Windows 10 EOL: Is this the moment for modern workplace management?

End-of-life Windows 10: An upgrade is a must 

After a decade of service, Windows 10 will reach its end of life on October 14, 2025. For specialized workplaces, the transition can be delayed through Microsoft’s Extended Security Update (ESU) program. However, for most standard workplaces, this is a costly, temporary fix. To state the obvious: continuing to use Windows 10 without security updates—or relying on ESU for standard workplaces—is not an option. With each update, dozens of vulnerabilities are patched, so ensuring ongoing security is crucial. 

The risks of using an outdated operating system should not be underestimated. In extreme cases, they can even lead to business bankruptcy. No matter how much time, effort, and money you invest in digital infrastructure, it becomes irrelevant if your digital workplace is vulnerable to cyber threats. The message is clear: upgrade to Windows 11 – and do it as soon as possible.

Security and usability 

The transition to Windows 11 offers more than just a solution to Windows 10's end of life. It brings significant advantages in terms of security, usability, and productivity. The updated user interface is more intuitive, making it easier to organize multiple application windows on a single screen. The OS integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 tools and provides a solid foundation for Microsoft Copilot. On the security side, you gain the benefits of features like Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, and biometric authentication. 

Why starting on time is essential 

Ensure that all laptops and desktops in your organization are upgraded to Windows 11 well before October 14, 2025. While the technical upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is relatively straightforward, starting early is crucial for the following reasons: 

• Complex planning: The upgrade process, along with the associated changes, is intricate and influenced by various factors. For example, getting applications ready for Windows 11 and potentially adjusting workplace configurations and policies. 

• Security hardware requirements: Windows 11 introduces additional security hardware requirements, which could mean replacing certain devices to meet these standards.

• Compatibility issues: There's a possibility that custom applications may not be compatible with Windows 11 and may require modifications. 

• Transition to modern management: If you're still managing your workplace the traditional way, you'll likely need to transition to modern management using Intune. Like the OS-upgrade, this shift also requires significant time and effort.   

The right time to modernize workplace management 

Many organizations still rely on Group Policies and System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) for local management in on-premises Active Directory domains. The upgrade to Windows 11 presents the perfect opportunity to move away from this traditional, increasingly unsustainable method of management. 

By shifting to cloud-based platforms like Intune and Entra ID, management becomes centralized, scalable, efficient, and remote. With Intune, your IT-team can prepare devices for use immediately, without extensive manual configurations. Windows 11 and modern workplace management go hand-in-hand. 

The result? Reduced management burdens, increased security (thanks to consistent policies), and enhanced support for functions like automatic patching without rebooting. The combination of Windows 11 and modern workplace management lays a solid foundation for a future-proof IT-environment that adapts to the evolving needs of both end users and IT-teams. 

Modernize your IT-landscape 

As you consider modernizing your IT-landscape, it's the perfect time to explore digital transformation opportunities. In most cases, legacy on-prem applications should be moved to the cloud in the short to medium term.

Lift-and-shift migrations bring immediate benefits, but true value comes from modernizing or "SaaSing" your applications. Cloud-native SaaS solutions and modernized apps integrate seamlessly with Intune and Azure, streamlining deployment, management, and security. This approach enhances central control over applications, devices, and users, strengthens security, and simplifies compliance-management within your modern workplace.

Taking security to the next level  

Upgrading to Windows 11 is an excellent opportunity to enhance the security of your digital workplace, especially when adopting modern workplace management. Features like device compliance policies from Intune and conditional access from Entra ID give you more control, ensuring secure and consistent management of application and device access. Additionally, single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) significantly improve the security of sensitive data without compromising usability.

To further strengthen security, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint’s attack surface reduction (ASR) is a crucial step. ASR integrates seamlessly with Windows 11 and modern workplace management, minimizing attack vectors by automatically blocking suspicious scripts and unauthorized apps. With Intune, security policies can be centrally set and applied consistently, making it especially valuable for hybrid or cloud-based environments.

Enterprise applications originally developed for on-prem environments can be uniquely modernized in terms of security. With Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, you can integrate them into a secure and modern cloud framework.

Finally, transitioning from traditional file shares to OneDrive or SharePoint enhances both security and collaboration across your organization.

Future-proofing your IT Landscape

To wrap it up: upgrading to Windows 11 offers the perfect opportunity to streamline IT processes and eliminate outdated products. By embracing modern workplace management, modernizing applications, enhancing security, and optimizing your IT infrastructure, you lay the foundation for a scalable, flexible, and future-proof environment. This sets the stage for future initiatives like automation and AI applications.

An upgrade and transition strategy

If your plans go beyond just upgrading to Windows 11 and include modernizing workplace management or applications, you're facing a more complex and expansive journey. What’s best for your organization depends on its current state, needs, and available resources.

In close partnership with our clients, we define the scope and strategy for the Windows 11 upgrade or workplace management transition. This includes determining the level of support required for user adoption, assessing whether applications need to be moved to the cloud (for security or other reasons), and more.

Standardisation versus customisation

Our guiding principle: what can be standard, should be standard. This means leveraging (Microsoft) best practices wherever possible — for example, in the setup of device compliance and configuration, software update management, conditional access, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and attack surface reduction.

In line with this approach, we also apply as many (Microsoft) standards as possible when managing OS upgrades or workplace transitions. These processes are executed in close collaboration with the customer and typically cover areas such as hardware and application compatibility, update ring deployment, and user adoption. 

Where needed, we integrate tailored solutions. This may include enabling Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) scenarios or configuring temporary exceptions within security settings to support legacy applications. 

How Cegeka can assist

Cegeka provides end-to-end support for upgrading to Windows 11, transitioning to modern workplace management, and adjusting applications as needed. With extensive experience across a wide range of upgrade and migration projects, we understand the complexities involved. This expertise allows us to identify potential challenges, establish realistic timelines, and minimize operational disruptions.

What sets us apart is our holistic approach. In addition to managing the technical side, we offer dedicated user adoption support through services like floorwalkers, detailed guides, and the seamless distribution of Windows 11 laptops. 

Technical insights  

Curious about the technical details of Windows 11 upgrades, workplace management transitions, application modifications, and the changes required for management teams? Be sure to read our article "Why the Windows 11 Upgrade Isn’t the Biggest Technical Challenge."