Navigating the Cloud Transition: How the VMware-Broadcom Shift is Driving Organisations Toward Microsoft Azure Solutions
As we reach the midpoint of 2024, a discussion still prominent in the broader IT sector is the evolving situation with VMware. The aggressive acquisition strategy of Broadcom, notably its focus on maximising profit, is creating significant unrest and doubt. This uncertainty seems to be extending to both VMware's small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) and larger corporate customer base.
Our comprehensive research for the well-received SC:Strategy, which, at its core examines enterprise IT infrastructures, consistently reveals a trend: organisations are sweating the life of their hardware assets (both compute and storage), while continuing to use their VMware virtualisation platforms, wondering what to do next and when to make a change. Despite the well-documented advantages of cloud technology, some SMEs to this point have remained unconvinced by the arguments for transitioning to the cloud, remaining content with the status quo.
However, the current instability and uncertainties surrounding VMware's future appear to be a significant turning point. Increasingly, organisations that were once hesitant about adopting cloud solutions are now contemplating them as viable alternatives. This shift is particularly evident when considering tactical factors such as hosting contract breakpoints, estate and facility reviews, and strategic moves towards data and artificial intelligence.
The VMware-Broadcom situation has created both challenges and opportunities for organisations relying on virtualisation technologies. So, for organisations considering a shift to cloud technology in 2024, there are various options available and it's important to understand how to approach this transition effectively.
Let’s take a closer look at two popular pathways to Azure and explore which one might be the right fit for your needs.
Azure Virtual Machines
This is Azure’s core compute service, allowing you to run various operating systems in the cloud. While powerful and flexible, migrating your existing VMware workloads to Azure VMs may require upfront investment, potential application refactoring, and a shift in your IT team’s skill set. However, this transition offers a valuable opportunity to rationalise and modernise your existing workloads, evaluate and optimise your infrastructure, and achieve enhanced performance and cost efficiencies.
Migrating to Azure allows for upgrading outdated systems to meet future demands, resulting in a more scalable, flexible, and resilient digital infrastructure. Although this transition may require considerable initial investment, the long-term benefits are substantial. It is essential for IT teams to develop new cloud-based competencies, including cloud architecture, automation, and security best practices, to fully capitalise on the advantages of cloud adoption.
Azure VMWare Solution
This is a dedicated service specifically for running your VMware workloads in Azure. Think of it as your familiar VMware environment, just hosted on Microsoft’s Infrastructure.
This is particularly relevant for organisations that have developed strong VMware virtualisation expertise over the past decade, with skilled IT teams managing well-maintained platforms. For these organisations, the idea of completely transitioning to cloud-native services might seem like a risky move with limited benefits, especially if they rely heavily on traditional Windows and Linux applications that are not evolving rapidly.
Q: But isn’t this still reliant on VMWare, how does that help our concerns?
Well, the current uncertainty extends into the VMware private cloud space as well. As The Register reported following the recent launch of the new Broadcom Advantage Partner Program for VMware Cloud Service Provider Partners, some partners expressed frustration with what they perceived as a lack of clear communication and support. This period of uncertainty left many questioning the future of the program.
However, unlike relying on third-party private cloud providers AVS is backed by a strong and committed partnership between Microsoft and VMware.
But there is also an additional level of reassurance with AVS. As it runs on Azure, you benefit from Microsoft’s Extended Security Update Program for eligible products. This means even if you’re running older Windows Servers versions or SQL Server instances within your VMware environment you can gain valuable breathing room to plan your modernisation strategy without compromising security.
If this scenario resonates with you, Azure VMware Solution could be your ideal choice. With AVS you can extend or migrate your on-premises VMware environment into Azure, minimising disruption while maximising your team’s existing expertise. This means you’ll face a shallower learning curve and faster path to realising cloud benefits.
But AVS isn’t just about “lifting and shifting”. It is about strategically positioning yourself to adopt modern cloud practice like DevOps and FinOps, unlocking new possibilities with data, AI and cloud-native services – all while maintaining the stability and familiarity of your VMware environment. Start with the AVS resources you need now and effortlessly scale up or down as your business evolves. As you modernise applications, or embrace SaaS solutions, you can adapt your AVS footprint accordingly.
Want to find out more?
In our discussions with organisations contemplating change and seeking business buy-in, two crucial questions consistently arise.
How do cloud costs compare to our VMWare estate post-renewal?
What would our timeline for transitioning to AVS look like?
To address these pivotal questions quickly and confidently, we are excited to introduce our free AVS Business Case Accelerator offer. This service is designed to help businesses make informed decisions and build a compelling case for moving to the cloud with the support of a data-driven assessment, financial analysis, technical readiness evaluation and sustainability impact report. Find out more here, or contact us today to discuss how we can support your business.
Leon Fox
Chief Technologist
Shaping Cloud
hello@shapingcloud.com