Windows 10 end of support.
The deadline too many Swiss SMEs are ignoring.

Microsoft officially ended Windows 10 support on 14 October 2025. An Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme prolonged the reprieve — but it's running out, and crucially, Switzerland does not get the free coverage granted to the European Economic Area. In practice: after October 2026, staying on Windows 10 without paid ESU means receiving no security patches at all.

The problem isn't theoretical. Windows 10 still runs on a huge share of business machines, and a recent industry survey found roughly a third of SMEs have no migration plan — 14% not even aware the deadline exists. Cybercriminals, on the other hand, know it perfectly well: a system that will never be patched again becomes a prime target for ransomware exploiting known flaws.

What "end of support" really means for an SME

Three concrete consequences, beyond mere inconvenience:

• Rising security risk. Every new flaw discovered after end-of-support stays open forever. The risk doesn't plateau — it grows month after month.
• Loss of compliance. Running unmaintained systems weakens your nLPD posture and certifications (ISO). Your cyber insurer may also tighten terms — or decline a claim.
• Unexpected costs. Paid ESU, emergency fixes, and — if you wait until the last minute — a rushed migration far more expensive than a planned transition.

Your options, without the panic

There's no single answer — the right one depends on your fleet. The realistic paths:

• Migrate compatible machines to Windows 11. The recommended path for most — but Windows 11 requires recent hardware (TPM 2.0 chip, supported CPU). Some of your fleet will move cleanly; some won't.
• Replace incompatible hardware. Machines too old for Windows 11 need renewing — a chance to rationalise and standardise rather than suffer.
• Paid ESU as a bridge. For machines that can't migrate immediately, ESU offers a temporary bridge — to be budgeted, not treated as a lasting solution.
• Rethink some uses. Depending on the case, a thin client, a cloud solution or virtualisation can advantageously replace an ageing machine.

The approach we recommend

The difference between a calm migration and a costly race is the inventory. Before any decision: know how many machines still run Windows 10, which are Windows 11-compatible, which must be replaced, and in what order — starting with the most exposed. Done calmly, it's a plan over a few weeks. Improvised after the deadline, it's a security risk and an inflated bill.

For the SMEs, communes and foundations we support across the region, we build that inventory, prioritise by risk and compatibility, and drive the migration machine by machine — without interrupting your work, and without leaving a single unprotected device connected to your network.