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Microsoft grants extra year of free security Windows 10 updates – time to plan ahead

Microsoft has announced that consumers will receive one additional year of free security updates for Windows 10. While this may sound reassuring, it raises important questions for IT asset managers about lifecycle management, budget planning, and software compliance.

Blog - October 2025: Windows 10 support extension offers ITAM professionals a chance to optimize inventory, licenses, and migration plans.

What does this mean for ITAM?
Windows 10 remains deeply embedded across many organizations not just on desktops, but also in kiosks, embedded devices, and legacy applications that aren’t yet compatible with Windows 11. Hardware requirements for Windows 11 make large-scale upgrades both costly and resource intensive. The extra year of updates buys time, but it’s only a temporary extension in the lifecycle of these assets.

  • Free security updates until October 2026: Available only with a Microsoft account, creating potential complications for license reconciliation and audit readiness.
  • No guarantees beyond 2026: Enterprise customers can purchase Extended Security Updates until 2028, but this option is typically tied to volume licensing agreements and comes with additional costs.
  • Millions of devices still in use: In the Netherlands alone, many Windows 10 endpoints remain active, but ITAM teams need to flag them as at-risk assets.
Strategic considerations for ITAM teams
This extension provides breathing space, but asset managers should treat it as a trigger to take action. Questions to evaluate now:
  • Which devices in your inventory are still running Windows 10, and how are they categorized in lifecycle status?
  • What portion of these assets are technically eligible for Windows 11, and what budget impact will upgrades have?
  • Do extended security updates make financial sense compared to accelerated hardware refresh or application rationalization?

Proactive planning allows ITAM professionals to optimize costs, align licensing agreements with business needs, and ensure vendor negotiations are based on accurate asset data.

Our recommendation - Don’t wait until 2026! 
Use this year to align Windows 10 end-of-support with broader asset lifecycle strategies. This is the ideal moment to clean up inventories, reconcile licensing entitlements, and budget for replacements or migrations. We can help you evaluate upgrade paths, negotiate licensing terms, and develop cost-effective approaches for managing legacy systems.