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Perpetual, supported, and ready to deploy: Understanding your Windows and Office options after end of support

What does end of support actually mean? And what are the realistic, cost-effective next steps?

In October 2025, a major milestone reshaped the IT landscape for businesses across Europe and beyond. Several widely used products reached their official end of support, including Windows 10 Home and Pro, Office 2016, Office 2019, and selected server applications such as Exchange Server, Skype for Business, and Dynamics. For many organizations, this moment raised urgent questions: What does end of support actually mean? What can still be used? And what are the realistic, cost-effective next steps?

The situation may appear straightforward at first glance. Yet in reality, it is far more complex. Understanding what remains possible – and what makes strategic sense – requires a closer look.

What “end of support” really means

When a product reaches its end of support, it does not suddenly stop functioning. Systems can still be installed, activated, and used in daily operations. Companies can continue working with their existing environments without immediate disruption.

As was clearly emphasized during our recent webinar on the topic:

They remain operational. You can work with such products, you can activate them, you can install them – but there is no further support left.

However, what changes significantly is the security and maintenance landscape. Once support ends, there are no more updates, no patches, and no bug fixes provided by Microsoft. Over time, this creates increasing exposure to security vulnerabilities and compatibility risks.

For organizations choosing to continue operating these systems, additional protective measures become essential. The software remains operational – but it is no longer actively maintained.

The “obvious” upgrade path – and why it’s not always simple

From a purely technical perspective, the options appear clear. Businesses can move from Windows 10 to Windows 11. They can replace older Office suites with newer versions. They can adopt Microsoft 365 cloud subscriptions and transition to a Software-as-a-Service model.

In theory, this transition should be smooth.

In practice, however, many companies face significant challenges. Hardware compatibility is one of the most pressing issues. Windows 11 introduces stricter technical requirements, including TPM 2.0 and other hardware conditions. A substantial number of existing business devices do not meet these requirements.

As stated during the webinar session:

With the requirements and conditions for Windows 11, it is not so easy for companies to adapt their hardware, their devices, to make it work properly.

Beyond hardware, organizations often rely on legacy applications and complex system dependencies. Certain software environments require specific operating system versions to function properly. Upgrading the OS may jeopardize compatibility or vendor support.

Budget constraints also play a critical role. Migrating entire IT environments rarely happens overnight. For many companies, transitions must be carefully staged over months or even years to maintain operational continuity and financial stability.

Subscription models are increasingly promoted across the market. Yet for many businesses, recurring subscription costs raise concerns. Perpetual licensing, therefore, remains a relevant and strategically valuable alternative.

Windows perpetual licensing: what is still available?

Despite the changes in the market, several Windows editions remain available as perpetual licenses. These include Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC, and Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC.

Perpetual Windows licenses are assigned per device. Each computer or laptop must be licensed individually. This model provides ownership of the license rather than a time-limited subscription.

There are three primary distribution channels through which Windows licenses are typically obtained:

  1. OEM licenses are pre-installed on devices purchased from hardware vendors.

  2. Retail licenses can be acquired separately without special entry conditions.

  3. Volume licensing programs, often used by businesses, allow companies to purchase licenses in bulk under commercial agreements.

Volume licensing in particular offers flexibility and potential commercial advantages. However, there is an important detail to understand when acquiring Windows licenses directly through official commercial channels: they are typically upgrade licenses.

An upgrade license requires a qualifying underlying operating system already installed on the device. For example, upgrading from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Pro through volume licensing assumes that the device already has a valid base license.

Interestingly, this qualifying requirement does not apply in the same way within the secondary software market. Licenses that were originally distributed as upgrade licenses can be used without requiring an additional underlying operating system license. This distinction can be highly relevant for businesses seeking cost-effective deployment strategies.

Hardware requirements and the Windows 11 dilemma

One of the most discussed topics since Windows 11’s release has been hardware eligibility. Devices lacking TPM 2.0 or other required specifications are officially not supported for upgrade.

Technically, workarounds exist that allow installation on unsupported hardware. These methods are not illegal, but they come with significant caveats. The manufacturer does not test updates on unsupported devices and provides no guarantees regarding stability, security, or long-term functionality.

As explained during the webinar:

To install the system, it is technically possible – but they provide no guarantees for older devices to remain fully functional.

For many organizations, relying on unsupported workarounds is not a viable long-term strategy. Instead, alternative operating system approaches deserve consideration.

Windows LTSC: Stability and long-term support

The Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) editions of Windows present a particularly compelling option in selected scenarios. LTSC versions provide a fixed, stable release with long-term security updates and extended support. They are designed for environments where stability and predictability are critical.

While mainstream Windows 10 Home and Pro editions have reached end of support, specific enterprise-focused LTSC editions remain fully supported. Notably, certain Windows 10 LTSC editions remain supported for several more years: Windows 10 LTSC 2021 is supported until 2027, while Windows 10 LTSC 2019 will continue receiving support until 2029.

For organizations that cannot transition to Windows 11 due to hardware limitations, application dependencies, or strategic considerations, LTSC offers a way to maintain security while extending device lifecycles. It provides continuity without the pressure of immediate hardware replacement.

Extended Security Updates (ESU)

For businesses that must remain on Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise editions outside of LTSC, Extended Security Updates (ESU) provide another temporary path forward.

ESU is a paid support program for commercial customers. It allows organizations to continue receiving security updates for a limited time after end of support. However, the pricing structure increases each year.

As highlighted in the webinar:

For the first year, the price is reasonable. For the next couple of years, this can be quite difficult to justify.

For businesses, ESU should generally be viewed as a bridge strategy rather than a permanent solution. It buys time – but it does not eliminate the need for long-term planning.

Individual users in the European Union benefit from a more favorable arrangement. They can receive one year of ESU free of charge, provided they link the device to a Microsoft account. Note that this free option does not extend to commercial environments.

Strategic decision-making in a changing landscape

The post-2025 environment requires thoughtful evaluation rather than rushed decisions. While subscription-based services and immediate upgrades are often positioned as the default path forward, they are not the only viable options.

Organizations must assess:

In many cases, perpetual licensing – particularly through volume channels or LTSC editions – remains a powerful and practical solution.

Moving forward with confidence

The end of support for widely used products marks a turning point – but not a dead end. Systems continue to operate. Alternative licensing models remain available. Strategic flexibility still exists.

Perpetual solutions are not a relic of the past. In many scenarios, they remain supported, deployable, and strategically sound. The right choice depends on your infrastructure, your budget, and your long-term vision – but informed decisions are entirely possible in today’s landscape.

Would you like to learn more? Watch our webinar “Perpetual, Supported, and Ready to Deploy: Options for Windows & MS Office Explained​” and get the clarity you need to make the right decision for your business.