Don’t let VMware renewals break the bank: It’s time to explore your options

If you’re a VMware user, last year's changes in VMware licensing and subscription pricing might be causing you some concerns. Significant price hikes are causing bill shock to users when contracts come up for renewal. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many organisations are seeking VMware alternatives to help manage their rising costs.

In this article, we’ll explore the shift from perpetual licenses to subscription models, and offer some cost-effective solutions, including cloud migration to Zen Cloud or Amazon Web Services (AWS).

What’s changed with VMware licensing?

• Perpetual licensing to subscription model: VMware is transitioning away from perpetual licences, which you own indefinitely, to subscription models that require ongoing payments.
• Per-core pricing: Instead of licensing per GB of RAM, VMware is now pricing based on the number of CPU cores in your system. This can significantly increase costs, especially for high-performance environments.
• Simplified product portfolio: VMware has streamlined its product offerings, focusing on VMware Cloud Foundation for full-stack infrastructure and VMware vSphere Foundation for data centre optimisation, bundling in, and charging for, a number of additional features you may have previously opted out of.
• Partner channel changes: Broadcom has made changes to its partner channel, which may impact your ability to purchase and receive support for VMware licences.

Who’s feeling the pinch?

The impact of these VMware cost increases is widespread, affecting both enterprises and service providers.

• Enterprises: Businesses relying on VMware for virtualisation may see their renewal costs skyrocket. This can strain IT budgets and require difficult decisions about whether to stay with VMware or explore alternatives.
• Service providers: Companies offering VMware-based private cloud solutions are hit twice – by the product bundle changes and the removal of one-year contract discounts. This can significantly affect their profitability and pricing models.

Zen Cloud: A cost-effective VMware alternative

Zen Cloud offers a compelling alternative for businesses grappling with rising VMware costs. Our VMware-based, multi-tenant public cloud platform provides the same familiar technology with the added benefits of:

• Cost savings: Zen Cloud offers a predictable pricing model compared to the potentially fluctuating costs associated with the new VMware licensing structure. By migrating to Zen Cloud, customers can avoid costly VMware contracts while retaining the familiar virtualisation console for VM management. This can help you manage your budget effectively and avoid unexpected expenses.
• Performance, resilience and scalability: Our platform is built on a high-performance, resilient hardware platform spanning multiple data centres, with a 99.9% availability SLA. This ensures high levels of reliability, and the ability to scale resources as needed.
• Managed services: Zen handles the underlying infrastructure, freeing you from maintenance and management tasks and allowing your IT team to focus on strategic initiatives.

AWS migration: Another path to consider

For businesses seeking a hyper-scale solution, migrating VMware workloads to Amazon Web Services (AWS) can be a great option. AWS offers a robust suite of cloud services, including compute, storage, databases, analytics, and machine learning.

Benefits of migrating to AWS include all the scalability, flexibility and consumption-based pricing of Zen Cloud, plus:

• Global reach: Leverage AWS’s global infrastructure to deploy applications closer to your customers.
• Innovation: Gain access to cutting-edge technologies and services to drive innovation.

However, migrating to AWS requires careful planning and execution. It’s essential to assess your applications, infrastructure, and business needs to determine if AWS is the right fit for your organisation. As an AWS Advanced Services Partner, Zen has the expertise and experience to guide you through the entire migration process, ensuring a smooth transition and maximising the benefits of AWS for your business.

Choosing the right path for your business

Both Zen Cloud and AWS migration offer distinct advantages, and the best choice for your organisation will depend on your specific requirements and priorities.

• If you prefer a familiar VMware environment with managed services and predictable costs, Zen Cloud could be the ideal solution.
• If you’re looking for a hyper-scale platform with access to a wider range of services, serverless computing or containerisation, AWS migration might be a better fit.

Zen’s cloud experts can help you assess your needs, evaluate your options, and develop a tailored solution that meets your business goals and budgets. If you’d like to discuss your requirements, get in touch today.