Los Angeles · Chicagoland · Phoenix
VMware Alternatives and Migration: Plan Your Move Off VMware
Since Broadcom bought VMware, it has moved VMware to subscription-only licensing, stopped selling support renewals for perpetual licenses and cut back its partner network. BTI's advice to small and mid-sized businesses is to plan a move off VMware rather than renew. BTI plans and runs the VMware migration: to Microsoft Hyper-V on your own servers, to Microsoft Azure, or to client-supplied or BTI-supplied hardware hosted in BTI's Phoenix office inside the Iron Mountain AZP-1 facility. Every move is inventoried, piloted, tested and supported after go-live.
3.99% vendor financing for qualified buyers, subject to credit approval.
Or download the free VMware migration planning checklist (PDF)
Call the IT team: Los Angeles 323-510-8003 · Chicagoland 312-492-2613 · Phoenix 480-272-8728
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Why BTI recommends leaving VMware
Broadcom ended our VMware partnership in 2025, along with those of most managed service providers. Broadcom said in September 2025 that it was reducing the number of authorized VMware Cloud Service Provider partners in most markets (Broadcom, September 22, 2025), and CRN reported that at least hundreds, if not thousands, of partners were not invited into the new program (CRN, 2025). We have watched what these changes mean for the small and mid-sized businesses we support, and our advice is to leave VMware rather than renew, on a plan that fits your budget and your renewal date.
What changed under Broadcom. On December 11, 2023, Broadcom announced that VMware products would be sold only as subscriptions or term licenses. It ended the sale of perpetual licenses and of Support and Subscription (SnS) renewals for perpetual offerings, with effective dates that vary, and simplified the lineup around VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware vSphere Foundation. Broadcom says customers can keep using perpetual licenses they already bought (Broadcom, December 11, 2023).
Prices and support. Customers and industry groups have objected publicly. In March 2024, European CIO groups including Beltug and CIO Platform Nederland asked the European Commission to act, accusing Broadcom of "steeply increased prices" and of "refusing to maintain security conditions for perpetual licenses." Broadcom answered that it had given support extensions to many customers and would offer free zero-day security patches for supported vSphere versions (Ars Technica, April 17, 2024). Later in 2024, a large US carrier sued Broadcom over its refusal to renew support for perpetual licenses (Ars Technica, September 5, 2024); the two companies settled in December 2024 (TechTarget, December 16, 2024).
Your own renewal quote shows what these changes mean for you. BTI does not quote VMware prices on this page. On the free consultation, BTI uses your current VMware costs and renewal date as the baseline for budgeting the move, so your exit plan rests on your own numbers.
VMware security risks to weigh
ESXi hosts and vCenter run the servers a business depends on, which makes them a target. Several VMware flaws have been exploited by attackers and listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog:
- March 4, 2025. Broadcom's critical advisory VMSA-2025-0004 fixed CVE-2025-22224, CVE-2025-22225 and CVE-2025-22226 in ESXi, Workstation and Fusion, and said it had information to suggest that exploitation of CVE-2025-22224 had occurred in the wild. CISA added all three to the KEV catalog the same day (CISA, March 4, 2025).
- November 2024. Broadcom said its September 2024 vCenter Server patches did not fully address CVE-2024-38812, released new updates and confirmed that CVE-2024-38812 and CVE-2024-38813 had been exploited in the wild (VMSA-2024-0019). CISA added both on November 20, 2024 (CISA, November 20, 2024).
- July 2024. Microsoft reported ransomware operators exploiting the ESXi flaw CVE-2024-37085, leading to Akira and Black Basta ransomware deployments (Microsoft Security Blog, July 29, 2024). Broadcom's advisory VMSA-2024-0013 lists no patch planned for ESXi 7.0, with a workaround instead. CISA's KEV catalog lists CVE-2024-37085 as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
- February 2023. CISA published recovery guidance for ESXiArgs ransomware, which exploited known vulnerabilities in unpatched or out-of-service ESXi servers (CISA advisory AA23-039A).
