TLDR¶

• Core Points: A CloudBolt survey reveals most VMware users are still actively reducing their VMware footprint; Broadcom’s strategy aims to reduce customer lock-in rather to preserve every customer.
• Main Content: The survey indicates ongoing consolidation and migration away from VMware in enterprise environments, with providers emphasizing efficiency and simplification over broad retention.
• Key Insights: The trend reflects a shift toward diversified platforms and cloud-native approaches, challenging VMware’s long-held dominance in data centers.
• Considerations: Enterprises should evaluate total cost of ownership, migration risk, and interoperability with multi-cloud strategies when planning consolidation.
• Recommended Actions: Map current VMware dependencies, pilot multi-hypervisor/fabric alternatives, and develop a phased migration plan aligned with business goals.

Content Overview¶

The technology landscape for virtualization and data center management continues to evolve as enterprises reassess their infrastructure footprints. A recent survey conducted by CloudBolt—a cloud management software vendor—highlights a sustained push by many VMware users to actively shrink their reliance on VMware technologies. The findings arrive amid broader industry conversations about vendor lock-in, total cost of ownership, and the acceleration of multi-cloud and hybrid deployments.

The central takeaway from the survey is clear: although VMware remains a foundational component of many data centers, a substantial portion of organizations is pursuing strategies to reduce their VMware footprint. This includes consolidating workloads, leveraging alternative hypervisors, and rethinking the architecture of software-defined data centers. The survey’s framing suggests that Broadcom’s management philosophy—under which VMware is owned as part of Broadcom’s broader software portfolio—does not necessarily translate into a strategy of keeping every single customer on VMware for life. Instead, the emphasis appears to be on optimizing outcomes for customers through efficiency, simplification, and the potential for platform diversification.

Understanding the context of these developments requires tracing the evolving priorities of enterprise IT. Over the past decade, VMware established itself as a dominant player in server virtualization, desktop virtualization, and related software-defined infrastructure solutions. However, market dynamics have shifted as cloud services, containerization, and automation tools mature. Enterprises increasingly evaluate whether to continue investing heavily in a traditional, VMware-centric stack or to pursue a hybrid mix that includes public cloud platforms, container orchestration, and alternative virtualization technologies.

The CloudBolt survey provides timely data points for CIOs, CTOs, and IT leaders as they navigate these decisions. While not a complete replacement for in-depth, organization-specific assessments, the results offer a window into common industry trajectories—particularly the desire to streamline operations, reduce licensing or support complexity, and improve agility by decoupling from a single vendor.

This article synthesizes the survey’s themes and places them within the broader context of industry trends, VMware’s strategy under Broadcom, and the implications for organizations seeking to optimize performance and cost in their data centers. It also outlines practical steps for enterprises considering a footprint reduction or a more diversified virtualization strategy.

In-Depth Analysis¶

The core assertion from the CloudBolt survey is that a significant majority of VMware users remain actively engaged in reducing their VMware footprint. This finding aligns with a broader pattern observed across the enterprise technology sector: the shift toward multi-cloud strategies and vendor diversification as a means to avoid over-dependence on a single platform.

Several factors appear to be driving the ongoing consolidation away from VMware:

• Licensing and Cost Management: As organizations scale their virtualization efforts, licensing models and support costs can accumulate rapidly. Some IT leaders have pointed to the desire for more predictable, and potentially lower, total cost of ownership (TCO) when evaluating alternatives or consolidating workloads onto fewer VMware instances.

• Cloud-Native and Multi-Cloud Readiness: The rise of cloud-native technologies—containers, Kubernetes, and service meshes—has influenced how organizations design and deploy workloads. A growing number of teams are adopting multi-cloud or hybrid approaches that leverage public cloud services alongside on-premises virtualization, reducing the singular dependency on VMware for all workloads.

• Operational Simplicity and Governance: Managing a sprawling VMware environment can entail complexity in licensing, maintenance windows, and patch cadences. In some cases, enterprises seek to simplify operations by embracing platforms that offer unified governance, automation, and self-service capabilities across multiple environments.

• Competitive and Strategic Considerations: Vendors in the broader virtualization and cloud management space emphasize interoperability and portability. This creates room for consolidation away from VMware without sacrificing performance or reliability.

• Broadcom’s Positioning: Broadcom’s strategy has frequently been discussed in terms of portfolio optimization rather than a guaranteed obligation to retain every customer exclusively within VMware. reports and industry commentary suggest that Broadcom aims to extract value from its software assets while guiding customers toward modern, efficient configurations that may involve different tooling or platforms. This stance can be interpreted as a signal that customer retention will hinge on delivering compelling value, rather than enforcing a monolithic path.

