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Microsoft Adding Additional Support Months to Windows 10 Due to COVID-19

April 14, 2020, was the original end-of-support date for Windows 10 Enterprise and Education 1709. However, due to COVID-19, Microsoft has increased the original 30-month support term up to 36 months. This extension will provide organizations short-term relief from being forced into upgrading when there are more critical priorities. October 13, 2020, is the updated end-of-support deadline for Windows 10 Enterprise and Education 1709.

In an official statement, Microsoft’s Director of Program Management, John Cable, wrote, “To ease one of the many burdens you are currently facing, and based on customer feedback, we have decided to delay the scheduled end of service date for the Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions of Windows 10, version 1709.”

Up until February 2018, Microsoft had reduced its support cycle down to 18 months. This was in the hope to limit the various versions of Windows 10 Enterprise and Education that needed to be supported. It was a costly business to be in and left much flexibility to organizations who wanted to remain on older versions. In February 2018, after much customer feedback, it was announced that support would be increased to 24 months from release. Finally in September 2018, it was further announced that support would now be increased to 30 months.

At this moment, Windows 10 Home and Pro 1709 end-of-support deadline remains April 9, 2019.

Moving forward, it would be best to monitor support and upgrade announcements as there will likely be further delays and extensions while many businesses work towards business continuity. In light of these special circumstances, Microsoft could very well defer upgrades to 2021 and continue to support other versions of Windows 10 that have approaching end-of-support dates.

Our Take

• Monitor Microsoft announcements on Windows 10 Enterprise and Education support and updates, as there very well could be further deferrals and delays.
• Update endpoints when possible or have an action plan, as October 13 will creep up faster than expected.
• As a last resort scenario, Microsoft does offer Extended Security Updates at additional costs that could provide more relief time.

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