Every platform needs patching, Hyper-V and Azure included. The difference is who carries the load. On VMware, each fix has to be applied to the hypervisor and vCenter as soon as it is released, while support depends on your subscription terms and a smaller partner network. On Hyper-V, host patching joins the Windows Server updates your team already runs, and in Azure, Microsoft manages the physical hosts and hypervisor under its shared responsibility model. Until the move is finished, keep ESXi and vCenter patched; BTI's managed patching and vulnerability management can cover the old platform during the transition and the new one after it.
Value engineer, scope, deliver, commission, then managed support
Value engineer, at no charge
BTI inventories every host and virtual machine, compares Hyper-V, Azure and hosting in Phoenix for each workload, and shows what hardware and licensing can be reused, so you pay only for what you need.
Scope
Each workload, its destination, the backup changes and the migration order, in an itemized proposal with each item on a separate line.
Deliver
The new platform is built, secured and added to backup and monitoring, then a pilot moves first and production follows in planned batches.
Commission
Applications tested with the people who use them, a test restore from backup, failover tested where it is part of the design, and as-built documentation in your company's name.
Managed support
After go-live, BTI can support the new platform with your team through co-managed IT (add people through IT staff augmentation), or run it for you through fully managed IT.
Finance 100% of your VMware migration
New hosts, storage, licensing and the labor to move every virtual machine add up. BTI can arrange 3.99% vendor financing for 100% of the project, including equipment, labor and consulting, for qualified buyers, subject to credit approval. Many bank loans run 10% or more today and ask for far more collateral. Our vendor financing is secured by the new equipment itself.
The three paths BTI delivers most often
1. VMware to Hyper-V, on your own servers. Hyper-V is Microsoft's hypervisor, built into Windows Server (Microsoft Learn: Hyper-V virtualization in Windows Server and Windows). For Windows-heavy environments it keeps virtualization on premises with failover clustering and live migration, managed with tools your team may already use. BTI builds the Hyper-V hosts and cluster on new or existing hardware, converts each virtual machine, removes VMware Tools, installs the Hyper-V drivers and re-points backups.
2. VMware to Azure. Some workloads are better off in the cloud. Microsoft's Azure Migrate tool can replicate VMware virtual machines to Azure and run a test migration on an isolated network before the final cutover (Microsoft Learn: Migrate VMware VMs with Azure Migrate). BTI sizes each Azure virtual machine, sets up networking, security and backup, and compares the monthly Azure cost with keeping the workload on premises, so only the workloads that belong in Azure go there.
3. Your hardware, hosted by BTI in Phoenix. If you want servers out of your office closet but do not want to rebuild everything for the cloud, move to hardware hosted in BTI's Phoenix data center. BTI's Phoenix office is inside the Iron Mountain AZP-1 facility, and BTI hosts client equipment there:
- Smart hands. BTI engineers on site power-cycle, swap, cable and install equipment, so your team does not have to travel.
- Co-managed monitoring and support for your network. BTI watches your hosted equipment and network and works with your IT team through co-managed IT.
- Any platform, your hardware or ours. Hosting can run any platform. Customers supply servers and storage from their own vendors or buy them through BTI.
- Disaster recovery failover. Critical systems can fail over to the Phoenix data center when your primary site is down, with failover tested before you need it.
The facility (Iron Mountain). Power and internet reliability at the Iron Mountain AZP-1 facility are best in class: 41 MW of power capacity, 2N+1 generator redundancy, N+1 cooling, a design built to Tier III standards, 40+ on-site network providers and direct cloud on-ramps to AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. It is a very high security site with badge and iris biometric access to the data floor, and Iron Mountain holds SOC 2 Type II reports, ISO 27001 certification, PCI DSS and HIPAA compliance and FedRAMP authorization for the facility, per Iron Mountain's AZP-1 page. Facility specifications and certifications belong to Iron Mountain. BTI provides the managed hosting, smart hands, monitoring, support and failover. Details: managed data center hosting in Phoenix.
Many projects mix the paths: line-of-business servers on Hyper-V, email and files in Microsoft 365, a few workloads in Azure and a disaster recovery copy in Phoenix.
