Berlin Faces Millions in Costs as Windows 10 Security Updates End
Teh Berlin governance is bracing for potential costs in the millions of euros as free security updates for Windows 10 end on Tuesday. Approximately 45,000 of the city’s 95,000 computers are still operating on the older operating system, according to a Senate Chancellery spokesperson cited by “Tagesspiegel Checkpoint.”
With Microsoft ceasing free support for Windows 10, organizations and municipalities now face a service fee of roughly 52 euros per computer for the first year to continue receiving critical security updates. This translates to a potential cost of 2.25 million euros for Berlin alone. the fee is set to increase in subsequent years, doubling in both the second and third years of continued use.
While concerns initially arose that private users would need to pay for updates or upgrade hardware to remain protected from cyber threats, Microsoft has recently offered some versatility. In late September, the company announced that users in the european Economic Area (EEA) would be offered a free extension of support through an update renewal program. The EEA encompasses the 27 EU member states,along with Norway,Iceland,and Liechtenstein.US users who utilize the Windows backup function can also continue to receive free updates.
microsoft is encouraging users to migrate to Windows 11,released in 2021. However, many existing devices do not meet the technical specifications required to run the newer operating system. Consumer Reports highlighted that devices sold as recently as 2022 and 2023 were still being marketed that were not compatible with Windows 11,possibly becoming obsolete prematurely.
Globally, an estimated 650 million people were still using Windows 10 as of August, according to one estimate. Up to 400 million computers are believed to be incompatible with Windows 11. In Germany, the consumer advice centre estimates that over 30 million computers are currently running Windows 10.
Without ongoing security updates, Windows 10 becomes increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. The German consumer advice center warns that even antivirus software may be less effective on an outdated system.Furthermore, compatibility with new software and hardware could become problematic as developers prioritize support for more current operating systems. Microsoft will also discontinue technical support for Windows 10, leaving users to rely on self-help, third-party providers, or online forums.
