A recent report by Lansweeper reveals that Windows 10 remains on 16.9% of monitored devices, with small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) accounting for 21.4% of remaining installations.The operating system's security vulnerabilities are significant, carrying an average of 1,903 active CVEs compared to 652 on Windows 11.

Despite Microsoft ending standard support in 2023, migration has slowed as many organizations face cost barriers or lack compatible hardware for Windows 11.

The report highlights 'patch diffing'—a technique where vulnerabilities in Windows 10 are reverse-engineered from Windows 11 updates—as a critical security risk.Healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors show particularly high retention rates (23%), while consumer and retail devices hover around 22.7%.Extended Security Updates (ESUs) apply to 14% of Windows 10 devices, but many remain exposed due to outdated systems.

User feedback underscores frustration with Windows 11's hardware requirements, performance issues, and compatibility problems, leading some to resist upgrades.

Analysts warn that by 2032, unsupported Windows 10 systems could pose severe security risks unless organizations accelerate migration to modern platforms.