Find Your Life Raft: The Argument for Reconsidering Your Relationship with VMware

For years, VMware has been a cornerstone of enterprise IT, providing virtualization and cloud management solutions that businesses have relied on to power their operations. However, in the wake of its acquisition by Broadcom, VMware’s strategic direction has shifted dramatically. Recent decisions—ranging from major licensing changes and the disbanding of key partner programs to restrictions on VMware Cloud on AWS and the abrupt termination of SaaS-based management services—have left customers and partners scrambling for alternatives.

If your business is still deeply tied to VMware, now is the time to evaluate your dependency. Let’s take a closer look at the major changes VMware has implemented and why you might need to find your life raft before it’s too late.

Sweeping Licensing Changes: More Expensive, Less Flexible

One of the most immediate and painful shifts under Broadcom’s ownership has been the overhaul of VMware’s licensing model. Previously, VMware offered perpetual licenses with support and maintenance agreements, allowing customers to manage their costs over time. Broadcom, however, has moved to a subscription-only model, forcing organizations to re-evaluate their budgets and long-term commitments.

This change isn’t just about cost; it’s about control. Businesses that once had predictable VMware expenses are now subject to Broadcom’s subscription pricing, which could rise at any time. Organizations that prefer capital expenditures over ongoing operational expenses are finding themselves with fewer choices, creating significant financial and operational uncertainty.

Disbanding Partner Programs: A Betrayal to the Channel

Another seismic change is VMware’s decision to dismantle its long-standing partner programs. Historically, VMware worked closely with resellers, integrators, and service providers to expand its reach and support its customers. Under Broadcom, many of these partnerships have been severed, leaving partners—and by extension, their customers—without clear paths for continued engagement.

Many businesses relied on VMware partners for support, managed services, and deployment expertise. Now, those same partners have either been cut out entirely or forced to reapply under Broadcom’s new, highly restrictive partner framework. This sudden shift has left countless organizations without the trusted advisors and solutions they once depended on, further complicating their VMware experience.

Banning New Sales of VMware Cloud on AWS: Cutting Off a Lifeline

For enterprises that embraced a hybrid cloud strategy, VMware Cloud on AWS (VMC on AWS) was a crucial bridge between on-premises VMware environments and Amazon Web Services (AWS). However, VMware recently announced that it will no longer allow new customers to purchase VMC on AWS. This move effectively shuts the door on new hybrid cloud deployments leveraging AWS, forcing customers to either migrate elsewhere or remain locked into VMware’s alternative cloud offerings.

For businesses that had been planning on leveraging AWS as part of their multi-cloud strategy, this decision is a major roadblock. It also raises concerns about VMware’s long-term commitment to cloud flexibility, as it seems increasingly focused on pushing customers toward its own tightly controlled solutions.

Killing SaaS Management and Automation Services: A Step Backward

Perhaps the most baffling decision is VMware’s abrupt termination of several SaaS-based management and automation tools, including VMware Aria (formerly vRealize). These solutions provided vital capabilities for businesses looking to automate and orchestrate their VMware environments, improving efficiency and reducing operational overhead.

By eliminating these services, VMware is effectively telling its customers that they must either return to more manual, legacy management practices or invest in entirely new tooling. This is a significant setback for organizations that have built their IT operations around VMware’s automation ecosystem, forcing them to rethink their strategies or migrate to third-party solutions.

What’s Next? Finding Your Life Raft

Given these sweeping changes, organizations must ask themselves: Is VMware still the right long-term choice?

The IT landscape is filled with alternatives that offer flexibility, cost savings, and a more customer-centric approach. Public cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud provide robust virtualization and automation solutions. Meanwhile, alternative hypervisors such as Nutanix AHV, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM offer competitive performance without the licensing headaches.

Businesses that rely on VMware should start evaluating their exit strategy now. Whether it’s shifting workloads to the public cloud, exploring alternative hypervisors, or adopting open-source solutions, having a plan in place is critical. VMware’s recent moves suggest that customers will continue to face unpredictable changes, and waiting too long could leave you locked into an increasingly expensive and restrictive ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

VMware’s Broadcom era has brought a wave of changes that fundamentally alter how businesses interact with its products and services. From pricing overhauls to partner alienation and cloud restrictions, these shifts are leaving many customers questioning their future with VMware.

Now is the time to reassess your IT strategy. Don’t wait until your options are limited—find your life raft before you’re forced to make a costly, rushed decision. The enterprise technology world is evolving rapidly, and ensuring your infrastructure remains adaptable and cost-effective is more important than ever.

If you’re still holding on to VMware, ask yourself: Is it time to let go?