The Windows 10 Deadline is Approaching Fast - Are You Ready?

BlackCSI Urges Business Owners to Prepare for October 14, 2025 and Avoid a Costly IT Crisis

HARRISBURG, PA – June 26, 2025 - BlackCSI, a leading managed technology services provider (MTSP), is encouraging business owners to prepare now for the upcoming end-of-life for Windows 10. Small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that utilize Windows 10 to support their infrastructure will be affected by this on October 14, 2025, and businesses without a plan will be compromised. Starting on that date, Microsoft will officially discontinue all support for the operating system, meaning no more security updates, no feature enhancements, and no technical support. This means organizations will be exposed to security leaks, teams relying on obsolete tools and no ability for anyone to assist.

“If your organization is running Windows 10 after the deadline, you’re gambling with your security, performance, and productivity,” said Ruthann Black, President at BlackCSI. While technology will still function, it will degrade on an accelerated schedule. First, security vulnerabilities will go unpatched, leaving systems wide open to modern cyberattacks. Next, no technical support will be available from Microsoft. No feature or performance updates will be provided, and many organizations may find themselves unable to run critical software or interface with updated platforms, due to incompatibility issues.

“This is where a proactive technology provider like BlackCSI is invaluable,” said Black. “We manage our customers’ technology 24x7 and help them plan for obsolescence, so they are always secure, supported, and productive. This helps avoid large capital expenditures and maintains productivity across teams and systems. If your current provider hasn’t already started talking to you about a Windows 10 transition, that’s a red flag.”

The biggest surprise for many Windows users is that much of the hardware (aka computers, laptops, servers, etc.) made more than 3-5 years ago will not meet the minimum system requirements for upgrading to Windows 11. This will force many organizations into large, unexpected capital expenditures, especially if they want to keep their teams busy.

“This isn’t just a software update. Most older desktops, laptops, and servers will simply not be compatible with Windows 11,” added Black. “So, if you’ve been trying to stretch your hardware lifecycle just a little longer—you’re officially out of runway.”

The team at BlackCSI is helping businesses to plan for this transition by following a 4-Step Plan:

1. Determine Windows 11 Compatibility for All Hardware: BlackCSI strongly advises organizations to evaluate their current hardware to determine Windows 11 compatibility.

2. Develop a roadmap for replacing outdated devices: By taking the time to do this ahead of the deadline, organizations will seamlessly operate.

3. Avoid DIY upgrades: Organizations that forget to plan are often tempted to “do-it-yourself” upgrades, which can result in total data loss, system instability or voiding their cybersecurity insurance.

4. Partner with BlackCSI: We recommend you work with a certified managed technology services provider like BlackCSI. The company is ISO 27001 Compliant. Only a handful of providers in the U.S. and Canada are compliant.

While Microsoft will make Windows 11 software freely available, upgrading isn’t as simple as clicking a button. BlackCSI encourages all existing customers and local businesses to start evaluating their technology infrastructure immediately, rather than wait until the last minute when inventory and support resources may be scarce.

“If you’re running on outdated machines and aging servers, this is the moment to invest in your long-term efficiency,” Black concluded. “The older your hardware is, the slower, less secure, and more expensive it becomes to maintain. Let’s use this deadline as an opportunity to upgrade wisely.”

ABOUT BLACKCSI

Since we were first founded in 2002 by Ruthann Black, BlackCSI has provided small and medium-sized businesses with comprehensive IT support and consulting services.

Our mission is to maximize your return on investment by providing the kind of technology management services that are ordinarily reserved for large enterprises. From IT network management, unified communications to physical and logical security integration and much more, BlackCSI is committed to providing quality services to our clients with honest communication that you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere, for prices that are fair and affordable.

We believe that the best way to solve an IT issue is to prevent it from ever happening in the first place. This is why we leverage a proactive service approach to predict and eliminate your technology issues - before they influence your business.

We are dedicated to serving our clients by listening to them, learning about the problems that they face, clarifying our process to maintain transparency, and reiterating how our solutions are of benefit to those we assist.

With Managed Services from BlackCSI, you will be able to enjoy:

• Proactive Care - The most effective way to avoid downtime and data loss is to be prepared to mitigate and avoid the circumstances that lead to them.

• 24/7 Maintenance - IT issues don’t stick to a 9 to 5 schedule. Neither do we. For a predictable monthly fee, you can enjoy anytime access to remote and on-site services, keeping you in operation.

• Live Help Desk Support - Need one-on-one assistance with your IT? Our Help Desk services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.

With the assistance of BlackCSI, a Pennsylvania-certified Small Diverse Business, you can improve your operations through the use of top-of-the-line IT solutions and service - as well as boost your internal productivity and inspire growth.

We’d love to be a part of your success story. For more information about how BlackCSI can assist your business and fulfill your particular needs, Contact us today! For more information, please call (717) 620-3042 or visit us at https://www.blackcsi.com.