Windows 10 EOL: Panasonic warns UK firms of rising security risks
UK left out of free Windows 10 security updates
Microsoft will pull the plug on Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, ending all security patches and technical fixes. While customers in some regions will get a year of Extended Security Updates (ESU) for free, the UK is not on that list. That leaves British organizations with two options: migrate to Windows 11 or pay for ESU subscriptions, which increase in cost every year.
Survey shows growing unease
Panasonic Toughbook commissioned a survey of 200 IT decision-makers in the UK and Germany. The results reveal strong concern among UK respondents:
- 76% worry about ransomware and malware if they don’t upgrade.
- 73% fear data breaches.
- 68% expect compliance problems.
- 67% point to the danger of unpatched vulnerabilities.
- 51% anticipate higher cybersecurity bills if migration slips past October.
More than half also admitted they are not confident they can manage device security without either completing migration or paying for ESU.
Panasonic issues warning
Chris Turner, Head of Go-to-Market at Panasonic TOUGHBOOK Europe, said the numbers underline how high the stakes are:
“Delaying migration to Windows 11 or opting out of Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates poses serious risks for UK organizations, including heightened vulnerability to cyber threats, compliance failures, and escalating costs. With Windows 10 support ending in a couple of weeks, outdated systems will no longer receive critical patches. This could leave businesses, especially those in critical infrastructure industries, exposed to ransomware and operational disruptions.”
Turner also noted that German firms surveyed were less anxious about the risks, with UK businesses showing far higher concern over security threats and potential costs.
The high cost of standing still
Panasonic’s wider report spells out the financial hit. For a company running 1,000 Windows 10 devices, ESU fees could add up to over £340,000 in unplanned costs once Microsoft’s per-device pricing is factored in. The price doubles each year for up to three years, making it an unsustainable stopgap rather than a long-term solution.
Beyond cost, software support is another hurdle. 47% of IT managers flagged application and software compatibility as their biggest obstacle when planning the move to Windows 11. Many firms expect disruption as old hardware and business-critical apps fall out of support.
Why this matters
The message from both Microsoft and Panasonic is clear: doing nothing isn’t safe. Unsupported systems become easy targets for ransomware groups, while compliance failures can trigger regulatory fines. For companies in critical services, the risks go beyond money — downtime or compromised systems can hit public safety and operational continuity.
Microsoft’s ESU program may buy a little breathing space, but it’s expensive and temporary. For most organisations, migration planning is no longer optional. As Turner put it, avoiding “decision paralysis” is essential: waiting until the last minute is likely to be both the costliest and riskiest choice.
Source(s)
- Microsoft official Windows lifecycle fact sheet – Microsoft
- Panasonic TOUGHBOOK research press release, email correspondence with C8 Consulting (September 2025)
- Navigating the Shift: The Business Case for Upgrading to Windows 11 – Panasonic TOUGHBOOK Whitepaper (July 2025)
