The real cost of staying with VMware

Broadcom’s pricing changes have left many VMware customers asking the same question: What will this really cost us?

The answer isn’t simple. Between subscription bundles, licensing posture, and support timelines, the true cost of staying - or moving - can vary dramatically. Here’s why modelling your options is critical.

Sticker price vs total cost of ownership

Renewal quotes tell part of the story, but not the whole picture. Subscription pricing may look predictable, yet over a 3–5 year horizon, the delta between staying on VMware and moving to an alternative platform can reach millions. Add in compliance risks and operational overhead, and the stakes rise even higher.

Hidden costs you can’t ignore

Licensing posture matters. Many VMware environments run Windows, SQL, or Oracle workloads on top, each with its own licensing implications. Without modelling BYOL versus bundled options, organisations risk overpaying or underutilising resources.

Hybrid strategies need hard numbers

For some, a hybrid approach- keeping VMware for certain workloads while modernising others - makes sense. But without a clear cost model, a hybrid can become a halfway house that delivers complexity without savings.

The solution:

A structured assessment gives you a board-ready, numbers-first case for every scenario:

• Staying on VMware
• Moving to an alternative platform
• Pursuing hybrid strategies

Delivered with minimal disruption, this assessment turns guesswork into clarity.

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 GBP / $11K CAD.

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.