The new Extended Security Updates (ESU) 2025
Microsoft just launched a new necromancy-as-a-service program.
Officially, Windows 10 dies on October 14, 2025. But with ESU, it can limp along till 2028 — a solid business decision if you’re not quite ready to bury your operating system.
💀 Is Windows 10 really dying?
Yep. After Oct 14, 2025, you get:
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❌ No more security updates
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❌ No tech support
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❌ No apologies for 10 years of update drama
Unless you pay. In which case, you get Extended Security Updates — band-aids for a zombie OS.
💰 What is ESU?
Extended Security Updates (ESU) is a paid subscription:
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🛡️ Critical and important security patches
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📅 Annually renewable (for up to 3 years)
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💸 Pricing escalates each year — think SaaS, but for legacy
Timeline:
Year | Status | $$$ |
---|---|---|
2025 | EOL | $0 |
2026 | ESU Year 1 | $ |
2027 | ESU Year 2 | $$ |
2028 | ESU Year 3 | $$$ + a meeting with Nadella |
🧓 Who’s actually buying this?
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Governments — still running Access 2003
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Banks/factories — with brittle embedded stacks
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Paranoids — scared of Windows 11’s TPM + Ads + AI + Widgets
🤖 Where’s Copilot?
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✅ Built-in on Windows 11
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❌ Not part of Windows 10 ESU
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You’re basically watching Netflix with a 2011 show — no “skip intro”
🛠️ Technical Details
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Patches via Windows Update, WSUS, or Configuration Manager
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Azure AD devices supported
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ESU managed through Azure Arc, which means telemetry. Everywhere.
🧠 General Advice
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Prep for 2025. Audit every Windows 10 machine in your infra
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Know your licensing: ESU, Azure Arc, or Windows 365
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Or go rogue — Linux is a free pain in the same neck
💡 Why is Microsoft doing this?
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Because money
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Because enterprises hate Windows 11’s hardware requirements
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Because even pirates want legal-looking paperwork
❓ What if Microsoft changes its mind?
They won’t.
ESU is a compromise — a jittery rollback for companies who aren’t ready to move on. You’re vulnerable, but now it’s “official.”
“If you’re not paying for the patch — you’re at risk. If you are paying — you’re still at risk, just on paper.”