TLDR¶

• Core Points: Broadcom’s strategy shifts away from retaining every customer; VMware users continue reducing their VMware footprint, signaling broader consolidation of virtualization workloads.

• Main Content: A CloudBolt survey reveals ongoing user-driven efforts to shrink reliance on VMware, highlighting adoption of alternative platforms and multi-cloud strategies.

• Key Insights: The push to de-emphasize VMware is driven by cost, licensing complexity, and the appeal of cloud-native and containerized approaches.

• Considerations: Enterprises must balance migration costs, application dependencies, and support commitments with their long-term virtualization and cloud plans.

• Recommended Actions: Map workloads, evaluate modernization options, and design a staged migration roadmap that preserves critical services while reducing VMware dependency.

Content Overview¶

Virtualization remains a foundational technology for many enterprises, even as the IT landscape further diversifies with public cloud services, Kubernetes-based deployments, and container orchestration. A recent survey conducted by CloudBolt, a provider known for cloud management and automation software, sheds light on a continuing trend: a substantial portion of VMware users are actively reducing their VMware footprint. This finding aligns with broader industry observations that organizations are rethinking hypervisor strategies in favor of multi-cloud, hybrid cloud, and modernization approaches.

At the heart of the discussion is Broadcom’s overarching strategy for VMware. Broadcom, which acquired VMware as part of its broader software portfolio, has emphasized a shift away from a one-size-fits-all approach to licensing and platform adoption. The company’s stance suggests that maintaining every customer on VMware may not be their long-term objective. The CloudBolt report cites this stance as context for why customers are increasingly looking to diversify their virtualization stack and accelerate modernization initiatives.

The article reviews the current state of VMware usage among enterprises, noting persistent reliance on VMware for many mission-critical workloads while simultaneously acknowledging a growing interest in alternatives and phased migrations. The reported trends reflect both business imperatives—such as licensing cost optimization and performance efficiency—and technical considerations, including evolving application architectures and the rise of cloud-native paradigms.

This overview provides a snapshot of how organizations approach modernization while maintaining continuity for essential services. It also highlights the tension between preserving existing investments in VMware infrastructure and pursuing longer-term architectural shifts that reduce dependency on a single vendor or platform.

In-Depth Analysis¶

The ongoing effort to reduce VMware footprints can be interpreted through several lenses: financial prudence, architectural modernization, and strategic risk management. Enterprises traditionally rely on VMware for stability, performance, and a mature ecosystem of management tools and integrations. However, the total cost of ownership (TCO) associated with VMware environments—encompassing licensing, upgrades, and support—has remained a focal concern as organizations scale and diversify their infrastructure.

CloudBolt’s findings indicate that many organizations are approaching virtualization and cloud strategy with a pragmatic, staged lens. Instead of a wholesale migration away from VMware, they pursue a portfolio approach: retain VMware where it remains the most cost-effective or technically viable, while migrating other workloads to alternative hypervisors, container platforms, or cloud-native services. This gradual approach minimizes risk by preserving known-good configurations and reducing disruption to critical services.

Two practical drivers emerge from the survey: licensing economics and operational agility. VMware licensing has long been a source of complexity; customers navigate tiered editions, per-core or per-processor models, and the challenge of mapping licenses to diverse workloads across private data centers and public clouds. In contrast, cloud-native architectures—built on Kubernetes, serverless, and managed services—offer elasticity and operational efficiency that can lower long-term costs if migration is well-planned and executed.

The strategic questions for IT leaders center on modernization versus continuity. Organizations must determine which workloads are best suited for refactoring to containers or re-platforming to cloud-native services, and which workloads should remain on virtual machines due to performance, licensing, or compatibility constraints. The CloudBolt report contributes to this decision-making process by clarifying that a broad swath of VMware users are pursuing footprint reduction, not necessarily an immediate end to VMware usage.

Another dimension involves vendor strategy and ecosystem dynamics. Broadcom’s public posture around VMware emphasizes a broader portfolio strategy that may influence customers’ loyalty and roadmap decisions. If the vendor signals flexibility to support varied deployment models and emphasizes efficiency and modernized workflows over blanket virtualization dominance, customers may feel more empowered to diversify. Conversely, a perception that VMware remains essential to all workloads could slow down modernization efforts. The CloudBolt report suggests that customer sentiment is moving toward strategic diversification, which could shape how partners and integrators design future roadmap options for enterprises.

