On Wednesday, Microsoft announced that businesses must pay $61.00 per year to use Windows 10 securely after its end of support (EoS) period.
In December last year, the tech giant revealed that it would stop supporting Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Like with its older operating systems (OS), businesses can opt to receive Extended Security Updates (ESU) for a yearly fee.
Paying the annual license fee will allow an enterprise to receive ESU for the nearly 10-year-old OS for enhanced cybersecurity. In addition, the company will offer the same service to consumers for the first time at a still undisclosed price.
Microsoft defended the pricing, citing that Extended Security Updates are merely a stopgap and not a long-term solution. It offers ESU licenses only so users can buy some time while they prepare to upgrade to the current-generation OS.
Users can begin buying ESU licenses in October this year, a full year before Windows 10’s scheduled end of service. Moreover, Microsoft offers enterprise users of its cloud-based updaters like Intune or Autopatch a 25.00% discount for up to five devices.
Lastly, schools can acquire the ESU license for $1.00 for the first year, which doubles to $2.00 the following year. The academy pricing will double again to $4.00 in the third year but will stay the same in the fourth year onward.
Windows 10 EoS Poses a Unique Hurdle to Microsoft
Naturally, Microsoft wants all users to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, as it has already stopped developing products for the former. However, the wide gap in minimum hardware requirements between the two operating systems prevents a smooth transition.
To run Windows 11, a computer must have a CPU released in 2018 or later, while a mobile device must support TPM security chips. Critics argue that the EoS may cause a spike in cybercrimes as most users will not purchase an ESU license.
Industry watchers claim that over 69.00% of Microsoft OS clients use Windows 10, while less than 27.00% use Windows 11.
