A Sea Change—AWS Is No Longer Operating as a VMware Cloud on AWS reseller

What Do the Changes Mean if You are a VMC on AWS Customer?

In 2017, VMware and Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched VMware Cloud on AWS, a powerful platform that combines VMware’s leading virtualization technology with AWS’s robust cloud infrastructure.?

As of April 30, 2024 VMware Cloud on AWS is no longer available for purchase through AWS. This announcement marks the end of a partnership that enabled businesses to seamlessly integrate VMware's virtualization technology with the expansive capabilities of the AWS cloud.

VMware Cloud on AWS is no longer directly sold by AWS or its channel partners

Customers who previously purchased VMware Cloud on AWS from AWS will now work with Broadcom or an authorized Broadcom reseller to renew their subscriptions and expand their environments.?

While VMC has been a preferred choice for many due to its similarity to on-prem VMware environments, it comes at a higher cost compared to native AWS solutions.

Many of these customers were willing to pay the higher price for the convenience it offered them

It’s important to note that AWS has assured current customers that while new purchases will be halted, existing deployments will continue to be supported according to existing agreements. Companies must now consider their contracts' lifecycle and the support terms, focusing on any implications for service renewals or expansions

But change provides opportunity for assessment. Does this change offer an opportunity for businesses to reassess and realign their cloud infrastructure for greater efficiency and innovation?

Do these customers need a different long term strategy beyond their contract expiration dates?

Here’s a look at the VMC changes once it is time for your contract renewal:

·?????? Cost Increases—The reality is a 3-10x increase based on the customer intel we’ve been gathering

·?????? Identity—restrictions on MFA configurations, modifications and the creation of any new VMware accounts

·?????? Procurement—Customers can’t create, renew, upgrade or take any subscription action from the VMware Cloud Services portal.? All subscription info is no read only as it relates to VMware Cloud Foundation services.? Let me be clear that you can buy new subscriptions but this subscription is separate from and does not integrate with your current subscription.

While VMware on AWS is not technically going away, the change in procurement vehicles is causing a serious rethink on the part of buyers—migrate off VMware to an AWS native solution or find a managed AWS partner to help with the transition.? Additionally AWS is offering financial support incentives during May-July 2024 to help with migrations.

Migration Strategy

There are many organizations that have relied on and comfortable with VMware and its management environment.? Shifting away from VMC to AWS can seem like a steep climb due to IT team skills gaps.? But it is also an opportunity to upskill by taking advantage of some of the advanced training and ecosystem support that AWS offers.?

AWS offers native tools to help with the migration.? These include AWS Migration Hub and AWS Application Migration Service.? Both of these tools streamline the transfer of applications, data and workloads.

Additionally AWS is offering financial support incentives during May-July 2024 to help with migrations.

A Helping Hand

If your organization is looking for hands on assistance while your team skills up or if you’ve made the decision to outsource management, AWS has an entire ecosystem of partners that can support your efforts.

Many of these ecosystem partners offer:

·?????? Customer Success Management

·?????? Environment Management

·?????? Incident Management

·?????? Proactive Monitoring & Remediation

Next Steps

If you are looking to evaluate partners in the AWS ecosystem that offer management, contact me.? I’ll help you evaluate options agnostically.

Read more about how to migrate in this AWS blog:? https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/mt/migrate-vmware-virtual-machines-to-amazon-ec2-with-the-aws-application-migration-service-replication-agent/

Join me and Matt Brickey , SVP Professional Services at TierPoint , an AWS partner on 5/17 on a webinar that outlines migration options;

Eventbrite Registration Link below

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/webinar-assessment-and-migration-of-vmware-to-aws-or-azure-with-tierpoint-tickets-873554112867

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