Windows 10 End of Support: What it means for your business and how to prepare

By Cooperative Business New Zealand | January 2025
In a world where technology drives day-to-day operations, staying up to date with software is essential.

Microsoft’s announcement of the end of support for Windows 10 in October this year has raised pressing concerns for businesses, particularly for cooperatives that are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), or co-ops with members that are SMEs.

To help our members navigate this transition, we’ve partnered with Cyclone to create a resource that answers critical questions and provides actionable insights tailored to SMEs.

 

What does “End of Support” mean?

When Microsoft ends support for a product, it no longer provides security updates, patches, or technical assistance. This leaves systems vulnerable to cyber threats, compliance risks, and operational disruptions. For businesses like SMEs which often have limited IT resources, these risks can escalate quickly. If your organisation or members are still using Windows 10, now is the time to act.

 

Key topics covered

For organisations still relying on this operating system, understanding the implications and planning your next steps is critical to safeguarding your operations and data.

1. Understanding the risks of Windows 10 end of support: Discover the specific dangers of continuing to use unsupported software, including heightened cybersecurity risks and potential compliance issues.

2. Preparing for the transition: Learn the immediate steps businesses should take, from assessing your current systems to developing a transition timeline.

3. Upgrading to Windows 11 – what you need to know: Explore how to determine if your hardware can support Windows 11, the key differences between Windows 10 and 11 and how these changes can impact your business.

4. Cost-effective solutions for limited IT resources: Find out about affordable strategies and tools that can help you manage this transition, even with minimal technical support.

5. Exploring alternatives to Windows 11: If upgrading isn’t feasible, learn about other operating system options, their benefits, and drawbacks.

 

Why this matters

Beyond the immediate risks, transitioning to a supported operating system presents an opportunity to improve your organisation’s cybersecurity, productivity, and overall IT infrastructure. For larger co-operatives, it’s also a chance to demonstrate leadership by supporting smaller members or partners through this change.

 

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