Preparing for the End of Support for Windows 10

A Guide for Managed Service Providers

Windows 10 will reach its End of Life on October 14, 2025 (Microsoft Lifecycle Policy). If you and your customers are still running this version of Windows, now is the time to prepare for a smooth transition to a newer Windows operating system (OS). Because after that date, businesses still running Windows 10 will:

• Stop receiving critical security updates, increasing ransomware risks (Microsoft Support FAQ).
• Face potential compliance violations (i.e., HIPAA, PCI DSS).
• Lose access to Microsoft’s technical support.

For Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in particular, there is an urgent need to migrate customers to a supported operating system to minimize these risks and meet their obligations to their customers.

Implications of Windows 10 End of Support

Once Windows 10 reaches the end of support in October 2025, organizations still running it will be faced with:

• Increased security risks: Unpatched vulnerabilities make systems easy targets for ransomware and cyberattacks, making your life as an MSP much more difficult.

• Compliance violations: Industries such as healthcare (HIPAA) and finance (PCI DSS) can face penalties for using unsupported software. However, small businesses in any industry can also run into cyber insurance issues or violate internal policies.
  
  
• Operational disruptions: Without Microsoft’s support, troubleshooting becomes more difficult. As an MSP, you will likely still be able to help, but without Microsoft's support, resolving potential issues could take more hours, leading to frustrated customers.

Tip: Security risks and compliance violations are bad enough. But if you start migrating your customers' PCs early, you could also save your customers a significant amount of money. Forrester has created a Windows 10 End of Support calculator for businesses and MSPs, which calculates how much you and your customers could save by upgrading early.

The Role of Backup Solutions During an OS Migration

A reliable backup solution, such as NovaBACKUP, is essential to ensure data protection during this (and really any) migration. Whether upgrading to Windows 11 or exploring alternatives, a fail-safe backup strategy prevents data loss, reduces downtime, and ensures compliance.

A backup solution acts as a safety net, ensuring that you can roll back any changes if the migration doesn't go as planned. As an MSP, you should already be performing multiple backups of your customers' data and systems. To prepare for the migration, make sure all backups are up to date and that you've recently performed a recovery test.

Updating to a Supported OS

The easiest way to protect yourself and your customers from any security and compliance risks is to migrate the operating system to Windows 11 early.

According to Microsoft's official guidance (KB article), here's how to prepare your Windows 10 to Windows 11 migration:

1. Verify your PC's Windows 11 compatibility using PC Health Check, as well as the compatibility of any applications you and your customers are running on the computer you're planning to upgrade (also see: Microsoft Windows 11 Deployment Guide).
   
   Example TPM 2.0 & Secure Boot Requirements with Windows 11: Some older PCs don't support these new Windows 11 features and therefore require new hardware in addition to the migration process.
   
   
2. Back up all data before upgrading your operating system. There are two ways you can approach this:
   
   
   1. If you’re transitioning to new hardware, have a backup of all the files and folders as well as the system state, ready.
   2. If you're upgrading the operating system on the same PC, have an image backup ready as well.
      
      
   NovaBACKUP supports both backup options, allowing you to easily combine file and system backups for convenient data recovery.
   
   
3. Consider Extended Security Updates (ESUs) if you need to delay the migration of your customers' Windows PCs (more information about the ESU Program here: ESU Program). This way, you will still receive support and security updates for known vulnerabilities.

Tip: Also, take a look at Microsoft’s detailed Windows 11 Pro migration readiness assessment.

Risks During the Transition from Windows 10 to 11

While these upgrades generally go smoothly, every environment is unique, and sometimes things just go wrong.

Some of the most common problems encountered after attempting an upgrade, as reported by IT professionals around the world, include:

• Data loss or corruption: Whether it's a software glitch, a power outage, or a lack of disk space, it's possible to lose important data during your upgrade. Be sure to perform the backups described above before upgrading.

• Performance loss: There's always a chance that your expectations for an upgrade won't be met in terms of performance. In some cases, if this isn't acceptable, you may need to revert back to your previous operating system.

• Driver issues: Some hardware may require driver updates to work with the new operating system. If these are untested, the possibility of incompatibility or unavailability remains.

• Application incompatibility: Especially with legacy software, upgrading to the latest operating system might cause these applications to stop working. If there is no alternative, it may be necessary to run a PC with an unsupported operating system that is only available for that application. However, keep in mind that these systems are more vulnerable and should only be used if there is no other option.

Making sure you have a working backup in place before you begin the migration process is your primary defense against these risks. A backup always allows you to go back to the original state, so your customers can keep working while you figure out how to fix the problem.

How Backup Solutions Like NovaBACKUP Mitigate OS Migration Risks

1. Pre-Migration Protection

   Before an upgrade even begins, a backup solution like NovaBACKUP allows MSPs to create file backups and system images to ensure that every file, setting, and application is preserved and can be restored in case of problems during the migration. In addition, a complete backup documents the current state of the system for easy comparison after migration.
   
   

2. Migration Safety Net

   If an upgrade fails, backup solutions enable instant recovery to the previous working state, minimizing downtime and keeping costs down. NovaBACKUP even provides the possibility to mount a previous backup, so that your customers can access all files without you having to restore everything.
   
   Testing Windows 11 deployments with backup data in a virtual environment, for example, can help MSPs assess whether the upgrade will go smoothly. And as a final safety net, it allows MSPs to seamlessly and quickly roll back the migration with no data loss.
   
   

3. Post-Migration Assurance

   After a successful migration, backup solutions like NovaBACKUP help MSPs recover accidentally deleted files or settings and compare system states to identify missing configurations.

Checklist for a Secure Windows 10 Migration for MSPs

To summarize, minimize your risks during the migration by following this quick checklist:

 Assess Client Readiness

Verify the compatibility of all affected PCs, including the hardware itself (see Microsoft’s Windows 11 requirements) and any applications that are running on the computer.

 Schedule Pre-Upgrade Backups

If you are using NovaBACKUP, make sure that your next scheduled backups run before the planned migration. Or set up two one-time backup jobs - a file backup and a system state backup.

 Test Recovery Procedures

Before you start migrating, make sure your backups are working by testing them. You don't need to perform a full restore, though. With NovaBACKUP, a simple mount of the backup is sufficient.

  Train Technicians

Make sure everyone involved in the migration knows about the latest backups and how to restore them in case of an emergency.

  Communicate with Clients

Explain what the migration will look like, including potential risks and how you plan to mitigate them (i.e., how their backups will protect them). This sets expectations and potentially reduces stress by not having to deal with customer complaints if something needs to be rolled back.

Don’t Wait

The end of support for Windows 10 is inevitable. It's not just an IT issue; it's a business continuity priority, so make sure your customers understand and start migrating sooner rather than later.

We are here to help and support you with the migration (and any other backup scenario) to:
 Prevent data loss during OS upgrades.
 Reduce downtime with fast recovery options.
 Maintain compliance by securing client systems.

Contact our team for a consultation or a 30-day fully functional trial.