Microsoft’s recent initiatives aimed at facilitating the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 have drawn criticism from privacy advocates, who express concerns over the potential environmental impact of millions of obsolete PCs. The tech giant recently announced that the first year of Extended Security Updates (ESU) would be offered free of charge, but the stipulations attached have left many feeling dissatisfied.
Details of the Extended Security Updates
To qualify for the free ESU, users must be individual consumers. Those unwilling to pay a fee can opt to use Windows Backup to sync their settings to the cloud or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. Lucas Rockett Gutterman, Campaign Director for Designed to Last at the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), expressed his disappointment, stating, “Microsoft’s new options don’t go far enough and likely won’t make a dent in the up to 400 million Windows 10 PCs that can’t upgrade to Windows 11.”
While Microsoft has made some concessions following public feedback—such as offering ESU for individuals for the first time and providing affordable pricing for schools—Gutterman notes that the company has yet to commit to extending support for Windows 10 or relaxing the stringent hardware requirements for Windows 11. He emphasized that the decision to place security updates behind a paywall is a business choice rather than a technical necessity.
In 2023, PIRG formally petitioned Microsoft to prolong the life of Windows 10. With support for many editions set to end in October 2025, the strict hardware requirements imposed by Microsoft mean that millions of devices will remain unable to upgrade to Windows 11.
Commercial Customers and Alternative Solutions
It is important to note that Microsoft’s recent announcement does not extend to Windows 10 commercial customers, who will still face a fee of per device for the first year of ESU, with costs expected to rise in subsequent years. For organizations looking for alternatives, Windows 365 offers a solution that ensures continuous updates.
Marcel Calef, field CTO Americas at workplace monitoring firm ControlUp, remarked, “No organization will want to pay the fee, especially since it doubles the following year. While the extended security updates will provide organizations time to align their upgrade strategies, the gap between Windows 11 features and older Windows 10 will continue to widen, particularly regarding Universal Apps and cloud and AI-related functionalities.”
Current Migration Trends
ControlUp’s latest Windows 11 Readiness Report reveals that 50 percent of enterprise Windows endpoints have yet to complete their migration to Windows 11. This marks a significant improvement from last year’s data, which indicated that over 82 percent of enterprise devices were still running Windows 10. However, as Calef cautioned, “it’s not time to relax.”
According to ControlUp’s findings, certain sectors, such as Education and Technology, are advancing with the migration, while others lag behind. For instance, just over 41 percent of endpoints in healthcare are currently operating on Windows 11, with 19 percent of endpoints requiring complete replacement.
With less than four months remaining before the end of Windows 10 support for numerous devices, Microsoft’s recent softening of its stance—albeit with conditions—may offer some customers a glimmer of hope for further concessions. Nevertheless, as Gutterman pointed out, “It’s obvious that users are frustrated. They feel yanked around and don’t think this announcement provides a viable solution.”
