Huge news from the world of Microsoft- Windows will officially retire Windows 10 and stop all security updates and support as of October 2025. Whilst this may seem a distant deadline, we urge you to consider the security risks this change may pose to your business. Since Microsoft will discontinue its security updates, anyone operating on a Windows 10 machine or even sharing a network with one will be at risk of cyber threats.
Upgrading to Windows 11 is essential to stay protected, and for some, this could mean updating hardware as well. Here’s what you need to know.
When does Windows 10 support end?
Windows 10's scheduled end date is currently October 14th, 2025. Following this, there will be no more security patches, bug fixes, or official support for this operating system. Without regular updates, Windows 10 machines will become increasingly vulnerable to malware and other cyber threats. This is a significant security risk to businesses, as it endangers not only their data but also that of anyone connected to their network.
Is Windows 11 better than Windows 10?
Yes, Windows 11 provides several improvements over its predecessor. While it’s largely up for discussion which edition of the Windows operating system reigns supreme*, from an objective perspective, Windows 11 simply offers more in terms of security and performance, including:
- Trusted Platform Module (TPM) support
- Improved encryption
- Better integration with cloud-based services
This is all packaged up in a cleaner and more efficient user experience; however, it comes at the cost of more demanding system requirements. This means that businesses running older machines may need to evaluate their setup to ensure that they can transition to the new operating system.
*If you were to ask us on a personal level? Windows 7 reigns supreme!
Windows 11 minimum requirements: Is your system ready?
Before you go ahead and install the latest Windows OS, it’s crucial that you review the minimum system requirements for your machine to run Windows 11 efficiently. The official guidance from Microsoft is that you require at least the following:
- A compatible 64-bit processor with 1 GHz or faster and at least 2 cores
- 4 GB of RAM
- 64 GB of storage
- Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) and Secure Boot capable system firmware
- Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
- A DirectX 12 compatible graphics card with WDDM 2.0 driver
These requirements are understandably more demanding than Windows 10's, meaning that some older devices may be unable to handle the transition. For this reason, many businesses will need to upgrade their hardware to maintain cybersecurity standards.
How to move from Windows 10 to 11?
So long as your machines meet the system requirements for Windows 11, the process of moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is fairly straightforward. We’d suggest following these steps:
- Check for compatibility: Use Microsoft’s PC Health Check app to find out if your device is compatible with Windows 11.
- Set your account up to transfer files: Make sure you have a Microsoft account set up to connect all your apps and data to. With this set up, all your files and favourites should transfer over.
- Backup your data: While your files and data should transfer over by default, we suggest backing up all important data before you install Windows 11.
- Download and install Windows 11: The next step is to download Windows 11 from the Microsoft website or via your system settings.
- Final review: The final step in the installation process is to check that all software and apps are working properly.
At Gemini, we’ve been helping businesses migrate from one Windows Operating System to the next for decades. In fact, we were running Windows 98 when Gemini was still in its infancy. 25 years on and 10 major OS updates later, our IT experts are on hand to help businesses make a smooth transition over to Windows 11. For help upgrading your hardware, get in touch with our IT team today, or visit our Microsoft Services page for more on how we can support your business.