Microsoft has quietly updated a support document on how the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 will work and how much it will cost - and for some it might cause their stomach to churn.
Administrators and accountants alike will be looking glumly at the prices that Microsoft announced in 2024 if their organizations still require Windows 10. In the company's reworked list, it spells out some of the ways whereby users might dodge the fees. If, for example, you have a Windows 10 endpoint connecting to a Windows 365 Cloud PC, ESU could be free.
Windows 10 virtual machines running Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop are also entitled to ESU for up to three years, provided the user has an active Windows 365 subscription license.
Microsoft also updated the support document to confirm the cost to keep the security updates flowing for commercial customers: $61 for Year One per device, a figure that will double for every subsequent year for a maximum of three years. And no, it won't be possible to save money by leaving it for a while before signing up: "If you decide to purchase the program in Year Two, you'll have to pay for Year One too, as ESUs are cumulative," said Microsoft.
Grrr... I mentioned it on this blog a while ago: Microsoft seems to be making all their decisions as bad decisions. I've worked with Microsoft systems for 30 years & been a partner since 1998. They've done some crappy stuff over the years - but this is the worst I've seen.
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