New price for Windows 10 updates will affect your budget, starting October 2024

Why the new pricing by Microsoft? 

Microsoft’s official support for Windows 10 nears its end, Microsoft has announced its pricing strategy for Extended Security Updates (ESU), set to take effect next year, 2025. For an organization, this entails a considerable investment if you wish to continue receiving Windows 10 security updates beyond the support cutoff date of October 14, 2025.  

If your organization needs to continue using Windows 10 for part of your device estate after support ends, you can enroll those PCs in the paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program. This program provides critical and important security updates for Windows 10 PCs, offering additional time to transition to Windows 11.   

Microsoft’s pricing strategy for Windows 10 

Organizations opting to continue with Windows 10 will face significant cost implications. The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is available only through a subscription model. In the first year, the subscription costs $61. The price doubles in the second year to $122 and again in the third year to $244.   

Doing the math for a three-year period will amount to $427 per PC. This is a cost you will want to foot knowing that value for money will be guaranteed and your needs will be met. It will be important to speak with an independent expert to give you an unbiased view to support your organization using Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU).  

It’s crucial to remember that ESU licenses are cumulative. You must acquire the year one license before proceeding to purchase licenses for years two and three. Note that attempting to delay the purchase of ESU licenses will not result in reduced costs.  

What discounts are available for organizations under the ESU for Windows 10? 

Organizations utilizing Microsoft’s official cloud-based update management services, such as Microsoft Intune and Windows Autopatch, benefit from a discount, reducing the first-year cost to $45 per PC. However, Microsoft does not specify pricing for the subsequent years. These solutions primarily cater to large organizations that purchase Windows Enterprise edition licenses and manage them via the cloud. It’s important to note that this option applies exclusively to devices owned by the organization; personal BYOD devices are not eligible. Organizations utilizing Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop can seamlessly gain ESU coverage for their Windows 10 devices. This serves as a cost-effective solution for organizations already employing or considering these services.  

Will Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 be long termed? 

It’s important to recognize that ESUs are not a permanent fix. They offer only essential security updates and exclude new features, non-security-related fixes, or design modifications. Technical support is limited to initiating ESU licenses, installing monthly updates, and resolving issues stemming from those updates. It does not extend technical support for other problems.  

What options are available to still be able to use Windows 10 as end of support nears? 

1. Improve you PCs capacity 

Upgrade eligible PCs that meet Windows 11 hardware requirements effortlessly using Windows Autopatch or Microsoft Intune.  

2. Consider buying Windows 11 PCs 

These devices come with robust security features enabled by default, along with a host of accessibility, productivity, and AI advancements, all designed for hybrid work environments.  

3. Transition to the cloud with a Windows 365 subscription 

Enable users to access Windows 11 on any device through a Cloud PC. Extended Security Updates (ESUs) are provided at no extra cost for Windows 10 PCs used to connect to a Windows 365 Cloud PC running Windows 11.  

Why does Microsoft have an Extended Security Update offer in general? 

Enrolling in the Windows 10 ESU program enables organizations to continue receiving monthly security updates for their Windows 10 devices, providing extra time to smoothly transition to Windows 11.  

Extended Security Updates (ESUs) serve as a temporary bridge rather than a permanent solution. ESUs do not offer new features, non-security fixes, or design changes. The ESU program does not extend technical support for Windows 10; support is limited to ESU license activation, installation of monthly updates, and resolving issues directly caused by an update.  

Starting in October 2024, your organization can purchase ESU licenses for Windows 10 devices if you don’t intend to upgrade to Windows 11, providing a full year before the end-of-support date.  

Talk to our team of independent licensing experts about Windows 10 ESUs 

You may continue to use Windows 10 as an organization after the official support ends, but it will be a good business decision to consider the licensing options available. Looking at the cost involved over three years, it requires a significant amount of investment to be made.   

Our team of experts will guide you understand and see how the pricing structure as it increases each year can affect your financial state and how to get around meeting your expectations safely. It is important that your organization plans carefully your migration to Windows 11 considering the discounts available on cloud-based update management services and Windows 365 and we can help you take clear decisions.   

Let’s help you with an early start to plan the best migration processes to have a smooth transition and get ready for a long-term solution while taking advantage of the ESU program by Microsoft.   

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