VMware Infrastructure Migration and Optimization

Following Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware in November 2023, organizations are facing a period of adjustment as they adapt to significant changes. The transition has brought about modifications to long-standing licensing models, altering cost structures and operational dynamics.

Among the notable changes is the evolution of VMware’s traditional partner and licensing framework. The perpetual licensing model, which previously allowed customers to make a one-time purchase for lasting access, has transitioned to a subscription-based model. In addition, VMware has shifted from offering products à la carte to a bundled-only approach. This new strategy introduces recurring payments and encourages the adoption of pre-packaged solutions that combine multiple products and services, promoting streamlined offerings and integrated value. However, these changes often result in increased costs, requiring organizations to carefully evaluate their budgets and strategic priorities.

These adjustments have prompted many organizations to reassess their strategies, with a focus on addressing challenges such as:

• Evolving licensing costs – Organizations using perpetual licenses are navigating new subscription-based expenses.
• Support accessibility – Changes in Broadcom workforce alignment have led to adjustments in service delivery and support mechanisms.
• Adaptability and negotiation – The shift to subscription-only models and bundled offerings encourages organizations to reassess their solutions to ensure alignment with evolving needs.
• Innovation roadmap – Clarity on VMware’s strategic direction is vital for planning transformative digital initiatives.
• Migration complexities – Transitioning to alternative models or platforms requires careful planning and risk assessment to ensure seamless operations

Navigating VMware Subscription Licensing Model Changes

Organizations are evaluating their VMware environments in light of these changes, recognizing the need for proactive decision-making. Four key strategic paths are emerging:

• Maintain current approach – Adopting Broadcom’s licensing model to minimize short-term disruption while planning for long-term optimization.
• Explore alternative platforms – Transitioning to other hypervisors or virtualization platforms with an emphasis on strategic independence. While this potentially offers long-term independence, it involves replatforming workloads, retraining staff, and integrating new technologies—all of which carry cost and complexity. It also means organizations lose access to VMware’s market-leading virtualization technology, which still powers over 44% of global virtualized infrastructure.
• Shift to a hosted VMware solution – Migrate to a managed or hosted VMware environment provided by third-party cloud or colocation providers. This approach allows organizations to retain their existing VMware stack while improving licensing flexibility and offloading infrastructure management.
• Modernize to cloud-native platforms – Embrace modernization by refactoring or rebuilding applications on cloud-native infrastructure. This path offers long-term agility, scalability, and resilience but may require substantial upfront investment in time, expertise, and resources.

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Future-Proof Your VMware Infrastructure with Syntax VMWare Migration, licenses and solutions

Regardless of the path you choose, Syntax brings decades of cloud expertise, strong partnerships across the cloud ecosystem, and a client-first approach to guide your transformation journey.

Syntax services include:

Advisory Services

• Total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis under new licensing models
• Environment assessments to identify risk and dependency gaps
• Strategic architecture and migration planning
• Return on investment (ROI) modeling and scenario planning

Cloud Migration Services

• Tailored cloud migration strategies built for ERP and enterprise workloads
• Minimized disruption with application-focused migrations
• Workload optimization and high availability (HA)/disaster recovery (DR) design
• Support for multicloud environments
• Automation tools for cloud migration

Post-Migration Optimization Services

• 24×7 monitoring and operational management
• Self-service customer portals, automation, and orchestration tools
• Ongoing tuning and rightsizing to maximize performance and reduce costs

How Managed VMware Solutions Enhance VMware Infrastructure

While organizations have several viable options for the future of their VMware infrastructure, migrating workloads to a modern cloud-based or hybrid architecture with Syntax offers a strategic path forward. This transition unlocks a range of tangible business outcomes, including:

• Cost optimization and license efficiency – Right size your VMware footprint to avoid over-licensing and unnecessary renewals.
• Greater agility– Accelerate cloud adoption and innovation with proven methodologies.
• Enhance visibility and governance– Manage hybrid and multicloud environments with clarity and control.
• Risk reduction – Minimize exposure to pricing and support uncertainty post-acquisition.
• Vendor independence – Transition to open, interoperable infrastructure platforms aligned with long-term strategy for innovation.
• Security and compliance assurance – Ensure enterprise-grade protection and regulatory compliance across all environments.

Take Back Control of Your VMware Strategy

The current VMware landscape may feel disruptive, but it also presents a pivotal opportunity for transformation and growth.

Syntax is the expert partner you need to simplify complexity, evaluate your options, and take back control of your IT strategy. Whether you’re looking to stabilize costs, unlock new efficiencies, or embrace modernization, our team is ready to help you simplify your VMware journey and chart a confident path forward.

Are you ready to transition your VMware environments with control and confidence?

Contact us today to take a VMware License Impact Assessment or participate in a Solution Design and Roadmap workshop.