Interpreting the survey’s results requires separating sentiment from action. A notable proportion of respondents emphasize ongoing reductions, but this does not necessarily imply a universal shift away from VMware overnight. Instead, it indicates a deliberate, staged approach in which organizations reassess their virtualization footprint, reallocate resources, and adopt complementary technologies where appropriate.

One dimension worth considering is the role of VMware’s newer offerings and strategic pivots. VMware has responded to market pressures with expanded cloud integration capabilities, modernization tooling, and hybrid cloud strategies designed to appeal to organizations seeking flexibility. However, as with any large vendor, the decision to shrink or expand a footprint often depends on the specific workload, performance requirements, and the skills available within the IT organization.

From a technology leadership perspective, several questions tend to surface when evaluating a VMware footprint reduction:

• Which workloads are the best candidates for migration or rehosting on alternative platforms, and which ones should remain on VMware for performance, compatibility, or latency reasons?
• How can organizations design a migration path that minimizes downtime, preserves data integrity, and maintains service-level agreements?
• What governance and security considerations must be addressed when operating across multi-cloud or multi-hypervisor environments?
• How should IT teams approach licensing, support contracts, and renewal strategies during a transition period?
• What metrics will matter most when measuring the success of a footprint reduction, such as TCO, time-to-value, or operational resilience?

The survey’s data contribute to a broader dialogue about the sustainability and agility of enterprise IT infrastructures. They underscore a persistent tension between the reliability and maturity of established virtualization platforms and the perceived benefits of diversification in a rapidly changing technology landscape.

It’s important to note that the survey’s methodology and sample size influence the interpretation of results. CloudBolt’s client ecosystem includes a range of enterprises, from mid-market to large organizations, with varying degrees of reliance on VMware. Consequently, the findings reflect a snapshot of sentiment within this ecosystem rather than an exhaustive census of all VMware users globally. Nevertheless, the directional signal—that many organizations are actively pruning their VMware footprint—appears consistent with observable market movements: IT leaders are prioritizing flexibility, cost control, and modernization over steadfast adherence to a single vendor.

Another layer to consider is the practical availability and maturity of alternative solutions. Hypervisors such as KVM, Hyper-V, and alternative virtualization stacks, in addition to cloud-native virtualization frameworks and container-based platforms, offer features that can meet or exceed those provided by VMware for certain workloads. Yet transitioning to these options often involves retraining staff, rearchitecting certain applications, and reconfiguring management pipelines. Therefore, organizations tend to pursue modernization strategies incrementally, balancing risk, cost, and time-to-value.

Externally, the industry’s press and analyst commentary continue to reflect a similar mood: an emphasis on openness, interoperability, and the ability to choose the best tool for each job. In this environment, VMware’s future success may depend on its continued ability to provide compelling value across a spectrum of use cases, from traditional data center virtualization to modern cloud-native deployments, with an emphasis on ease of integration, performance, and predictable licensing.

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What does this mean for practitioners? It suggests that IT leadership should preempt potential friction points by conducting comprehensive assessments of their current environment. They should map dependencies, identify critical workloads, and estimate migration costs and timelines. They should also establish a governance framework that accommodates a multi-cloud posture, including policy-driven controls, security baselines, and standardized automation.

The broader takeaway is that a “footprint reduction” strategy is not necessarily a rejection of VMware per se but a movement toward a more flexible, cost-conscious, and resilient IT architecture. For many organizations, this involves a balanced approach: retain VMware where it remains the most effective solution for certain workloads, while adopting complementary or alternative technologies for other parts of the stack.

In summary, the CloudBolt survey signals that VMware users are continuing to reevaluate their virtualization footprint. This ongoing trend reflects a combination of cost considerations, modernization efforts, and strategic shifts toward more diversified, cloud-enabled environments. As the IT landscape evolves, the ability to manage, orchestrate, and optimize a hybrid ecosystem will likely become a defining factor in enterprise technology success.

Perspectives and Impact¶

The implications of a sustained effort to reduce the VMware footprint extend beyond immediate cost and operational considerations. They touch on the strategic direction of enterprises as they navigate decades of virtualization knowledge, vendor relationships, and the evolving capabilities of cloud-native platforms.

