Wait… I Can Host Azure Myself?
Broadcom's acquisition of VMware has forced many IT leaders to reevaluate their infrastructure strategy. With new licensing models, higher costs, and an uncertain product direction, what once felt like a stable choice is now raising red flags about its long-term viability.
If you’ve found yourself caught in the wake of these changes, you’re not alone.
But here's the good news: There is a way to maintain control of your on-premise environment without locking into escalating VMware costs—and position your business to be cloud-ready for the future.
Enter: Azure Local.
What’s Changed with VMware?
Since Broadcom’s takeover, organizations have reported:
- Massive price increases
- The removal of perpetual licenses
- Mandatory bundled subscriptions
- Discontinued programs and support models that enterprises relied on
For businesses running VMware on existing hardware, this change feels like a dead-end—forcing expensive, abrupt decisions.
But Azure Local offers a powerful exit ramp.
What is Azure Local?
Azure Local is Microsoft’s new hybrid infrastructure platform—the next evolution of Azure Stack HCI.
It lets you:
- Run Azure services on-prem (VMs, AKS, App Services, etc.)
- Use existing or validated hardware
- Manage your infrastructure via the Azure Portal
- Avoid vendor lock-in and keep hybrid optionality open
- Benefit from Azure Arc-based control, automation, policy, and monitoring
Why Switch to Azure Local?
Here’s how Azure Local offers relief (and opportunity):
✅ Reduce Licensing Costs
Azure Local uses a cloud-based, pay-as-you-go model. No complex bundles. No upfront hypervisor fees. Run what you need, and scale as needed.
✅ Leverage Existing Hardware
Unlike VMware’s tightening grip on licensing and hardware partnerships, Azure Local can be deployed on standards-based x86 hardware that meets Microsoft’s system requirements.
✅ Cloud-Ready Architecture
With built-in support for Azure Arc, AKS, and Azure-native services, you're no longer just running infrastructure — you’re enabling a modern, cloud-connected platform ready for app modernization, AI, and automation.
✅ Operational Familiarity
Your teams don’t need to start from scratch. Azure Local runs on Windows Server technologies and integrates with existing identity, security, and backup platforms.
What Does Migration Look Like?
Many organizations are evaluating a phased transition:
- Assess your VMware workloads and current hardware.
- Deploy Azure Local on-prem using Microsoft’s system guidelines.
- Migrate VMs using Azure Migrate
- Begin modernizing with containers, AKS, and PaaS services—all locally hosted.
- Extend to Azure cloud when ready—no forklift needed.
A Real Opportunity in Disguise
Yes, Broadcom's VMware changes are disruptive. But they also present a unique opportunity to break free from legacy costs, siloed tools, and vendor friction—and adopt a more future-proof hybrid platform.
Azure Local delivers the control of on-prem with the innovation velocity of the cloud—all without the surprise licensing bills.
Let’s Talk Strategy
If you're feeling stuck or uncertain about your next step, I’d love to chat.
Whether you're looking to evaluate hardware readiness, estimate costs, or simply map out a migration path, I'm here to help you turn this inflection point into a strategic win.
Let’s connect and explore what your future hybrid infrastructure could look like!
