Publish date: 17.03.25

Microsoft’s decision to end free support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, presents a pivotal moment for businesses. After this date, devices running Windows 10 will no longer receive automatic security updates or feature enhancements. While temporary security updates can be purchased on an annual per-device basis, upgrading to Windows 11 offers a more sustainable and secure solution.

However, the transition to Windows 11 is not without its challenges. With strict hardware requirements, approximately 25% of existing global devices must be replaced with newer technology. This significant upgrade coincides with a period of economic uncertainty—marked by high interest rates, rising business taxes, inflation in the UK, and a growing cost-of-living crisis impacting organisations and individuals alike.

To help your business navigate this complex transition, we cover how Windows 11 assessment services are designed to provide practical, prioritised solutions. These are designed to ensure your organisation remains secure, productive, and cost-effective with technology that aligns with your needs.

We’ve broken this down into four practical steps:

1 –  Assessing Your Current State – understand where your organisation stands today.

2 – Design Future State – determine the technology required for tomorrow’s demands.

3 – Simplifying the Transition – ensure a seamless migration with minimal disruption.

4 – Building a Strong Business Case – secure buy-in from stakeholders and decision-makers.

1. Assessing Your Current State

Many organisations have a general understanding of their current PC setup but lack the detailed insights necessary to make informed decisions about upgrades, budgeting, and selecting the right devices.

These gaps can make it challenging to prioritise investments effectively.

A typical Windows 11 assessment service includes a visual dashboard that provides actionable insights into compatibility, form factor required, device age, and user persona profiling.

Our assessment tool is a bit different in that it can help you to accurately pin-point the age of devices. This is important as older devices are more prone to mechanical issues and productivity challenges. While many assessment tools rely on the OS installation date to estimate device age, this approach can misrepresent actual hardware age. Our tool analyses the device’s processor and maps it to its market release period for a more accurate assessment.

2. Design Future State

The evolving landscape of PC technology, driven by Windows 11 features, Intel Core™ Ultra processors, and advancements in hardware from AMD and Nvidia, has created a new class of devices designed to meet the demands of tomorrow. These innovations are shaping a future where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a core part of both everyday tasks and complex computational workloads, redefining the capabilities of modern PCs.

Beyond typical communication and productivity platforms, applications such as AutoCAD, Blender, Adobe Creative Suite, and music production tools like Ableton Live are already utilising these advancements to provide unparalleled performance. AI-enabled tools are expected to widen the performance gap between newer, AI-ready technologies and older systems.

Upgrading to the right device involves understanding each user’s current and future needs. A migration assessment can help you to identify optimal configurations for individual users, ensuring they are equipped with the tools required to perform at their best.

Our assessment goes beyond compatibility, evaluating factors like form factor, utilisation, and future requirements to ensure that each device is equipped to handle both current and emerging challenges. For instance:

  • Devices with NPUs and GPUs enable AI-based collaboration and creative workflows.
  • Modern CPUs with hybrid architectures (e.g., P and E cores) deliver superior performance for multitasking
  • Right-sized form factors—like larger touchscreens or ultralight laptops—enhance user efficiency and satisfaction.
3. Simplifying the Transition

As of January 2025, it’s estimated that 25% of all devices within organisations remain incompatible with Windows 11. Despite being introduced on October 5, 2021, Windows 11 adoption has lagged behind its predecessor. By late 2024, Windows 11 accounted for 33.37% of the Windows PC market, while Windows 10 continued to dominate with 62.79%. In comparison, at a similar point in its lifecycle, Windows 10 adoption reached 81.15%.

A key factor impacting Windows 11 adoption has been its hardware compatibility requirements. Devices featuring 7th Generation Intel CPUs (2017 or earlier), 1st Gen AMD Ryzen processors (2018 or earlier), and lacking TPM 2.0 support are not eligible for the upgrade.

An assessment can help with the following, which can facilitate a smooth transition:

  • Detailed data to support decision-making and enable efficient resource allocation.
  • Actionable reporting insights to ensure you allocate or reallocate hardware efficiently while meeting user requirements.
  • Data gained from the analysis of devices can be used by your choice of reseller to gain volume price support for the best deal on new hardware. For example, we work closely with PC manufacturers and Microsoft to reduce costs through subsidies for new device purchases (e.g., programs offering up to £450 cashback per laptop).
  • Suppliers can offer flexible payment options. For instance, we offer a pay-monthly option that eliminates the need for upfront payments. This enables you to acquire the technology you need immediately without delaying upgrades due to budget limitations.
  • If your IT team lacks the bandwidth to handle a major Windows 11 transition, a migration partner can offer incremental service support, including imaging, asset tagging, deliveries, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. We tailor customised packages to align with your specific project requirements.
  • Our comprehensive program ensures legacy equipment is managed responsibly, and includes value recovery through resale or repurposing. All data sanitisation and recycling services comply with WEEE directives, and we provide industry-certified documentation to support your environmental, compliance, and financial goals.
4. Building Your Business Case

As an IT professional, you may need to present a compelling business case to upgrade your organisation’s PC estate to ensure Windows 11 compliance. For non-IT Board members, it’s crucial to focus on areas that demonstrate tangible benefits and address pressing concerns such as security, cost efficiency, productivity, and operational continuity.

Presenting a business case for upgrading your PC estate involves more than just highlighting risks. It’s about demonstrating how modern technology can enhance security, boost productivity, lower operational costs, and free up IT resources for transformative projects. Armed with clear data and compelling insights, you can guide your organisation confidently into the next generation of technology with Windows 11.

Boards want assurance that decisions are based on actionable, data-driven insights. Our comprehensive assessment service provides:

  • Fleet-wide Summaries: High-level overviews of device performance and readiness for Windows 11.
  • Granular Detail: Individual device usage patterns and specific user requirements.
Next Steps

Get the eBook here which covers the steps above in greater detail, along with key stats and figures to support your business case for Windows 11 migration.

Download now