Windows 11 forces users to upgrade: act now or risk security!

Windows 11 forces users to upgrade: act now or risk security!

On October 15, 2025, the University of Erfurt took an important step towards improving IT security. The employees' computers and laptops were converted to the current Windows 11 operating system or replaced. In doing so, the university underlines the urgency of working with the latest software standards and minimizing security risks. Employees who administer their Windows devices themselves are required to upgrade to Windows 11 themselves.

It is strongly recommended that you upgrade as soon as possible. Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will no longer receive security updates from autumn 2025. Self-managed devices are particularly affected, as the cost-neutral extension of security updates for Windows 10 is not available. However, this regulation only applies to the home version; the Enterprise version is excluded. Note in this regard heise.de announced that some Windows 11 PCs sold with the new operating system are also excluded from updates, due to Microsoft's strict hardware requirements.

Upgrade requirements

In order to successfully upgrade to Windows 11, employees must meet several requirements. This includes checking the system requirements and the existence of certain hardware features. Before upgrading, it is strongly recommended that you back up your data. Windows 11 can be easily installed using the built-in Windows Update function as long as the technical requirements are met. The upgrade process itself can be easily started under the settings in the “Update & Security” area.

The system requirements not only appear to be a technical hurdle, but also have an impact on the number of devices that receive the update. After an initial feature update, a more precise check is carried out, which can lead to updates being refused on unsuitable systems. It should be noted that Microsoft only provides updates to each minor version of Windows 11 for three years; for private users it is only two years. PCs with sub-versions 22H2 and 21H2 have already no longer received any updates.

Changes and limitations in Windows 11

Windows 11 also brings various changes that impact the user experience. For example, the desktop background can no longer be transferred between devices when using the Microsoft account. Important applications such as Windows Mail, Calendar, and Contacts will lose support on December 31, 2024. New management features have been implemented for organizations, but some limitations, such as the lack of live tiles or the non-customizable taskbar, may irritate users.

An additional problem is the remote tablet mode, which is a limitation for many users of mobile devices. The speed at which new security updates are delivered may also be a concern for some users. microsoft.com clarifies that disabling internet search results via the registry key in Windows 11 is not possible as far as privacy is concerned. This makes it clear that Windows 11 users are affected by both progress and new challenges in using the operating system.