Broadcom is targeting VMware’s top customers, potentially making it difficult for organizations with lower spending to negotiate new contracts due to the high cost of VMware’s new pricing bundles. The switch to a subscription-based licensing model, following Broadcom’s acquisition, has led to a significant increase in costs, up to 300% more than previous on-premise licenses.
Companies like Microsoft and AWS are offering VMware migration options, with Microsoft’s Azure VMware Solution being highlighted for its speed and cost-effectiveness. Other options include Red Hat’s KubeVirt and Linux virt-v2v tools for migrating virtual machines. Nutanix also offers its Acropolis hypervisor as an alternative to VMware, with some organizations, such as Mid Cheshire NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, making the switch due to cost savings.
Organizations considering migrating away from VMware may need to explore third-party support options to maintain their existing VMware footprint. Spinnaker Support is one such provider, offering security support and VMware expertise as an alternative to VMware’s support services. Rimini Street also offers support for perpetually licensed VMware customers facing significant fee increases.
While some IT leaders may choose to stick with Broadcom, the availability of alternative hypervisors and support services indicates that there are options for organizations looking to explore alternatives.