Windows 10 Reaches End of Life- Here’s What It Means for Your Business

Yesterday marked a major moment in the tech world- Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10.

At Corbel, we know many Ipswich and Suffolk businesses have relied on Windows 10 for years. It’s been a dependable workhorse, but as of 14 October 2025, its journey has officially come to an end. And while your computer will still switch on this morning, the safety net that’s been quietly protecting it for the past decade has disappeared.

The End of Support- What Really Changes

With support now over, Windows 10 will no longer receive free security updates or patches from Microsoft. New software may stop installing over time, and technical support is gone for good.

In short, your systems will still run- but they’ll no longer evolve. From here on, every newly discovered vulnerability becomes a potential open door.

Why It Matters

Cybercriminals are opportunists. The moment software stops receiving updates, they start scanning the internet for machines that haven’t moved on. Those systems become easy targets for ransomware, data theft, and malware infections.

Even large organisations aren’t immune — but smaller firms across Suffolk and the wider East of England often face a tougher challenge. They may not be specifically targeted, but the impact of an attack can be far greater. The difference is, smaller firms rarely have the same resources to recover.

And while it’s easy to think, “We’re too small to be a target”, the truth is most attacks aren’t targeted at all. They’re automated- sweeping across thousands of systems until they find one that’s unprotected.

The Cost of Standing Still

For small and medium-sized businesses, the impact of a breach can be devastating. Government data shows 43% of UK organisations experienced a cyber incident last year, and recovery costs often stretch well into five figures.

More worrying still, outdated systems can cause compliance issues for businesses handling customer data under GDPR– simply running unsupported software could be seen as failing to maintain appropriate security controls.

What You Can Do Now

The good news? You have options.

At Corbel, we’ve been helping clients across Suffolk prepare for this milestone for months- ensuring upgrades are smooth, downtime is minimal, and budgets stay under control.

Here are a few practical steps we recommend:

1. Check your systems– identify any devices still running Windows 10.
2. Plan your upgrade path– whether that’s to Windows 11 or a managed alternative.
3. Review your backups and security tools– make sure everything else is up to date.

We understand that upgrades can feel daunting, especially for smaller teams juggling day-to-day pressures. That’s why our approach is simple: we handle the tech, you stay focused on your business.

The Bigger Picture

The end of Windows 10 isn’t just about retiring an old operating system- it’s a reminder of how fast technology moves, and how critical it is to keep pace.

Yesterday might have marked the end of an era, but it’s also the start of a new opportunity: to modernise, to strengthen security, and to make sure your business is ready for what’s next.

If you’re unsure what yesterday’s deadline means for you, our team can help.

Your computers may still be running today- but now’s the time to make sure they’re running safely.

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Corbel Solutions are an Ipswich based IT Support Provider who work proactively throughout Ipswich and the wider Suffolk region including Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Newmarket, Sudbury. Providing a range of IT Support Services including Cyber Security and Cyber Security Training, Office 365 Support and IT Consultancy Services. To take a look at what others have had to say about us, check out our Google Review page. To find out more information or to have a chat with one of our team, feel free to give us a call on 01473 241515 or email us on info@corbel.co.uk. Or alternatively you can book in a call with one of our team members here.