AWS for VMware
Rethinking the true cost of your VMware environment? This solution brief shows how to migrate and modernize VMware-based workloads on AWS through flexible pathways, cost-optimization programs, and expert support. Read the solution brief to see how organizations that migrate gain up to 66% infrastructure cost savings, faster time to market, and a secure, scalable platform with global reach.
Why should we move our VMware workloads to AWS?
Organizations move VMware workloads to AWS to reshape cost, agility, and innovation without starting from scratch.
- Proven experience at scale: AWS has 17+ years of delivering cloud services to millions of customers worldwide, including startups, large enterprises, and government agencies.
- Flexible migration paths: Every environment is different. AWS offers tailored migration pathways using AWS migration tools, partners, or professional services to help minimize time, cost, and disruption.
- Cost optimization: Customers who migrated from on-premises to AWS saw, on average, up to 66% infrastructure cost savings (Enterprise Strategy Group report, 2023).
- Faster delivery: By automating tasks and leveraging cloud-native services, organizations achieved about 60% time savings on tasks and 43% lower time to market for new features.
- Modernization options: You can run VMware-based workloads as-is initially, then gradually reimagine them using 200+ cloud-native services including containers, serverless, generative AI, and managed databases.
- Global, secure infrastructure: AWS provides 105 Availability Zones across 33 Regions and around 300 security features, giving you a broad, secure global footprint for your VMware workloads.
In short, AWS helps you move from maintaining legacy infrastructure to focusing on business outcomes—while giving you options to modernize at your own pace.
How does AWS support our VMware migration and modernization journey?
AWS provides a structured, supported path to help you migrate and modernize VMware workloads with less risk and more predictability.
- Complimentary VMware assessment: You can start with an Optimization and Licensing Assessment (OLA) to analyze your on-premises and cloud environments. This gives recommendations to optimize compute, storage, and licensing and helps you build a migration and licensing strategy.
- Migration Acceleration Program (MAP): AWS MAP offers tools to reduce costs and accelerate execution, tailored training, and access to experienced partners. It is designed to help you move faster while controlling risk and spend.
- Specialized programs and incentives: AWS for VMware programs help you optimize 3rd-party licensing and infrastructure costs. You can work with AWS and competency partners to get prescriptive guidance on the right mix of licenses, infrastructure, and services.
- Partner ecosystem: There are 460+ AWS migration competency partners who can support assessments, migrations, and modernization workstreams.
- Training and enablement: AWS offers training and support specifically tailored for vSphere administrators and operations teams, helping you bridge the cloud skills gap and adopt a cloud operating model.
- Expert guidance: AWS experts can help you decide what to migrate, how to modernize, and at what pace, so you can align the migration plan with your business priorities.
Together, these tools, programs, and partners are designed to help you move VMware workloads to AWS on time, on budget, and with a clear path to modernization.
What does modernization on AWS look like for VMware workloads?
Modernization on AWS is about gradually rethinking how your VMware-based applications are built and operated, using AWS-native services where it makes sense.
- Stepwise approach: Many organizations first migrate VMware workloads to AWS with minimal changes, then selectively modernize applications based on business value and complexity.
- Cloud-native services: You can move from traditional VMs to containers and serverless, and integrate generative AI, machine learning, and managed services to improve scalability, reliability, and speed of delivery.
- Innovation at scale: With access to 200+ cloud-native services, teams can reimagine existing applications, add new digital capabilities, and respond more quickly to market demands.
- Secure, global foundation: Modernized workloads run on AWS’s secure global infrastructure, which includes 105 Availability Zones in 33 Regions and about 300 security features, supporting compliance and resilience needs.
- Operational efficiency: Automation and managed services help reduce undifferentiated heavy lifting, contributing to the 60% time savings and 43% faster time to market that organizations have reported after migrating to AWS.
By starting with migration and then modernizing at your own pace, you can reshape how your VMware workloads support the business—moving from infrastructure management to delivering new features and services more quickly.