VMware alternatives compared
BTI includes every realistic destination in the comparison, including the ones it uses less often. Nutanix and Proxmox are shown for comparison only; no partnership with either is claimed.
| Option | Often fits | Things to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Hyper-V on Windows Server (BTI's most common path) | Windows-heavy businesses that want to keep servers on premises | Windows Server licensing for each host, conversion of each VM, vendor support for Hyper-V |
| Microsoft Azure (BTI's most common cloud path) | Workloads that benefit from the cloud, growth or a smaller server room | Monthly cost against owning hardware, internet dependence, application performance |
| Hosted in Phoenix (any platform) | Businesses that want servers out of the office, or an out-of-region disaster recovery site | Hardware supplied by you or bought through BTI, network links to each office |
| Nutanix AHV (compared option) | Teams already planning a hyperconverged hardware refresh | A new platform and management console to learn, hardware choices |
| Proxmox VE (compared option) | Cost-focused teams with strong Linux skills | Support model, fewer third-party integrations, in-house skills |
What moves, and what can trip a migration
A VMware environment is more than its virtual machines. Before anything moves, BTI documents:
- Every host, virtual machine, operating system and application, and who depends on each one.
- Storage: local disks, a SAN or VMware vSAN (VMware's software-defined storage), and how much space each VM really uses.
- Networking: VLANs, IP addresses, firewall rules and any VMware networking features in use.
- Backups and disaster recovery: what backs up each VM today and how it will after the move.
- Vendor virtual appliances, such as phone systems, security tools or line-of-business software supplied only as a VMware image. These may need a Hyper-V or Azure image from the vendor.
- Licensing: VMware, Windows Server, SQL Server and application licenses that are tied to hosts or cores.
- Old operating systems that the new platform or Azure no longer supports, which may need an upgrade as part of the project. See server and cloud migration.
Your VMware exit strategy, step by step
A VMware exit strategy is a written plan for moving every workload off VMware and retiring the licenses on a date you choose. Start it well before your next renewal date, so the move happens on your schedule rather than under renewal pressure.
Inventory and baseline
Export the vCenter inventory, record performance, and map dependencies between servers.
Choose the destination per workload
Hyper-V, Azure or Phoenix hosting, with the cost of each.
Build the target
Hosts, cluster, storage, networking, security, monitoring and backup, ready before any production workload moves.
Pilot
Move a few low-risk virtual machines first, test them with the people who use them and compare performance with the VMware baseline.
Migrate in batches
Production moves in planned maintenance windows, with a written rollback step for each batch. The VMware copy stays intact until the new one is signed off.
Validate backups and failover
Test a restore after each batch and test failover where it is part of the design.
Hand over and retire VMware
As-built documentation, admin training for your team, and the old VMware hosts and licenses retired on a planned date.
What drives the cost
- Number of hosts, virtual machines and applications.
- The destination: new Hyper-V hosts, Azure monthly costs or hosting in Phoenix.
- New servers, storage and Windows Server licensing, or reuse of what you have.
- Backup and disaster recovery changes.
- Vendor appliances and applications that need extra work.
- After-hours maintenance windows.
The value engineering and the free consultation are at no charge, and every item appears on a separate line in the proposal.
VMware migrations in your city
Los Angeles
From Santa Fe Springs, BTI's engineers move VMware environments across Los Angeles County and Orange County. Many of BTI's larger Los Angeles clients with on-premises systems colocate network equipment and servers in Phoenix for business continuity against earthquakes and other natural disasters in Southern California, with disaster recovery failover. See managed data center hosting in Phoenix. Call the Los Angeles IT team at 323-510-8003.
Chicagoland
From Downers Grove, BTI moves VMware environments for Loop offices and suburban sites, often to Hyper-V on new hosts or to Azure. Chicago businesses can also keep an out-of-region disaster recovery site in BTI's Phoenix Iron Mountain facility. BTI's smart hands team handles the on-site work, so your staff never has to travel. Call the Chicagoland IT team at 312-492-2613.
