Another large milestone looms in the Microsoft ecosystem as Windows 10 is (mostly) officially sunsetted on October 14, 2025. Meaning, no new security updates will be produced by Microsoft, unless you purchase an ESU/Extended Security Update license for up to three years that will allow Windows 10 to continue receiving security updates on a regular and emergency basis. You also have the option of upgrading your existing computer if it meets certain conditions.
Let’s Talk Upgrade
To upgrade to Windows 11, your computer must have at least 4 GB ram, 64 GB of available hard drive space, have at least two 64 bit cores that are at least 1 GHz and include Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0.
Here is a link to download the PC Health Check App to see if your existing workstation has the juice to power Windows 11.
Looking For A New Machine
Tariff concerns aside, there are some new features coming down the line for computer hardware. New computers will begin to ship with Neural Processing Units / NPU’s and the power of these NPU”s are measured in TOPS, or “Trillions of Operations Per Second”. These units will allow you to run AI and LLM’s locally on your Windows computer, which brings a host of security and data benefits.
Microsoft has set a minimum threshold of 40 TOPS (or 40 Trillion Operations per Second) to be able to run AI locally on Windows machines. Expect each chip manufacturer to have it’s own NPU that will have an impact on battery life, memory usage and overall speed of the computer. There will be a fierce competition between Qualcomm, Intel, TSMC, ARM, AMD and more for the next few years as the market begins to form and then mature.
Not Ready To Let Go Of Windows 10?
Prices for businesses are for the year and increase yearly. Right now, the planned pricing is:
- Year 1: $61 per device
- Year 2: $122 per device
- Year 3: $244 per device
Keep in mind that these updates only include security patches and no new features. Support is limited and is best effort with no guarantee that existing configurations that work today will work after a security patch has been applied.
How TorchLight Can Help
Enroll your legacy devices in the Windows 10 ESU program
Plan for hardware upgrades with Windows 11 capable systems
Provide advanced endpoint protection and monitoring to ensure all threats are mitigated quickly
In addition, virtualized desktops have made real gains in the last two years and bring simplified data security management through Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). We’ve seen growth in this market, especially amongst heavy travelers as this simplifies data security between regions, countries and potential political disruption.
Reach out to our sales team to discuss options, migration paths and alternative options.