• Vendor Landscape and Competition: A continued appetite for footprint reduction could intensify competition among virtualization vendors and cloud management platforms. Companies that offer interoperable solutions with strong automation, portability, and integrated security controls may gain traction with IT leaders seeking to minimize lock-in and maximize adaptability.

• Skills and Talent Implications: As organizations diversify their stacks, IT teams may require retraining or upskilling to manage non-VMware environments effectively. This has implications for hiring, training budgets, and internal career development paths.

• Security and Compliance Considerations: Operating across multiple platforms introduces new challenges around consistency in security policies, compliance controls, and incident response procedures. Centralized governance and policy automation become even more valuable in multi-hypervisor environments.

• Long-Term Cost Modeling: The economics of footprint reduction hinge on a precise understanding of licensing costs, support contracts, and the operational efficiency gains from consolidation. Organizations should build robust financial models that incorporate migration costs, retraining, potential downtime, and long-term maintenance.

• Innovation and Modernization Pace: A shift away from the most established virtualization stack can either accelerate modernization or create friction if migration slows down. The pace should be guided by business value, risk appetite, and strategic priorities, with clear milestones and measurable outcomes.

• Industry Trends and Customer Advocacy: As more enterprises publicly share experiences with footprint reduction, vendor-neutral best practices and case studies can emerge, helping other organizations plan their transitions with greater confidence.

Implications for Broadcom’s strategy are nuanced. While Broadcom’s portfolio intensifies the consolidation of software assets, customer relationships and migration journeys will likely determine long-term success. Enterprises that view Broadcom’s offerings as a means to achieve operational excellence—through better integration, performance, and cost control—may experience favorable outcomes, provided they can navigate migration challenges effectively and maintain continuity of service.

Looking ahead, the virtualization landscape will likely continue to adapt as cloud providers, open-source communities, and software vendors collaborate and compete. As more workloads adopt containerization and cloud-native approaches, the role of traditional hypervisor-focused management may evolve. VMware’s capability to evolve with these shifts, alongside alternatives and complementary tools, will influence whether organizations decide to broaden or narrow their footprint in the years to come.

Ultimately, the survey’s findings reinforce a broader industry reality: enterprises aim to optimize for efficiency, agility, and resilience in a world where technology choices are diverse and rapidly changing. The path forward for many organizations involves careful planning, risk-aware decision-making, and a willingness to embrace change when it aligns with strategic objectives.

Key Takeaways¶

Main Points:
– A significant share of VMware users are actively reducing their VMware footprint.
– The impetus includes cost management, modernization, and the pursuit of multi-cloud flexibility.
– Broadcom’s strategic approach appears to favor value-driven customer outcomes over universal retention within VMware.

Areas of Concern:
– Migration risk and potential downtime during transitions.
– Skills gaps and the need for retraining in non-VMware environments.
– Security and governance complexities across multi-cloud and multi-hypervisor setups.

Summary and Recommendations¶

The landscape around VMware usage is clearly shifting as enterprises pursue more diversified, cloud-enabled strategies. The CloudBolt survey highlights a persistent trend: organizations are not content to struggle with a single-vendor, legacy-centric model but are instead planning structured reductions in their VMware footprint to achieve greater flexibility and cost efficiency.

For IT leaders, the practical path forward involves a disciplined, data-driven approach:
– Conduct a comprehensive inventory of all VMware-dependent workloads, licensing agreements, and critical dependencies.
– Prioritize workloads for migration based on compatibility, performance requirements, and business impact; design a staged migration plan with clear milestones.
– Build a multi-cloud governance framework that standardizes security, compliance, and automation across environments.
– Invest in training and capability development to equip teams for managing diverse platforms, with emphasis on automation and incident response in a heterogeneous stack.
– Develop robust financial models to compare the TCO of maintaining VMware versus migrating or consolidating workloads, including scenario analysis for different cloud and hypervisor mixes.

By approaching footprint reduction as a strategic modernization effort—not as a reactionary cost-cutting measure—organizations can position themselves to reap the benefits of greater agility, better resource utilization, and a more resilient IT infrastructure. VMware may remain a core component for many workloads, but for others, alternative platforms and cloud-native approaches may offer superior value. The key is thoughtful planning, disciplined execution, and continuous reassessment aligned with evolving business goals.

References¶

• Original: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2026/02/most-vmware-users-still-actively-reducing-their-vmware-footprint-survey-finds/
• Additional references to industry context and Broadcom’s strategy (to be added as appropriate):
• Industry analyses on multi-cloud adoption and vendor diversification
• VMware’s recent product and strategy announcements
• Cloud management and virtualization market surveys and reports

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