As customers evaluate the future of their VMware environments, many choose to stop managing on-premises infrastructure and shift to a cloud platform that will support the agility and innovation needed to meet their needs for years to come.

Microsoft’s Azure VMware Solution (AVS) is a fast and easy way to seamlessly migrate VMware-based workloads to Azure, using familiar VMware tools and skills. It is a fully managed VMware private cloud environment in Azure that is operated and supported by Microsoft. It allows customers to move VMware workloads to Azure as is with minimal to no refactoring. This streamlines migration, removes the need to manage the underlying infrastructure, and allows IT staff to continue using familiar VMware skills while learning new Azure skills. 

Azure VMware Solution fully supports the new VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) bundle from VMware. Whether you’ve already renewed with a VCF subscription or will do so in the future, Azure VMware Solution provides the flexibility to run VCF private clouds while gaining cloud benefits.

One solution, two ways to purchase

All customers will experience the same Azure VMware Solution managed service, but now you have two purchase options: 

1. Purchase Azure VMware Solution from Microsoft with VCF included. 

2. Purchase Azure VMware Solution from Microsoft and leverage portable VCF subscriptions purchased from VMware. You only pay Microsoft for the Azure VMware Solution service and infrastructure.

Both options offer the same fully managed Azure VMware Solution environment running all the same VMware technology, ensuring a seamless and efficient cloud experience. Work with your Microsoft partner or account manager to choose the right option for you, and to ensure that you do not need to repurchase the VCF subscription. 

What do you get with Azure VMware Solution? 

• A fully managed service: Microsoft manages and maintains the cloud infrastructure and VMware software. 
• VMware Cloud Foundation stack: In addition to the cloud infrastructure components such as vSphere®, vSAN™, NSX®, and HCX® that already existed in Azure VMware Solution, VCF includes many new capabilities, such as VCF Operations and VCF Automation (known previously as Aria Suite). 

• Free extended security updates for Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012 and 2014 on Azure. 

• An environment that is 52% more energy efficient and 58% lower in carbon emissions when compared to on-premises virtualized datacenter solutions.*

Limited time offer for 5-year price protection and 20% discount extended

Earlier this year we introduced the VMware Rapid Migration Plan—a comprehensive set of offers to provide price protection, savings and migration assistance to help you migrate to Azure VMware Solution.

Due to strong demand, we are pleased to extend the promotion for the five year reserved instance (RI) and the 20% discount on the one year reserved instance (RI) to June 30, 2025.** 

The VMware Rapid Migration plan includes:

• Price protection: Reserved instances are a popular way for customers to lock in pricing for one, three, or five years, and they include the flexibility to transfer the value to other Azure compute options as needs change.

• Savings for Windows Server and SQL Server: Windows Server and SQL Server are common workloads on VMware environments. With Software Assurance for on-premises Windows Server and SQL Server licenses, organizations can qualify for the Azure Hybrid Benefit discount to use existing Windows Server and SQL Server licenses for savings with Azure VMware Solution. Free Extended Security Updates are available for older versions that face end of support. 

• Migration support: Use Azure Migrate and Modernize to get resources, expert help, and funding from Microsoft and its partner ecosystem.

• Azure credits: Customers that purchase new Azure VMware Solution deployments can qualify for up to $240,000 additional Azure credits valid for Azure VMware Solution or other Azure services.

Learn more about Azure VMware Solution

• Discover the benefits of migrating and optimizing your VMware workloads to Azure by reading The Ultimate Guide to VMware Migration and Modernization on Azure.

• If you missed VMware Explore 2024 in Las Vegas, you can watch our sessions on-demand. 

• VMware Explore 2024 in Barcelona is coming November 4th-7th. Be sure to stop by our booth and attend our sessions. 

• Additionally, you can access on-demand sessions from our recent digital event. 

References

^{* Carbon footprint reductions will vary depending on your specific server usage, renewable energy purchases you make, and other factors. For details, please refer to The Carbon Benefits of Cloud Computing: a Study of the Microsoft Cloud, updated in 2020.} 

^{** For full details review the VMware Rapid Migration Plan.}

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