Windows 10 was first released in July 2015, and Microsoft has been providing updates and support for it since then. However, all good things must come to an end, and the end of life for Windows 10 is set for October 14, 2025. After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for the operating system.
This means that if companies are still using Windows 10 after October 2025, Windows endpoints will be vulnerable to security risks and companies won’t be able to receive any technical assistance from Microsoft. Therefore, it’s important to start planning the transition to Windows 11 now.
It’s also worth noting that Windows 11 introduces several new and improved security and productivity features.
Alex Verboon
CTO & Principal Cyber Security Consultant
For a smaller organization with a small number of devices and a simpler upgrade process, the duration of an operating system upgrade could be as short as a few days or a week. For a larger organization with a larger number of devices and a more complex upgrade process, the duration could be several months or even years.
Provided the hardware meets the Windows 11 requirements, the upgrade process itself should be quite straightforward and not as time–consuming as with previous operating system upgrades.
However, there are several common pitfalls that organizations can encounter, including:
- Lack of planning: One of the most common pitfalls of operating system migration projects is a lack of proper planning. Without a comprehensive plan in place, the migration can become disorganized and delayed.
- Inadequate testing: Another common pitfall is not conducting sufficient testing before and after the migration. This can lead to problems and issues that are not discovered until after the migration is complete.
- Compatibility issues: Organizations may encounter compatibility issues with their existing hardware and software, which can cause delays if they need to be updated or replaced before the migration can take place.
- Resistance to change: Some employees may be resistant to the change and may not be willing to adopt the new operating system. This can cause delays if the organization does not have a plan in place to address this resistance.
- Dependence on legacy systems: Organizations may have legacy systems that are still running on older versions of Windows, that can’t be easily replaced. This can cause delays if they can’t be made compatible with the new operating system.
- Lack of resources: Migrating to a new operating system requires a significant investment of time, resources and skills. If the organization doesn’t have the necessary resources to complete the migration, it can cause delays.
- Budget constraints: Projects can be delayed if the organization does not have the budget to invest in the necessary hardware, software, and resources to complete the migration.
- Inadequate communication: Not communicating the plan, timelines, and progress of the migration project to all stakeholders, can lead to misunderstandings, confusion and resistance.
When migrating to Windows 10, most companies used traditional management tools such as Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, Active Directory and Group Policy for deploying and configuring their Windows devices.
The move to Windows 11 also provides an opportunity for moving towards modern management, leveraging the capabilities and features of Microsoft Intune, Azure Active Directory, Windows Update for Business, Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Microsoft 365 Defender.
The below table provides an overview of traditional vs. modern device management options.
| Traditional | Modern |
|---|---|
|
Client joined to Active Directory |
Client joined to Azure Active Directory
|
|
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration manager
|
Microsoft Intune with optional Co-Management
|
|
Group Policy
|
Intune Configuration Profiles and Endpoint Security Configuration |
|
WSUS |
Windows Update for Business, Windows Autopatch |
|
Passwords |
Passwordless Sign-In with Windows Hello for Business, FIDO2 security keys, Microsoft Authenticator Phone sign-in |
|
OS Deployment Task Sequences |
Hardware delivered with clean Windows 11 images and provisioning with Windows Autopilot
|
|
Antivirus |
Endpoint Detection and Response solutions like Defender for Endpoint |
|
Home Drive and File Shares
|
OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams
|
Conclusion
Windows 10 will reach end of life in October 2025, that’s about 2.5 years from now. If you haven’t thought of how to move to Windows 11 yet, now is the time.
Consider that medium to large-sized companies require approximately one year for the planning, engineering, and testing and another year for deploying Windows 11 to all corporate devices.
How baseVISION can help
The IT field is constantly evolving, and it can be challenging for IT staff to keep up with new technologies and methodologies. baseVISION, specialized in modern and secure endpoint management, can support your internal IT team with accelerating the learning curve and assist you with the planning and engineering activities for a smooth transition to Windows 11.