s just switched off by default.
Microsoft has been including TPM 2.0 (the requirement for Windows 11) on all prebuilt PCs since 2016, so if your device is relatively new, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.
If you are concerned that your devices are not compatible, please talk to us. We can review your hardware to identify if your PCs and laptops are equipped with the TPM 2.0. From there, we can upgrade your system to the latest OS.
Book a readiness check with Lucid Systems.
Although October 2025 may sound like a long time to wait, we recommend acting early to prevent any issues.
Your transition to Windows 11 begins with a readiness check from our experienced staff.
During your check, we will help you to
- Discover which workstations are still using Windows 10
- Find out if those workstations are equipped with TPM 2.0
- Upgrade qualifying devices to Windows 11
- Provide recommendations for device replacements if required
We will also manage any system upgrade outside of your usual operating hours, ensuring that your business has minimal disruption.
To book your readiness check, please call us on 01473 355199
