Continued Innovation with Azure VMware Solution

Over the past four years, Microsoft and VMware have worked together closely to deliver Azure VMware Solution (AVS) to customers in 30+ Azure regions around the globe. AVS is a fully managed Microsoft service, based on VMware Cloud Foundation technologies, running on VMware validated Azure infrastructure. ?The solution provides an all-inclusive range of software-defined services in computing, storage, networking, security, and cloud management.

AVS enables customers to?migrate or extend VMware workloads?to the cloud seamlessly. Your team runs VMware right on Azure. Organizations can maintain existing VMware skills and operational processes and leverage Azure cloud services to modernize their applications, including innovation with AI.

In recent months there has been continued innovation and news with Azure VMware Solution. For example, customers that have purchased VMware Cloud Foundation subscriptions will be able to use those licenses on AVS, giving them flexibility to meet changing business needs.?Customers can shift their workloads into the cloud without buying new licenses.

Customers can currently purchase the solution with VMware licenses included, and this option will continue to be available for customers that prefer to purchase their VMware licenses as part of their solution from Microsoft.???

As a #MSFTAmbassador, I think the flexibility around licensing is a great benefit for customers.

ROI

Let’s talk about the ROI of the solution first

Azure VMware Solution is an efficient and cost-effective path to Azure for VMware-based workloads.

An IDC research study titled The Business Value of Azure VMware Solution from July 2023 reported that migrating and extending workloads to Azure VMware Solution saved time and money. ?Results include a per-organization average of:

• 357 percent three-year ROI?achieved through IT cost savings, staff efficiencies, more productive application development, and improved business performance.
• 37 percent lower three-year cost of operations.
• $147,500 in total annual benefits?gained per 100 users.
• 48 percent higher developer productivity?resulting from improved developer speed, agility, and flexibility.

IT leadership always considers cost and effort when they weigh their solution options.??

Let’s dig into the technical considerations

This collaboration between Microsoft and Broadcom is really about facilitating the transition of workloads into Azure without the need for a complete VMware environment shift.

What this means is that customers can move VMWare workloads by lifting and shitfing into AVS with little to no re-factoring between the two environments. This streamlines migration and allows customers to continue using familiar skills while learning new Azure skills.

So what are some of the benefits of the solution? There are 6 that come to mind:

1. Migration on your terms

Migrate everything as-is to Azure VMware Solution and modernize with 200+ Azure services at your own pace. ).

2. Efficiency

Avoid overprovisioning, hardware refreshes, and decommissioned infrastructure spend by moving to Azure VMware Solution.

3. Consistency

Improve IT productivity by leveraging existing VMware skills and resources.

4. Added value

Allow IT teams to spend more time focusing on projects that add value instead of managing on-premises datacenters and software.

5. Dependability

Get business continuity, less downtime, and fewer disruptions with VMware technology fully managed and supported by Microsoft.?

6. Innovation

Move faster with a highly productive cloud platform and access to native Azure services and tools.

?

Innovate Faster with the VMware Rapid Migration Plan

Microsoft has also introduced license portability. They have set up the?VMware Rapid Migration Plan?to assist you in moving to the cloud with greater ease and at a lower cost.

The plan includes:?

• Price protection: With reserved instances customers can lock in pricing for one, three, or five years. ?Microsoft is offering an additional?20% discount off the one-year Reserved Instance before December 31, 2024. The five-year Reserved Instance for Azure VMware Solution is only available for a limited time and ends on December 31, 2024.
• Savings for Windows Server and SQL Server:?Windows Server?and?SQL Server?are common workloads on VMware environments. With Software Assurance for on-premises Windows Server and SQL Server licenses, organizations can qualify for the Azure Hybrid Benefit discount to use existing Windows Server and SQL Server licenses in Azure VMware Solution.?Free?Extended Security Updates?are available for older versions that face end of support.
• Migration support: Use?Azure Migrate and Modernize?to get resources, expert help, and funding from Microsoft and its partner ecosystem.?
• Azure credits: Customers that purchase a new reserved instance for Azure VMware Solution can get additional Azure credits valid for Azure VMware Solution or other Azure services.?When you buy a new Reserved Instance for Azure VMware Solution, you can get an additional Azure credit of up to $120,000*. Use this for Azure VMware Solution, or consider using it for other Azure services to help you optimize and modernize in the cloud.

?

?Ready to get started??

Learn more by visiting Microsoft Azure VMware website: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/azure-vmware/

Interested in the Azure Migrate to Modernize Resource Kit? Get the resource kit: https://info.microsoft.com/ww-landing-azure-offerings-resource-kit.html?lcid=en-us

Interested in the Business Value of the solution? Get the IDC white paper The Business Value of Azure VMware Solution from July 2023: https://info.microsoft.com/ww-landing-idc-the-business-value-of-azure-vmware-solution.html

?

Additional references

Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server

Azure VMware Solution | Microsoft Azure

#MSFTAmbassador #MSFTClou #Azure