Phoenix and Tucson
BTI's Phoenix office is inside the Iron Mountain AZP-1 facility, so Phoenix businesses can move VMware workloads to Hyper-V on site, to Azure or into hosted hardware close to home. Tucson on-site work is delivered through contractors. Call the Phoenix IT team at 480-272-8728.
Free PDF: VMware Migration Planning Checklist
A two-page checklist for planning your move off VMware: inventory, renewal date and licensing, destination, pilot and cutover. Download the VMware Migration Planning Checklist (PDF)
Why BTI for VMware migration
- Over 40 years in business and 400+ engineers.
- Microsoft Partner, delivering Hyper-V and Azure migrations most often.
- Clear, independent advice: BTI is no longer a VMware partner and recommends planning a move off VMware rather than renewing.
- Any platform when hosted in Phoenix, on hardware you supply or buy through BTI.
- A 24/7 NOC/SOC to monitor the new platform after go-live.
- ISO 27001 compliant governance, independently reviewed through the TAG ISO 27001 Compliance Program.
- Itemized proposals and 3.99% vendor financing for qualified buyers, subject to credit approval.
Glossary: the terms in this page, spelled out
Select a term to see what it means.
VMware
the company and product family whose software runs many business servers as virtual machines. Broadcom acquired VMware and now sells VMware products as "VMware by Broadcom". Examples: Five servers running on two VMware hosts. A VMware renewal quote from a reseller.
ESXi
the VMware hypervisor installed directly on a physical server so it can run virtual machines. Examples: Two Dell servers running ESXi. Patching ESXi on each host.
vSphere
VMware's server virtualization platform: ESXi hosts managed together, usually through vCenter. Examples: A three-host vSphere cluster. vSphere Standard on a small office cluster.
vCenter
the VMware console that manages ESXi hosts and their virtual machines in one place. Examples: Moving a VM between hosts in vCenter. The vCenter inventory exported for the migration plan.
Hypervisor
software that runs several virtual servers on one physical server. Examples: Three old servers become virtual machines on one host. Hyper-V and VMware are common hypervisors.
VM (virtual machine)
a server that runs in software on a hypervisor or in the cloud instead of on its own hardware. Examples: The accounting app moves to a VM in Azure. "Snapshot the VM before the upgrade."
Hyper-V
Microsoft's hypervisor, built into Windows Server and Windows, used to run virtual machines. Examples: Two Windows Server hosts running Hyper-V in a failover cluster. A file server VM converted from VMware to Hyper-V.
Windows Server
Microsoft's server operating system, which includes the Hyper-V role. Examples: Windows Server hosts running Hyper-V. Licensing Windows Server for every host core.
Failover cluster
two or more hosts set up so that virtual machines restart on another host if one fails. Examples: A two-host Hyper-V failover cluster. Testing failover by taking one host down in a maintenance window.
Azure (Microsoft Azure)
Microsoft's cloud platform for servers, storage, networking and backup. Examples: A line-of-business app VM runs in Azure. Backups are copied to Azure storage off-site.
Azure Migrate
Microsoft's service for discovering, assessing and moving servers to Azure. Examples: Azure Migrate sizes the VMs and estimates the monthly cost. Servers are replicated with Azure Migrate before cutover.
Nutanix AHV (Acropolis Hypervisor)
the hypervisor that ships with the Nutanix hyperconverged platform. Examples: A Nutanix cluster running AHV. Comparing AHV with Hyper-V for a hardware refresh.
Proxmox VE (Proxmox Virtual Environment)
an open source virtualization platform based on Linux KVM, with optional paid support subscriptions. Examples: A Proxmox VE lab cluster. A Linux-heavy team evaluating Proxmox VE.
SAN (storage area network)
shared storage that several servers use over a dedicated network. Examples: A SAN holding every VM disk for the cluster. Replacing an aging SAN during the migration.
VLAN (virtual local area network)
a way to split one physical network into separate logical networks. Examples: Guests, cameras and staff each get their own VLAN. "Put the phones on the voice VLAN."
