National Cyber Security Center Calls on Businesses to Abandon Windows 10 - Essential Information Provided
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) of the UK has issued new ransomware guidance, emphasising the importance of upgrading to Windows 11 before the end-of-support deadline for Windows 10, which is set for October 2025.
Organisations face significant security risks when using out-of-date operating systems, such as Windows 10 after its end-of-support. This is particularly true for devices that cannot meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11, which includes modern features like TPM 2.0 and certain CPUs.
Many organisations are grappling with challenges in upgrading to Windows 11. These obstacles include compatibility concerns with existing applications, complex migration logistics, and the need to balance security updates with operational readiness. For enterprises managing thousands of devices, identifying which hardware is compatible, managing assets, and deploying the upgrade at scale without automation is a massive and time-consuming challenge.
Moreover, some organisations prefer to stick with Windows 10 or its LTSC/LTSB editions because they can get extended support until 2029. However, upgrading prematurely without readiness risks security and operational issues.
The potential cost of a cyber incident due to outdated operating systems could be significantly worse in the long run. Canalys research suggests that up to 240 million PCs worldwide could be terminated as a result of the shift to Windows 11. Additionally, the hardware requirements for Windows 11 could potentially lead to a global surge in e-waste, with millions of devices being scrapped.
To help organisations navigate this transition, the NCSC has released updated configuration packs for Microsoft Windows to make deployment easier. The NCSC also urges developers to prioritise software security.
The NCSC compares not upgrading to a modern system to incurring a debt at a high interest rate with the threat of forced repayment at a future date. The requirement to maintain supported software is essential, as demonstrated by the requirement for Cyber Essentials.
The NCSC advises businesses to follow geopolitics as a defensive strategy. It also urges any organisation that has not migrated to a more modern system to do so to help address security vulnerabilities in their devices and ensure overall cyber resilience. Upgrading to more modern laptops to meet Windows 11 requirements could be a costly short-term solution, but the long-term benefits in terms of security and operational efficiency are substantial.
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- In light of the NCSC's ransomware guidance, businesses should consider upgrading their systems from Windows 10 to Windows 11, as using out-of-date operating systems poses significant security risks.
- Technology upgrades, such as transitioning to Windows 11, can present challenges for organizations with complex migration logistics and compatibility concerns with existing applications.
- The NCSC stresses the importance of modernizing devices, as not doing so could be akin to accruing a debt with a high-interest rate, potentially leading to severe security incidents down the line.
