Cybersecurity-themed graphic by BP IT Managed Services with the headline “Out of Support? What to Expect Once Win10 & Exchange Retire,” set against a blue circuit-style background. Promotes awareness of Microsoft Windows 10 and Exchange end-of-support risks for small businesses.

Why Ignoring End of Support Is Like Forgetting to Lock Your Front Door

Let’s be honest—nobody likes thinking about software updates, expiration dates, or anything that sounds remotely “techy.” Still, if you’re using Windows 10 or on-premise Microsoft Exchange, it’s time to pay attention: support is ending soon, and ignoring this is a little like leaving your house keys under the welcome mat and hoping for the best.

We’ve been yelling from the rooftops about this for over a year now, but we’re finally on the cusp of tech doomsday. If you haven’t made your move yet, you’re unfortunately not alone, as nearly 45% of PCs are still on Windows 10 which actually puts you MORE at risk.

What Does “End of Support” Actually Mean?

End of Support doesn’t just mean no more new features. That date actually passed years ago for Windows 10. End of support means no more updates period, even if some glaring security vulnerability is found.

It’s like the neighborhood watch moving out and telling you, “You’re on your own.” No more regular security checkups. No more bug fixes. Vulnerabilities stay vulnerable.

Outside of WannaCry in 2017, most end of support dates have passed without any massive incidents, but this time is different for a few reasons.

  1. Windows 10 has THREE TIMES the market share as Windows XP and Windows 7 had right before their end of life. This means a massive portion of PCs will be unpatched, and the bad guys have likely been holding on to new exploits until after the deadline hits to take advantage of this.
  2. The threat landscape is dramatically different today even compared to 2020 during the Windows 7 deadline. The numbers are staggering. Every report you see shows rampant growth in nearly every attack vector. With AI content and code generation becoming more and more available, this is only going to accelerate.
  3. Every previous version of on-premise Microsoft Exchange (email server) version is going out of support at once. It will be replaced by a subscription on-premise version that’s functionally identical, but those original versions? No more updates. Mail servers are inherently internet facing, which means there’s a massive open door that’s suddenly going to be left unlocked in a lot of companies. It’s also painful to move/upgrade mail servers, so many of these will be left vulnerable.

So, What Can You Do?

Microsoft knows that not everyone can upgrade right away. That’s why there’s a safety net: Extended Security Updates (ESU). These assure that you’ll still be able to receive security updates on Windows 10 for another one, two, or three years at roughly $65/machine for the first year.

If you haven’t already planned and finished your migration from Windows 10 to Windows 11—or completed a mail migration to Office 365—it’s probably too late now to get it all done before the deadline, but we’re here to help. Contact us today and let us help track down and install Extended Security Update keys.

Let’s Get Connected

The best defense is knowing where you stand.

Download our free Cybersecurity Checklist to see where you stand or book a free tech consultation today, no pressure. We’ll take a fresh look at your current setup, walk through what’s working (and what isn’t), and answer your questions without any pressure or jargon.

Blue ribbon badge labeled “bp IT Guarantee” next to bold text stating, “If there is a fix, we’ll find IT. Fast.” The word “IT” is highlighted in light blue, emphasizing managed IT service expertise and quick solutions.

No hard pitch. No obligation. Just clear advice from your local team that cares.