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New research by Lansweeper has revealed that Windows 10 users — one in every six Windows clients — are at three times greater risk from active vulnerabilities than Windows 11 users[1].
While Windows 10 users can enroll in Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to receive security patches until 2027, it's only a temporary solution. Moreover, upgrading to Windows 11 isn't as straightforward as it sounds.
Here's what this increased risk means for you if you're still using Windows 10 and the steps you can take to improve your system's security.
According to the report, Windows 10 devices have an average of 1,903 active Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), compared to 625 on Windows 11.
Of these active CVEs on Windows 10, 66.6% are rated High or Critical, while 2.4% have been observed being exploited in the wild — 1.79 times more than the exploitable vulnerabilities on Windows 11.
Windows 10's monthly average share of Windows clients stood at 47.9% in July 2025 and has since dropped significantly to 17.9% in June 2026.
Microsoft's announcement of the end of support for Windows 10, originally scheduled for October 14, 2025, was one of the major reasons behind this shift. However, the migration now seems to have come to a standstill.
As such, Microsoft has also extended its Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program until October 12, 2027, arguably to give eligible users more time to stay protected before upgrading to Windows 11.
According to Lansweeper, around 21.4% of small and medium businesses still run Windows 10. Of these, the highest concentration is in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries (23%), followed by consumer and retail (22.7%) and manufacturing (18%).
These industries rely on "long-lived, certified, and physically embedded hardware," where the operating system is built into a machine and cannot simply be updated.
Plus, Windows 11 also comes with strict hardware requirements, such as Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, an approved CPU, and an 8th Gen Intel processor or equivalent AMD and Qualcomm chips.
According to Liam Tung from ZDNet, a total of around 40% of Windows 10 PCs are not able to switch to Windows 11 due to these strict hardware requirements.
This hardware restriction is highest in the consumer and retail industry (7.8%), followed by transport and logistics (6.1%) and manufacturing (3%).
An interesting thing to note here is that while the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries have the highest concentration of Windows 10 usage, only 1.1% of those devices are unable to migrate due to hardware limitations.
Another obstacle to upgrading to Windows 11 is the rising cost of RAM. For instance, a 32 GB DDR5-6000 kit, which cost around $80 in mid-2025, now costs a whopping $432 — a more than fivefold increase.
Experts such as Ethan Tan, a memory industry consultant, expect RAM prices to rise by another 40%-50% in the third quarter of 2026, followed by a further 30%-40% increase in the fourth quarter.
If you're still using Windows 10, you can enroll in Microsoft's ESU program to receive security updates until October 2027.
There are three ways to enroll:
To check if you're eligible for the ESU extension:
However, if you haven’t, you'll need to either redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or make a $30 purchase.
Remember, though, that this isn’t a permanent fix, and if you want to continue using Windows 10 beyond 2027, you have to rely on workarounds, including:
Organizations, meanwhile, could use tools such as Microsoft PC Health Check, which provides a comprehensive eligibility check for a device, to ensure that it meets the minimum Windows 11 requirements. The tool could help pinpoint exactly why a device doesn’t meet the requirements.
After this, organizations should prepare a 2026-2027 replacement budget and prioritize upgrades based on risk. Internet-facing devices and those that handle sensitive data, such as healthcare records or payment information, should be prioritized for upgrades.
Windows 10's three times greater risk certainly warrants an immediate migration to Windows 11. However, it's not that simple given Windows 11's strict hardware requirements and the increasing cost of memory.
At the time of writing, Windows 10 users can enroll in Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to receive OS security patches until October 2027.
Those looking for a more long-term solution can switch to Linux, use third-party Windows 10 patches from firms such as 0patch, or employ an antivirus program to add an extra layer of protection.
An antivirus that scores 18/18 on AV-TEST for Windows and macOS, with top marks across all test categories
Passed every malware and drive-by download test we ran, quarantining threats automatically
Includes a junk cleaner, app uninstaller, and browser cleaner to keep your device running smoothly alongside the antivirus
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