Turning the Windows 10 Sunset into a Security Opportunity
Overview
With Microsoft’s official end-of-support for Windows 10 coming on October 14, 2025, organizations are faced with a high-stakes refresh cycle for their IT equipment. But this isn’t just a hardware or OS issue, it’s a pivotal opportunity to assess and strengthen your entire IT asset security strategy.
Running unsupported systems increases your exposure to cyber threats. But equally risky is what happens to the hardware you’re retiring. Improperly handled assets, especially those containing sensitive data, can lead to compliance failures, data breaches, and legal liability.
Now is the time to take stock of your IT environment, not only to modernize endpoints, but to ensure every device is tracked, secured, and properly retired.
Windows 10 End-of-Life: More Than a Software Problem
- End of Support Date: October 14, 2025
- Impact: No future patches or updates – devices become security liabilities
- Current Market Reality: As of mid-2025, Windows 10 is still running on over 65% of business desktops globally
Your organization’s response must extend beyond OS upgrades. It must include secure lifecycle management of both new and outgoing hardware.
Beyond the Upgrade: Secure Every Step of the IT Asset Lifecycle
Most security conversations focus on software. But physical hardware security, especially for devices being decommissioned, is often the weakest link.
When assets are lost, stolen, or improperly disposed, data can walk out the door. That’s why Re-Source Partners delivers full-chain IT asset management, including ironclad controls for disposition and compliance.
Re-Source Partners: Certified, Secure IT Asset Management
We help organizations modernize responsibly by securing every step of the process, from asset tracking to certified data destruction.
Here’s how:
NAID AAA Certification: Top-Tier Data Destruction Standards
Our NAID AAA Certification is the highest level of credentialing for data destruction in the industry. What that means for you:
- Random, unannounced audits by a third-party to ensure continuous compliance
- Strict protocols for employee background checks, access control, and facility security
- Verified processes for physical destruction and data sanitization
- Compliant with laws like HIPAA, GLBA, and FACTA
NAID AAA isn’t just a badge, it’s a proven, enforceable system of protection. When you trust us with your end-of-life assets, you’re trusting a process validated by the most rigorous data security standards available.
NIST 800-88 Compliant Data Sanitization
We follow the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 800-88 Rev. 1 guidelines for media sanitization. This includes:
- Overwriting, degaussing, or shredding data-bearing devices
- Audit-ready documentation of the sanitization method used per asset
- Fully serialized reports that align with internal and external compliance audits
Certificates of Destruction & Sanitization – Standard, Not Optional
With every job, Re-Source Partners provides:
- Certificate of Destruction (CoD) for physical data destruction
- Certificate of Sanitization (CoS) for logically wiped assets
- Included by default in your detailed asset reporting package
- Records include asset make/model, serial number, destruction method, and timestamp
This is not an added service, it’s our standard practice. You’ll always have documentation in hand to prove compliance with internal governance or external regulations.
Full Lifecycle Asset Tracking & Reporting
You can’t secure what you can’t see. Our platform provides:
- Real-time visibility into asset movements and status
- Serialized inventory tracking for every IT asset
- Audit trails that tie together procurement, deployment, retirement, and final disposition
We integrate seamlessly with ITSM tools, making compliance and reporting easier for your teams.
Secure, Compliant End-of-Life Processing
When you’re retiring Windows 10-era devices, here’s what happens:
- Devices are securely picked up with chain-of-custody documentation
- All data-bearing equipment is wiped or destroyed per NIST 800-88
- You receive a final audit package with Certificates of Destruction/Sanitization, and detailed reporting
- Whenever possible, equipment is remarketed when possible to maximize value
- Anything unrecoverable is recycled through R2/RIOS-certified partners
Your Partner in the Windows 10 Transition
We’re already helping organizations:
- Inventory devices still running Windows 10
- Strategically phase out legacy hardware
- Schedule secure pickups and refreshes
- Track every asset through the transition with minimal disruption
Delaying Your Windows 11 Upgrade Will Cost More
Waiting to upgrade to Windows 11-compatible hardware might seem budget-friendly, but in reality, delays often lead to higher costs, greater risk, and fewer options.
Scarcity Drives Up Prices
As manufacturers phase out Windows 10-compatible devices, supply shrinks and prices rise – especially for late adopters relying on older models or refurbished hardware.
Rushed Projects Cost More
Last-minute deployments lead to:
- Overtime labor
- Expedited shipping
- Disruption to other IT initiatives
*Gartner reports rushed IT refreshes can cost 15–25% more than planned rollouts.*
Security Risks Get Expensive
Unsupported systems increase the chances of:
- Cyberattacks and data breaches
- Higher insurance premiums
- Regulatory non-compliance
Hardware Market Volatility
Global supply chain issues and inflation mean prices may continue to rise the longer you wait.
Conclusion
The sunset of Windows 10 isn’t just a hardware refresh – it’s a chance to rethink how you protect data, maintain compliance, and manage risk across your entire IT environment.
Re-Source Partners brings certified security, transparent reporting, and end-to-end asset management to every engagement. With NAID AAA certification and strict adherence to NIST 800-88, your assets, and your reputation, are in trusted hands.
Make the Windows 11 upgrade the foundation for better security.
Contact us to get started.