The acquisition of VMware by Broadcom brought significant changes to one of the most recognised and widely-used virtualisation platforms in the world. For VMware customers, the acquisition has raised questions around what this means for them.
As a certified VMware partner, customers are coming to us to help them work out how to maximise the return on their VMware investments.
Our Solutions Architect David Crosthwaite shares his insights into what this acquisition means and how Truis can help IT leaders assess their virtualisation strategy within the VMware environment.
VMware is considered by many to be the enterprise standard in the world of virtualisation, powering mission-critical infrastructure for many major brands and Fortune 500 companies. At the end of 2023, the company was officially acquired by Broadcom.
With changes to licensing and product packaging already underway, many existing VMware customers are taking the time to understand what this means for them. Here are a few key changes that have popped up so far.
VMware has discontinued perpetual licensing, shifting to a subscription-based model. This means customers now purchase subscriptions for software access and updates, rather than owning the software.
Broadcom has significantly reduced the available VMware ‘line-items’ and has bundled many VMware products into two subscription-only software solutions: VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) and VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF). These subscription options are rich in features and can often include components that aren’t yet fully in use in an enterprise. Broadcom subscription options mean that ‘plain old VMware’ is a thing of the past.
This new approach encourages customers to review the features of the two subscription offerings against their existing VMware licensing. As a VMware partner, we help customers work through how they can maximise their return from the software.
A list of VMware products and how they align in the new subscription offerings can be found here.
David says this recent acquisition presents an opportunity for IT managers to take the time to investigate the available subscription models to determine the best solution for their needs.
If you’re wanting to assess your virtualisation strategy, here are some key questions to ask:
• How does the virtualisation platform fit into my broader IT landscape?
• Is my backup solution integrated with my virtualisation platform? And my disaster recovery?
• Does it change how I manage my virtualisation?
• Is it flexible and scalable?
• Is it cost-effective?
• Does it change what software I run? Will my applications be supported?
Assessing the current landscape can empower timely decisions when it comes to renewing contracts, encourage technology innovation, and prepare the team in case of future changes to licensing structures.
At Truis, we’re here to ensure your virtualisation strategy aligns with your business goals. As a certified VMware partner, we help our customers navigate the constantly evolving virtualisation landscape with ease. Get in touch today to find out how we can help your organisation.