Well, it's been a year since Broadcom bought VMware. Not exactly an anniversary worth celebrating. Many of us are still dealing with the aftermath, and it feels like Broadcom is hoping we've all been beaten down enough to stop caring. But let's not forget what really happened here.
A Year of Unwanted Change
When Broadcom took over VMware, it wasn't just a change in ownership; it was a full-blown shakedown. Here's a quick reminder of what we've endured:
- End of Perpetual Licences: Broadcom axed perpetual licences, forcing everyone onto subscription-only models.
- Skyrocketing Costs: Those subscriptions? They're pricier than the perpetual licences were, with some seeing increases as high as 1500% at renewal.
- Changed Licensing Metrics: Broadcom also moved licensing from a per-CPU to a per-core basis, effectively doubling costs for those running high-core systems.
- Partner Agreement Chaos: Existing agreements with VMware resellers and service providers? All terminated. Partners had to reapply under stricter terms.
- No Direct Support: Most customers lost direct access to support, now having to go through third parties.
- Local Teams Decimated: Want to talk to Broadcom's VMware team? Good luck finding them. Local teams were gutted.
- Service Provider Models Scrapped: Broadcom got rid of service provider licensing models, which heavily impacted service providers, leaving many scrambling.
To top it all off, Broadcom kept everyone in the dark until the last possible moment. It felt deliberate — a strategy to make sure no one had a choice but to renew under their new, much less favourable terms.
The Harsh Reality
Broadcom bought VMware, a technology that underpins the critical infrastructure of countless businesses, public sectors, and service providers. And what did they do with it? They used its necessity as leverage to squeeze everyone dry.
And then, for an extra kick, Broadcom spent the last year marketing this mess as a positive change. The narrative? We should be grateful for this "new and improved" VMware.
For those of us who actually use VMware day in, day out — service providers, small businesses, enterprises — it wasn't so simple to just ditch it. Moving off VMware meant facing enormous costs. Why? Because VMware had become the gold standard of compatibility. Everything worked with it — backups, disaster recovery tools, monitoring, security, storage, networking — you name it. Shifting to another hypervisor would mean huge write-offs, wasted investments, and massive disruption.
Looking Forward: What’s Next?
As we hit this one-year mark, it's worth asking: has Broadcom’s behaviour improved? Unfortunately, no. They’re now even hitting customers with late payment charges of up to 20% if they miss support renewals.
But there is good news. There are finally viable alternatives to VMware. At Datavita and National Cloud, our strategy is to reduce our dependence on VMware as much as possible. We've launched new platforms that don’t rely on VMware, and the support landscape for other hypervisors has improved significantly over the past year. Real, viable options are emerging, and it’s time to explore them.
Time to Take Back Control
If you're using VMware, now's the time to start planning an exit strategy. National Cloud has developed an Exit Readiness Assessment to help businesses break free from VMware’s grip.
Beyond VMware - Exit Readiness Assessment
If you're tired of skyrocketing costs, poor service, and the lack of flexibility, you're not alone. Broadcom's acquisition of VMware has turned a once reliable tool into a frustrating, expensive liability. Our Exit Readiness Assessment offers a clear way forward:
- Identify Alternatives: We’ll help you find cost-effective alternatives that fit your needs.
- Minimise Disruption: Get a tailored migration plan that reduces downtime and hassle.
- Actionable Steps: Get clear, actionable steps to help you take back control from VMware.
Why Make the Switch?
Broadcom's takeover has been a disaster for customers: rising costs, hidden fees, forced subscriptions, outdated support, and late renewal penalties. VMware used to be the industry leader, but it's clear now that it's not on your side anymore. Why stay chained to an outdated and overpriced solution?
Our Exit Readiness Assessment is your ticket to freedom. In just 30 minutes, we can help kick-start your transition. Hundreds of businesses have already broken free, and now it’s your turn.
Act Now
Don’t get left behind. Transform your IT strategy, slash costs, and leave VMware's limitations behind.
Book Your Free Exit Readiness Assessment Today! Let's take back control.