Perpetual license
a software license bought once and used indefinitely, often with an optional yearly support plan. Examples: A vSphere license bought years ago. Perpetual Windows Server licenses on the hosts.
SnS (Support and Subscription)
VMware's support and updates plan for perpetual licenses. Examples: SnS gave access to patches and support. Checking when SnS on the current licenses ends.
Virtual appliance
a prebuilt virtual machine supplied by a software or security vendor, often built for one hypervisor. Examples: A vendor phone system appliance supplied only for VMware. Asking the vendor for a Hyper-V or Azure image.
VMware Tools
drivers and services installed inside each VMware virtual machine. Examples: Removing VMware Tools after conversion. Installing Hyper-V integration drivers in their place.
Rollback
a planned way back to the old system if a change does not pass testing. Examples: Keeping the VMware copy of a VM powered off but intact until sign-off. A written rollback step for each migration batch.
Smart hands
on-site, hands-on help inside a data center: an engineer who can power-cycle a server, swap a drive, move a cable, check a light or install equipment for you. Examples: Smart hands reseat a failed drive at 2 a.m. "Ask smart hands to check the link light on port 12."
DR failover (disaster recovery failover)
switching your critical systems to a second site when the primary site is down, then switching back when it is fixed. Examples: The file server fails over to the Phoenix data center during an outage at the office. A failover test proves the second site works before you need it.
Tier III design
a data center design standard in which power and cooling can be maintained without shutting down the equipment they serve (concurrently maintainable). Examples: Iron Mountain says AZP-1 is built to Tier III standards. A generator is serviced while the data hall stays powered.
N+1 / 2N+1
redundancy levels: N+1 means one spare beyond what is needed; 2N+1 means a full second set plus one more spare. Examples: N+1 cooling: one extra cooling unit beyond the load. 2N+1 generators: two full sets of generators plus one spare.
Cloud on-ramp
a direct private connection from a data center to a cloud provider, such as AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute or Google Cloud Interconnect. Examples: Hosted servers reach Azure over ExpressRoute instead of the public internet. A backup copy moves to the cloud over a direct connection.
SOC 2 Type II (System and Organization Controls 2, Type II)
an independent report on how a service organization's security controls operated over a period of time, under AICPA standards. Examples: Iron Mountain publishes SOC 2 Type II reports for its AZP-1 facility. A customer's auditor asks the data center for its latest SOC 2 Type II report.
ISO 27001 (International Organization for Standardization 27001)
the international standard for an information security management system. Examples: Iron Mountain lists ISO 27001 certification for AZP-1. A security policy, risk register and internal reviews are part of an ISO 27001 program.
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
the security standard for organizations that store, process or transmit payment card data. Examples: Iron Mountain lists PCI DSS for AZP-1. A retailer hosting card systems asks for the facility's PCI DSS documentation.
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
the US law that sets privacy and security rules for protected health information. Examples: Iron Mountain lists HIPAA compliance for AZP-1. A medical group checks that its hosting facility supports HIPAA requirements.
FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program)
the US government program that authorizes cloud and hosting services for federal agency use. Examples: Iron Mountain lists FedRAMP authorization for AZP-1. A government contractor looks for FedRAMP authorized facilities.
CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures)
the public ID given to a specific software security flaw, such as CVE-2024-37085. Examples: A Broadcom advisory lists the CVEs it fixes. Checking whether your ESXi version is affected by a CVE.
CISA KEV catalog (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities)
the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's list of flaws with evidence of active exploitation. Examples: Three ESXi flaws were added to the KEV catalog on March 4, 2025. Patching KEV-listed flaws first.
VMSA (VMware Security Advisory)
Broadcom's numbered notice of VMware security flaws and the fixes or workarounds for each. Examples: VMSA-2025-0004 covered ESXi, Workstation and Fusion. Reading the VMSA to find the right patch for each host.
Ransomware
malicious software that encrypts a business's files or servers and demands payment to unlock them. Examples: Ransomware that encrypts every VM on an ESXi host. Restoring from a tested backup instead of paying.
