Hybrid, native, or VMware cloud?

Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware has forced organisations to reconsider their infrastructure strategies.

The shift from perpetual licences to subscription-only bundles has not only altered cost models but also changed how businesses plan long-term. Many are now asking: stay with VMware, migrate fully to the cloud, or take a hybrid path?

Evaluating the options

A VMware-based strategy remains attractive for organisations needing stability and continuity. Familiar tools and processes mean minimal disruption. But with new pricing models and fewer partner options, control over costs and procurement has narrowed.

Native cloud adoption, whether on AWS or another hyperscaler, offers flexibility and scalability. However, it often requires refactoring workloads, retraining teams, and managing security and compliance alignment.

A hybrid model, which means combining VMware’s virtualisation layer with native cloud services, can strike a balance. It enables gradual migration, cost optimisation, and improved resilience.

Making it defensible

A defensible strategy starts with evidence. Boards and regulators expect justification for every major IT investment. That requires understanding the total cost of ownership, compliance implications, and operational risk.

Running an independent assessment can quantify each scenario. It allows decision-makers to model cost, performance, and future flexibility. A data-driven case replaces assumptions with clarity.

Reducing risk through assessment

The assessment should evaluate workloads, licensing exposure, and dependency on current partners. It should also identify funding or migration credits available through approved cloud providers.

For many, this process uncovers savings or performance gains previously hidden. More importantly, it provides documentation to support a board-level decision.

Acting with confidence

Hybrid, native, or VMware Cloud - all are valid options. What matters is not which path you take, but how prepared you are. A structured assessment builds a defensible case that stands up to scrutiny.

Request your no-cost assessment and gain clarity on your VMware future.

Ready to take control of your VMware strategy?

Broadcom’s changes have created uncertainty in VMware estates, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Through the Cloud Community, you’ get a privileged pass straight to a no-cost, no-obligation, board-ready assessment worth £15K.

These assessments give organisations the evidence needed to modernise and migrate confidently, ensuring they avoid overspending and maximise the return on their cloud investment.

Assessments are funded by AWS to help our community VMware customers evaluate the impact of changes to the VMware business model, by providing data-driven plans that identify cost savings, optimise licensing, and reduce migration risks.