Windows 10 EOL

By DCS|22nd January 2026

“DCS has been proactively informing customers about the endoflife dates for Windows 10 and Office 2019, which took effect on 14th October 2025. While many customers have already completed their upgrades, there remains a notable portion of devices across our customer base still running these nowunsupported versions.”

What Are The Hidden Risks of Running Windows 10 and Office 2019 Beyond End-of-Life

Whilst Microsoft have officially ended support for Windows 10 and Office 2019, and your PCs and laptops will still function; continuing to use these platforms without updates is a serious risk for your business.

Why This Matters

Unsupported operating systems and software no longer receive security patches, leaving them exposed to cyber threats. Hackers actively target outdated systems because vulnerabilities remain unpatched. The consequences can include:

Ransomware attacks leading to data loss and costly downtime.

Compliance failures resulting in fines and reputational damage.

Insurance claim denials for businesses using unsupported software.

Office 2019 carries similar risks. Without updates, you face:

Increased exposure to phishing and macro-based malware.

Compatibility issues with modern Microsoft 365 services.

Potential audit failures for regulated industries.

Your Options: ESU, Upgrade, or Replace

If you’re still running Windows 10, here are your choices:

Extended Security Updates (ESU)
ESU provides critical patches beyond October 2025, but it’s a short-term fix. Costs start at £58 (Oct 2025 – Oct 2026), £116 (Oct 2026 – Oct 2027) and £233 (Oct 2027 – Oct 2028) per device, plus installation; making it an expensive stopgap.

Upgrade to Windows 11
If your hardware meets requirements (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot), upgrading is the most cost-effective long-term solution.

Replace Legacy Hardware
For older machines that can’t run Windows 11, replacement is inevitable. Delaying this decision can be costly and with hardware prices are rising (especially for RAM), there may likely face supply chain issues.

The Cost of Waiting

Procrastination doesn’t save money, it multiplies costs. Delaying upgrades can lead to:

Emergency IT spend on hardware and labour.

Downtime and lost productivity during rushed transitions.

Higher hardware costs due to shortages and price spikes.

Compliance penalties and potential loss of contracts.

What Should You Do Now?

Audit your devices: Identify which can upgrade and which need replacing. DCS are happy to assist in this process and help identify the best course of action.

Plan your migration: Spread costs across quarters to avoid panic buying.

Use ESU only as a temporary measure: It buys time, but at a premium.

Act early: Hardware prices and IT labour costs will only rise.

Don’t Wait – Act Today

Unsupported systems are a liability; financially, operationally and reputationally. The time to act is now.

Contact us today to discuss your upgrade options and secure your business before it’s too late. Call us on 01937 541411 or email [email protected] for a free review.

Windows 10 EOL

DCS 40^th Anniversary Easter Competition Terms & Conditions

· As the competition runs up to the 14th of April the prize will be sent out asap, however, the winner will most likely receive the prize after the Easter weekend.

· The Promotors competitions with entry via Twitter and/or LinkedIn are open only to residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland). One (1) winner will be chosen at random from all entrants and across all platforms.

· No purchase is necessary. Winners will not be required to pay to enter the competition.

· Entrants must be over 18 years old on the date of their entry.

· Employees of The Promoter are not eligible to enter.

· Twitter or LinkedIn are not in any way affiliated or involved in the competition.

· Only one entry per social platform per person will be accepted.

· The Prize will be awarded to a randomly selected winner who has entered on Twitter or LinkedIn, using a random number generator. The Promoter will not be held liable if the named prize becomes unavailable or cannot be fulfilled.

· The Promoter will not be held liable for any failure of receipt of entries. The Promoter takes no responsibility for any entries which are lost, delayed, illegible, corrupted, damaged, incomplete or otherwise invalid.

· To the extent permitted by applicable law, The Promoter’s liability under or in connection with the competition or these terms and conditions shall be limited to the cost price of the Prize in question.

· Prizes are non-negotiable, non-transferable and non-refundable. No cash alternative is available. Where a Prize becomes unavailable for any reason, the promoter reserves the right to substitute that prize for a prize of equal or higher value.

· The name, address, email address and phone number of the winner must be provided to The Promoter if requested and will be shared to enable the fulfilment of the Prize.

· In the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond The Promoter’s reasonable control, the promoter reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the competition or these terms and conditions, either in whole or in part, with or without notice.

· The Promoter’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

· The winner’s name and social media username may be posted on the social media profiles of The Promotor after the winner has been selected.