Why Businesses Must Upgrade to Windows 11 ASAP: The Microsoft Teams Reality After October 10, 2025

As the clock ticks toward October 14, 2025, the end of support for Windows 10, many organizations are facing a critical decision: stay on a familiar OS or transition to Windows 11. While Microsoft has extended security updates for Microsoft 365 apps (including Teams) on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028, this grace period comes with serious limitations—and risks.

Microsoft Teams on Windows 10: What Changes After October 2025?

Microsoft Teams will technically continue to function on Windows 10 after the OS reaches end-of-support. However, this is not full support. Here's what businesses need to know:

• No feature updates: Teams and other Microsoft 365 apps will be frozen at Version 2608, receiving only security patches.

• Limited customer support: If issues arise that are unique to Windows 10, Microsoft will not log bugs or offer product updates. Instead, users will be advised to upgrade to Windows 11.

• Performance and reliability risks: Microsoft warns that running Teams on an unsupported OS may lead to degraded performance and reliability.

Why Windows 11 Is the Future for Microsoft Teams

Upgrading to Windows 11 isn't just about staying current—it's about unlocking the full potential of Microsoft Teams and the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Here's why:

1. Enhanced Security

Windows 11 is built with Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, and hardware-based isolation, offering stronger protection against modern cyber threats. This is crucial for Teams, which handles sensitive communications and data.

2. AI-Powered Productivity

Windows 11 integrates AI tools that enhance collaboration in Teams—like intelligent meeting summaries, real-time transcription, and smart task automation.

3. Future Compatibility

New Teams features and integrations will be designed for Windows 11. Staying on Windows 10 means missing out on innovations like Copilot for Teams, advanced meeting analytics, and next-gen collaboration tools.

4. Compliance and Insurance Risks

Running Teams on an unsupported OS could violate cyber insurance policies or industry compliance standards, potentially leading to denied claims or increased premiums.

The Cost of Delay

While Microsoft offers a three-year security update buffer, delaying the upgrade to Windows 11 can result in:

• Increased IT support costs

• Reduced employee productivity

• Security vulnerabilities

• Loss of access to new Teams features

Final Thoughts: Start Planning Now

Migrating to Windows 11 takes time—especially for organizations with legacy hardware or complex IT environments. Begin your Windows 11 readiness assessment now, and ensure your Teams deployment remains secure, supported, and future-proof.

Don't wait until October 2025 to act. The future of collaboration is on Windows 11.

AI and Security: Why Free Tools Can Be Risky for Your Business

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how businesses operate—from automating workflows to enhancing decision-making. But as organizations increasingly adopt AI tools, a critical question arises: how secure are these tools, especially the free ones?
I used my extensive experience in AI, focused on the Microsoft platforms, to write this blog. However, the concepts apply to most other platforms as well. Open AI, Google, xAI, Anthropic, and IBM all offer security tools as well.

The Hidden Risks of Free AI Tools

Free AI tools are widely accessible and often powerful, but they come with significant security concerns:

• Data Leakage: Many free AI platforms process user inputs on shared infrastructure. If sensitive company data is entered, it may be stored or used to train models, potentially exposing proprietary information.

• Lack of Compliance: Free tools may not meet industry-specific compliance standards like GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001, putting organizations at legal and regulatory risk.

• Limited Transparency: Users often have little visibility into how data is handled, stored, or shared. Terms of service may allow vendors to retain or analyze inputs without explicit consent.

• No Enterprise Controls: Free tools typically lack admin controls, audit logs, or integration with identity management systems—making it difficult to enforce usage policies or monitor activity.

Why Paid AI Tools Are Safer for Businesses

Enterprise-grade AI solutions like Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 and Copilot in Edge are designed with security and compliance at their core.

If need this, ask your IT Department or consultant what you need to implement the security.

Be careful with paid tools. Some just provide more resources and no security.

Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365

The primary advantage of this license is it fully integrates Microsoft applications so that Copilot lights up in Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.

• Data Residency and Privacy: Your data stays within your Microsoft 365 tenant. It’s not used to train public models and is protected by Microsoft’s enterprise-grade security.

• Compliance-Ready: Copilot inherits Microsoft 365’s compliance framework, including support for GDPR, HIPAA, and FedRAMP.

• Access Controls: IT admins can manage access, monitor usage, and apply data loss prevention (DLP) policies.

• Audit and Logging: Activities are logged for compliance and security auditing, giving organizations full visibility.

Copilot in Microsoft Edge

To use Copilot in Microsoft Edge with Enterprise Data Protection (EDP), your organization must have a Microsoft 365 subscription that supports Microsoft 365 Copilot and meets certain licensing prerequisites.

• Context-Aware Security: When used in Edge, Copilot can interact with enterprise content securely, respecting organizational boundaries and permissions.

• Browser-Level Protections: Edge offers built-in security features like SmartScreen, sandboxing, and integration with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.

• Licensing Required: Edge has a free version and a paid version. They are quite different in security.

• What Enterprise Data Protection (EDP) Includes

  When using Copilot in Edge with a supported license:

  • Prompts and responses are protected under Microsoft’s enterprise terms.

  • Web queries (via Bing) are anonymized and not used to train models.

  • Data is encrypted at rest and in transit.

  • Copilot respects organizational policies, including sensitivity labels, retention policies, and access controls.

  • No data is used to train foundation models

    
    Look for the green check mark and the Work/Web sector to see if you have Edge EDP

Other Secure AI Alternatives

While Microsoft leads in enterprise AI security if you are using Microsoft platforms (Microsoft 365 or Azure), other vendors also offer secure options:

• Google Duet AI (Workspace): Integrated with Google Workspace, Duet AI offers enterprise-grade security, data encryption, and admin controls.

• OpenAI Enterprise ChatGPT: Offers enhanced privacy, SOC 2 compliance, and no data retention for prompts or responses.

• Anthropic Claude for Business: Claude’s enterprise version includes data isolation, encryption, and customizable access controls.

• IBM Watsonx.ai: Built for regulated industries, Watsonx.ai supports secure deployment models and integrates with IBM’s governance tools.

• Grok for Business, a dedicated offering for companies that need enterprise-grade AI capabilities.

Final Thoughts

AI can be a game-changer—but only if it’s deployed securely. Free tools may be tempting, but they often lack the safeguards needed for business use. Investing in paid, enterprise-grade AI solutions ensures that your data stays protected, your compliance obligations are met, and your teams can innovate with confidence.