Your Windows 10 PCs Are Now a Security Risk — Here's What to Do

If your business computers are still running Windows 10, you need to read this. Microsoft officially ended security support on October 14, 2025 — and every day since then, your machines have been accumulating vulnerabilities that will never be patched.

This isn't a future problem. It's happening right now.

We wrote about the approaching deadline last September, urging businesses to plan ahead. Six months later, StatCounter data shows that roughly 65% of Windows PCs worldwide are still running Windows 10. If your business is one of them, here's what you need to know — and what to do about it.

The Deadline Has Passed — Here's What That Means

When Microsoft ends support for an operating system, they stop releasing security updates. That means:

• New vulnerabilities get discovered but never fixed. Security researchers and hackers find flaws in Windows 10 regularly. Before October 2025, Microsoft would patch them. Now they don't.
• Your antivirus can't fully compensate. Antivirus software protects against known threats, but it can't fix holes in the operating system itself.
• Cyber insurance may not cover you. Many policies require you to run supported software. A breach on an unsupported OS could mean a denied claim.

Think of it this way: it's like running your business in a building where the locks can't be changed. Everyone knows the locks are broken, but you can't fix them. That's what Windows 10 is now.

What Actually Happens on an Unpatched Machine

This isn't theoretical. Ransomware operators actively scan the internet for machines running outdated software. Small businesses are their preferred targets because the defenses are typically weaker.

Here's what a typical attack looks like:

• An unpatched vulnerability lets malware bypass your security
• The malware spreads across your network to every connected device
• Your files get encrypted and a ransom demand appears on screen
• Recovery takes days to weeks — if your backups are even intact

According to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, ransomware remains the top cyber threat to Canadian businesses, with attackers increasingly targeting organizations running outdated software. The average cost of a data breach for Canadian small businesses ranges from $50,000 to $200,000 — and that doesn't include the weeks of lost productivity during recovery.

How to Know If Your Business Is Affected

If you're not sure what your computers are running, here's how to check:

1. Click Start → Settings → System → About
2. Look for "Windows 10" or "Windows 11" under Windows specifications

Any machine showing Windows 10 is now unsupported and exposed.

Not sure how many of your devices are at risk? Run our free vulnerability scan — it takes 10 minutes and gives you a plain-English report of exactly what's exposed.

Your Three Options

Option 1: Upgrade to Windows 11 (Recommended)

If your hardware meets the requirements (TPM 2.0 chip, compatible processor), upgrading to Windows 11 is the most cost-effective path. Many PCs purchased after 2020 qualify.

Windows 11 gives you:

• Ongoing security patches and updates
• Improved performance and startup times
• Compatibility with new business software
• Compliance with cyber insurance requirements

Option 2: Replace Older Hardware

PCs older than 5–6 years likely can't run Windows 11 due to hardware requirements. For these machines, replacement is the right call. A reliable business PC runs $1,500–$2,000 — a fraction of what a single security incident costs.

Option 3: Extended Security Updates (Temporary)

Microsoft offers paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) at $61 USD per device for the first year, doubling annually ($122 in year two, $244 in year three). This buys time, but it's a band-aid — not a long-term solution. And at those prices, it quickly becomes cheaper to just upgrade.

Our recommendation: Upgrade what you can, replace what you can't, and skip the ESU unless you need a few months to plan a rollout.

How Device Shield Prevents This From Happening Again

The businesses that got caught off-guard by the Windows 10 deadline share one thing in common: no one was watching the clock for them.

That's exactly what Device Shield does. Starting at $50/month per device, it includes:

• Automatic patching — OS and software updates applied on schedule, every time
• 24/7 monitoring — Threats detected and flagged before they become problems
• Hardware lifecycle tracking — We'll tell you when machines are approaching end-of-life so you can budget ahead
• Endpoint security — Modern EDR protection that goes far beyond basic antivirus

You focus on your business. We keep the technology running and secure.

Don't Wait for a Breach to Act

Every week your business stays on Windows 10, you're operating with known, unfixable security gaps. The longer you wait, the higher the risk — and the more expensive the recovery if something goes wrong.

The good news: this is completely fixable, and most upgrades cause minimal disruption to your team.

Here's where to start:

• Run a free vulnerability scan to see exactly what's exposed
• Get a quote for upgrading your devices with Device Shield
• Contact us if you want to talk through your options

Your business runs on technology. Make sure that technology isn't working against you.

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Sources:

1. Microsoft, "End of support for Windows 10," 2025
2. Microsoft, "Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10," 2025
3. Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, "National Cyber Threat Assessment," 2025
4. StatCounter, "Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide," 2025