Windows 10 Is Now Unsupported — What That Means in 2026

As of October 2025, Windows 10 officially reached end of life. There are no further mainstream security updates, no vulnerability patching, and no ongoing protection against newly discovered exploits unless organisations are paying for limited Enhanced Security Updates (ESU).

Now, in February 2026, the conversation has shifted. It is no longer about preparing for the deadline — it is about identifying what was missed, managing residual risk, and ensuring every endpoint across the business is compliant and secure.

For organisations that delayed action, unsupported devices now represent:

• Increased cyber security exposure

• Potential GDPR compliance risks

• Complications with cyber insurance coverage

• Greater operational vulnerability

  
  

The key issue is visibility. You cannot secure what you cannot see.

Why We Built an Automated Reporting Tool in Early 2025

At the beginning of 2025, we recognised that manually auditing workstation estates was becoming unsustainable. As a Managed Service Provider supporting multiple organisations, we needed a scalable way to:

• Assess entire device estates quickly

• Identify Windows 11 compatibility gaps

• Highlight hardware constraints

• Provide clear, executive-ready reporting

  
  

The result was an internally developed Windows 11 readiness reporting tool designed to automate compatibility analysis across thousands of endpoints.

While originally built to integrate with N-able Insight exports, the tool works with standardised CSV data from virtually any RMM platform.

The goal was simple: remove spreadsheet chaos and replace it with structured, repeatable reporting.

How the Tool Assesses Workstation Readiness

The application processes a full asset inventory and evaluates every device against Microsoft’s Windows 11 hardware requirements.

This includes checks for:

• Supported processor generation

• Minimum RAM thresholds

• Presence of TPM 2.0

• Current operating system status

  
  

However, we took the process further than Microsoft’s minimum specifications.

While 4GB RAM technically meets baseline requirements, this is not commercially viable for modern business applications. We implemented internal review thresholds:

• 8GB RAM as the practical operational minimum

• 16GB RAM as the recommended business standard

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Devices can also be manually flagged for review where contextual judgement is required — because automation should inform decision-making, not replace it entirely.

From Technical Data to Executive Clarity

One of the biggest challenges in IT security and infrastructure planning is translating technical findings into business insight.

The reporting platform generates clear summaries showing:

• Devices already on Windows 11

• Compatible devices ready for upgrade

• Non-compatible hardware requiring replacement

• Machines requiring human review

  
  

Reports can be exported as professional PDFs, allowing stakeholders to quickly understand financial impact, security risk, and upgrade priorities.

For MSP environments managing dozens of estates and thousands of devices, this automation transformed reporting from a reactive, manual process into a strategic service capability.

The Post-Deadline Reality in 2026

Now that Windows 10 support has ended, organisations fall into one of three categories:

Fully Migrated

These businesses acted early, upgraded in a controlled manner, and reduced exposure.

Partially Migrated

Some devices remain unsupported due to hardware limitations, procurement delays, or budget cycles.

Delayed or Deferred

Organisations relying on ESU or running unsupported machines face increasing cyber risk as new vulnerabilities emerge.

In 2026, the focus is no longer simply migration — it is lifecycle governance. Workstation estates must be continuously reviewed against:

• Security patching status

• Hardware viability

• Compliance requirements

• Performance standards

  
  

Automated reporting enables this to happen routinely, not just during major OS transitions.

Why Ongoing Visibility Is Now Essential

Windows 10 end of life was a milestone, but it should not be treated as a one-off event. Technology lifecycles will continue to shorten. Hardware requirements will continue to increase. Security threats will continue to evolve.

Businesses that implement structured, automated reporting gain:

• Continuous IT security oversight

• Proactive cyber risk prevention

• Improved GDPR compliance alignment

• Predictable budgeting for hardware refresh cycles

• Stronger governance and board-level transparency

In short, automation moves IT from reactive firefighting to strategic infrastructure management.

At Meta Eagle, the lesson from the Windows 10 transition is clear: readiness reporting should not start six months before a deadline — it should be embedded into ongoing managed IT services.

Appendix

• Microsoft Windows 10 End of Support Documentation

• Microsoft Windows 11 Hardware Requirements

• National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Guidance on Supported Software

• UK GDPR Article 32 – Security of Processing