7 Signs It Is Time to Upgrade Devices

If you run a small business in Livonia, Westland or the surrounding areas of Southeast Michigan, you should take a close look at the computers and devices your team uses every day. Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 in October 2025. This deadline is not just another update cycle. It is a turning point that affects security, compliance, and the reliability of your technology.

Businesses in industries like healthcare, dental services, finance, and insurance already deal with heavy compliance requirements. Whether you are working to meet HIPAA, FINRA, or PCI standards, your systems must be current and secure. Continuing to use unsupported devices after October 2025 may put sensitive data at risk and increase the chances of facing fines or audits.

From medical practices near Warren Road to CPA firms in downtown Livonia and insurance agencies throughout Garden City, business owners across the region need to know the warning signs. If you see these seven issues with your current technology, it is time to begin planning for a device upgrade.

7 Signs Michigan Small Businesses Should Upgrade Devices Before Windows 10 Ends 

1. Your Computers Are Slowing Everyone Down 

Slow technology is not just frustrating. It reduces productivity and can limit how much work your team can complete in a day. If your computers take several minutes to turn on or freeze when switching between tasks, you are losing valuable time. 

For businesses that rely on appointment scheduling, client records, or billing software, even short delays can lead to backlogs. As new software continues to require more processing power, older devices will only slow down further.

A dental office could see up to a 40 percent improvement in front desk efficiency by upgrading outdated desktop computers. With faster and more reliable devices, patient check-ins would likely become smoother and staff could manage more tasks during peak hours.

2. Frequent Crashes Are Interrupting Workflows 

If your computer freezes during a claim submission or restarts while you are entering a patient record, it is more than a minor inconvenience. These interruptions reduce trust with clients and patients, and they may cause you to lose important data.

Once Windows 10 stops receiving updates, older systems will become more unstable and more vulnerable to malware and performance issues. This creates a greater risk of failing to meet security and compliance standards.

Medical offices that cannot guarantee the safety of protected health information are at risk of HIPAA violations. Financial and insurance professionals could face similar consequences under FINRA rules if client records are lost or exposed due to a system failure. 

3. Battery Life Is Unreliable and Limits Mobility 

Many professionals rely on laptops for remote work, offsite meetings, or mobile patient consultations. If your laptop battery only lasts an hour or if the device overheats quickly, your business operations will be restricted. 

Windows 11 is optimized for longer battery life, but only newer hardware can take full advantage of these improvements. If your current laptop is several years old, upgrading to a modern system will provide more reliability and less time spent near an outlet. 

Field staff who depend on mobile access to records, charts, or claim data cannot afford battery-related interruptions during the workday. 

4. Your Devices Are Constantly Out of Storage 

When a system runs low on space, it affects more than just your ability to save files. Your operating system needs free space to perform tasks like installing updates and running background processes. A full hard drive can lead to performance issues, crashes, and failed updates.

Healthcare and insurance offices often store large volumes of sensitive data such as scanned documents, images, and digital forms. If there is not enough room to store and manage these files securely, it becomes a compliance concern. 

Newer business computers come equipped with solid-state drives and cloud storage integration that make it easier to manage and protect large data sets. 

5. Your Systems Cannot Support Windows 11 

Windows 11 has strict hardware requirements that many older Windows 10 machines do not meet. These include a modern 64-bit processor, at least 4 gigabytes of RAM, Secure Boot capability, and a Trusted Platform Module version 2.0. 

If your current devices are not eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade, you will not receive the latest security updates after October 2025. Attempting to run a business on unsupported systems introduces major cybersecurity risks and may put you in violation of federal or state compliance regulations.

You can use Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool to find out whether your computers qualify for the upgrade. If they do not, now is the time to begin replacing them in phases so your business stays protected.

6. Repairs Are Frequent and Costly 

If you are frequently paying for screen replacements, battery swaps, or fan repairs just to keep your systems running, your costs may already be approaching the price of a new device. These repair costs often go unnoticed until you add them up over the course of a year or more. 

An insurance agency in Westland could avoid spending more than six thousand dollars on desktop repairs over two years by proactively replacing aging machines. By choosing newer and more efficient models that support Windows 11, they would likely see fewer technical issues and reduced downtime. 

Replacing aging devices with modern systems reduces downtime, simplifies support, and improves overall reliability.

7. Your Business Has Outgrown Its Technology 

As your business grows, your technology needs change. Older systems may not have the memory, processing speed, or security features required to run modern software or manage larger volumes of data.

Industries such as dentistry, finance, healthcare, legal services, and education could benefit by implementing modern applications for scheduling, data management, secure communication, and remote collaboration. If these organizations upgrade their technology infrastructure, their staff would likely see improved workflow, better data access, and stronger compliance with industry regulations.

More importantly, newer systems include security tools such as biometric login, encryption, and remote access control that help you meet evolving compliance requirements. 

Windows 10 End of Life Is a Hard Deadline

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will stop releasing updates and patches for Windows 10. Devices still running this system will no longer receive security fixes, leaving them exposed to cyber threats.

Using unsupported systems could cause your business to fall out of compliance with laws and regulations. This creates serious risks for anyone handling sensitive data in sectors like healthcare, insurance, or financial services. 

Businesses in Westland, Livonia, and nearby communities have time to act. You do not need to replace every device at once, but you should start evaluating your current equipment now and plan a gradual transition. 

Action Steps for Michigan Businesses 

1. Use Microsoft’s official tools to check whether your devices are eligible for Windows 11 

2. Create an inventory of all computers and prioritize upgrades for the oldest or most critical ones 

3. Set a timeline that allows you to spread out purchases and avoid budget strain 

4. Talk to a local IT provider who understands Michigan compliance needs and can guide your upgrade strategy 

Final Thoughts 

Technology is essential to daily operations in today’s business environment. If your computers are outdated, slow, or no longer supported, your risks grow every day. For small businesses in Southeast Michigan, especially those that handle regulated data, now is the time to plan for a full transition away from Windows 10.

Upgrading your devices is not just a matter of speed and convenience. It is about protecting your clients, ensuring compliance, and preparing your business for the future. 

Do not wait until the deadline arrives. Make your plan now and keep your business running smoothly, securely, and successfully. 

Republished with Permission from The Technology Press