Co-authored by Field Nation and TDX Tech.

October 14, 2025, wasn’t the end of the Windows 10 era. It was the start of a new set of challenges for enterprise IT leaders. Microsoft has ended standard support for Windows 10, meaning systems not covered by Extended Security Updates (ESUs) no longer receive standard security updates or technical support.

According to Statcounter Global Stats, Windows 10 still represents nearly 30% of active Windows desktop usage worldwide. Applied to Microsoft’s previously reported installed base of more than 1.4 billion monthly active Windows devices, that suggests more than 400 million Windows 10 devices could still be in operation globally. This is an estimate based on usage share and Microsoft’s previously disclosed installed base, not a direct device count, but it illustrates the scale of the remaining migration challenge.

For enterprises managing dozens, hundreds, or thousands of devices across distributed locations, moving forward requires more than urgency. It requires visibility, coordination, and a practical plan for upgrading compatible systems while replacing those that no longer meet Windows 11 requirements.

Windows 10 end of support still demands a plan

Even though the deadline has passed, many organizations are still completing their migration. Hardware compatibility requirements, application dependencies, refresh cycles, budget timing, and operational constraints can all slow progress. Microsoft’s commercial ESU program provides a temporary bridge for eligible devices, but it is not a long-term replacement for migration.

• ESUs are temporary. Eligible commercial devices can receive critical and important security updates for a limited period, but ESUs do not provide the full benefits of moving to a currently supported Windows platform.
• Unsupported systems increase risk. Devices without current security updates can increase cybersecurity, compliance, and operational exposure.
• Planning reduces disruption. Rushed deployments can lead to inconsistent imaging, application issues, downtime, and field rework.

The focus is no longer how to prepare for Windows 10 end of support. It is how to complete the transition strategically.

Readiness in the post-EOL era

Windows 11 migration is more than a software upgrade for large-scale IT environments. It touches hardware, applications, security, operations, and field resources. Success depends on visibility and coordination across three fronts:

1. Technical readiness: Which devices can be upgraded, which must be replaced, and which require firmware or configuration changes? Windows 11 requirements include TPM 2.0 and UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability.
2. Operational readiness: How will upgrade and replacement activity affect business continuity across multi-site environments?
3. Workforce readiness: Are qualified technicians available to handle installation, imaging, configuration, validation, and onsite support at scale?

The power of partnership: from plan to deployment

That’s where collaboration between TDX Tech and Field Nation can help.

• TDX Tech brings decades of experience in hardware, procurement, imaging, staging, deployment logistics, and technology rollout management. TDX Tech helps organizations identify systems that meet Windows 11 requirements, remediate compatible systems where appropriate, procure and prepare replacement hardware when necessary, and coordinate deployment across distributed enterprise environments.
• Field Nation provides TDX Tech access to a marketplace of experienced and highly rated IT field professionals. Technicians can be matched to each project based on the specific skills and experience required, providing flexible field capacity for upgrades, replacements, installations, and verification across geographically dispersed locations.

Together, the organizations connect centralized planning, hardware readiness, staging, logistics, and deployment management with scalable field execution, helping enterprises move Windows 11 migration projects forward with greater consistency and control.

From reactive to strategic

Organizations that treat post-EOL upgrades strictly as an emergency can create unnecessary cost and disruption. A structured migration can also become an opportunity to modernize hardware, improve performance, strengthen security posture, and establish a more consistent endpoint environment.

A practical roadmap should include assessment, prioritization, remediation or replacement, staging, deployment, and post-cutover verification. To help guide that process, we’ve created a downloadable Windows 11 Readiness Checklist: a simple framework to help IT leaders plan, sequence, and track progress across locations and systems.

Moving forward with confidence

End of support doesn’t have to mean loss of control. With the right planning, hardware strategy, field resources, and deployment coordination, organizations can reduce risk while completing the transition to Windows 11.

Review our Windows 11 readiness checklist to benchmark your current state or book a planning call to discuss your upgrade roadmap.

Data note: The 400M+ estimate is derived from Statcounter Global Stats Windows desktop usage share (approximately 30% in mid-2026) applied to Microsoft’s previously disclosed base of more than 1.4 billion monthly active Windows devices (January 2022). Statcounter reports usage share, not an installed-device count; actual Windows 10 device totals may vary.

References: Statcounter Global Stats, Windows Version Market Share Worldwide (2026); Microsoft, Windows 10 end-of-support and Extended Security Updates documentation; Microsoft Windows 11 system requirements; Microsoft public statement reporting more than 1.4 billion monthly active Windows devices (January 2022).