NOC (network operations center)
a team that watches networks, servers and internet circuits around the clock and responds to outages. Examples: The NOC sees a branch internet circuit drop at 2 a.m. and opens a carrier ticket. The NOC flags a failing server drive before it fails.
SOC (security operations center)
a team that watches security alerts around the clock and responds to threats. Examples: The SOC isolates a laptop that opened a malicious attachment. The SOC investigates a sign-in from an unusual country.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main VMware alternatives?
For most businesses BTI works with, the two paths used most are Microsoft Hyper-V on your own servers and Microsoft Azure. A third path is moving to new or existing hardware hosted in BTI's Phoenix office inside the Iron Mountain AZP-1 facility. Nutanix AHV and Proxmox VE are also worth comparing. BTI recommends planning a move to one of these rather than renewing VMware.
What changed with VMware licensing under Broadcom?
On December 11, 2023, Broadcom announced the end of sale of VMware perpetual licenses and of Support and Subscription (SnS) renewals for perpetual offerings, with products sold as subscriptions or term licenses. Broadcom says customers can keep using perpetual licenses they already bought. Customer groups have since objected publicly to higher prices and to support terms for perpetual licenses. BTI's advice is to plan a move off VMware and to use your renewal quote as the budget baseline.
Is Hyper-V a good VMware alternative?
For Windows-heavy environments it often is. Hyper-V is built into Windows Server, supports failover clustering and live migration, and is managed with tools many IT teams already know. BTI checks each workload, backup and vendor appliance before recommending it.
Can we move VMware virtual machines straight to Azure?
Yes. Microsoft's Azure Migrate tool can replicate VMware virtual machines to Azure and run a test migration before the final cutover. Whether a workload belongs in Azure depends on cost, performance and the software vendor's support, so BTI compares it with keeping it on premises.
Can we keep our own servers but get them out of our office?
Yes. BTI hosts client-supplied or BTI-supplied servers and storage in BTI's Phoenix office inside the Iron Mountain AZP-1 facility, on any platform. BTI's smart hands team handles the on-site work, and BTI can monitor and support the equipment with your IT team.
Does BTI partner with Nutanix or Proxmox?
No partnership is claimed. BTI includes Nutanix AHV and Proxmox VE in the comparison so you can see the trade-offs, and recommends them only when they fit your workloads, skills and budget better than Hyper-V or Azure.
Will our users notice the migration?
Each virtual machine moves in a planned maintenance window after a pilot and a test, with a rollback step ready. Users may see a short planned interruption for the systems being moved, which BTI schedules with you.
What does a VMware migration cost?
It depends on the number of hosts and virtual machines, the destination, new hardware or licensing, backup changes and after-hours work. The free consultation and value engineering are at no charge, and BTI can arrange 3.99% vendor financing for 100% of the project for qualified buyers, subject to credit approval.
Should we wait for our VMware renewal date?
No. Start your exit plan well before it. The inventory, destination choice and pilot take planning, and starting early means the move runs on your schedule rather than under renewal pressure.
Why does BTI recommend leaving VMware?
Broadcom ended our VMware partnership in 2025, along with those of most managed service providers, and changed how VMware is licensed and supported. Our advice to small and mid-sized businesses is to leave VMware rather than renew, on a planned schedule.
Is it safe to keep running VMware while we plan the move?
Keep ESXi and vCenter patched and supported until the move is finished. Several VMware flaws are listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, including some used in ransomware campaigns, so hypervisor patches should not wait for the migration. BTI can handle patching on both platforms during the transition.
Who supports the new platform after the migration?
Your team, BTI or both. BTI can support it alongside your IT team through co-managed IT, add engineers through IT staff augmentation, or run it for you through fully managed IT.
Your VMware exit plan starts with a free consultation. Get the inventory, the destination for each workload and the cost of the move before your next renewal date.
3.99% vendor financing for qualified buyers, subject to credit approval.
Los Angeles 323-510-8003 · Chicagoland 312-492-2613 · Phoenix 480-272-8728