From a governance and risk perspective, reducing VMware reliance also aligns with business continuity planning. By distributing workloads across multiple platforms and cloud environments, organizations can avoid single-vendor lock-in and create redundancy for critical applications. However, this approach demands robust multi-hypervisor orchestration, consistent security postures across environments, and careful portfolio management to prevent fragmentation, skill gaps, and governance overhead from increasing as the footprint shrinks.

The technology landscape itself supports this transition. Kubernetes and containerized workloads have matured to the point where many enterprise applications can be modernized incrementally. Managed services provided by hyperscalers reduce operational overhead and can deliver cost efficiencies, while modern observability and automation tooling help maintain visibility and control over a more heterogeneous environment. The survey’s implications are that VMware remains relevant in the near term, but a growing number of enterprises are actively pursuing a more diverse, cloud-first strategy for the longer term.

The human element should not be overlooked. IT teams must adjust to new tooling, training needs, and operating models. Admins who once optimized resource allocation and capacity planning within VMware vSphere environments may need to acquire new skills for Kubernetes, Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) projects, and cloud management platforms. The transition is as much about people and processes as it is about technology. As organizations scale their multi-cloud footprints, the need for standardized governance, consistent security practices, and unified monitoring becomes increasingly critical.

The CloudBolt report also implies that the market signals Broadcom’s VMware strategy will influence customer behavior. If Broadcom continues to position VMware as a foundation that can co-exist with other platforms, then customers may feel more comfortable pursuing a measured, multi-cloud modernization path. If instead the messaging emphasizes aggressive reduction of VMware usage behind the scenes, customers might accelerate their migration timelines in ways that could disrupt existing operations. The reality is likely to be nuanced: many organizations will maintain a blended approach, preserving VMware for certain workloads while refactoring or migrating others.

Economic considerations also factor into decision-making. Modernizing or migrating workloads often involves upfront costs, such as refactoring legacy applications, retraining staff, and rearchitecting data pipelines. However, the long-term financial benefits—improved utilization of cloud resources, reduced maintenance windows, and potentially lower licensing costs—can justify phased investments. Organizations will need detailed business cases that compare current VMware expenditures against the total cost of modernization, including potential downtime risks and the value of added resilience and scalability.

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The survey’s insights contribute to a broader industry narrative: the virtualization landscape is no longer dominated by a single platform adopting a universal approach. Instead, there is a movement toward strategic diversification, driven by shifting cost structures, evolving workloads, and the desire to leverage best-of-breed technologies across a multi-cloud ecosystem. This reality has implications for software vendors, service providers, and IT leadership as they craft roadmaps that balance continuity with innovation.

Perspectives and Impact¶

Looking ahead, several scenarios could shape VMware’s role within enterprise IT over the next several years. First, continued diversification could lead to a more modular, interoperable ecosystem where VMware remains a dependable virtualization layer for certain tasks while cloud-native platforms handle modern workloads. In this scenario, VMware continues to contribute stability and familiar tooling for traditional workloads, especially those that depend on legacy integrations or require specific license alignments.

Second, broader economic pressures and licensing models could push more organizations to de-emphasize virtualization in favor of containerized, microservices-based architectures. If cloud providers and managed services offer competitive performance and predictable costs, the incentive to refactor legacy applications increases. This transition would likely be gradual, with careful consideration given to business-critical processes, data gravity, and the time required to rehost or rearchitect sensitive systems.

Third, vendor strategy will play a significant role. If Broadcom emphasizes openness, cross-platform compatibility, and strong tooling to manage heterogeneity, customers may feel reassured about pursuing multi-platform strategies. Conversely, if licensing and product roadmaps tighten VMware’s integration with other platforms, organizations might accelerate consolidation to fewer ecosystems or migrate away from VMware more rapidly.

The human capital aspect of this transition is equally important. IT leaders must invest in upskilling teams to manage multi-cloud environments, container orchestration, and cloud-native design patterns. This shift may also drive recruitment or partnerships with managed service providers who specialize in cross-platform operations, ensuring that organizations can sustain complex environments without overwhelming existing staff.

From a market perspective, toolchains for cloud management, cost optimization, security, and governance will continue to mature. Vendors that offer integrated, provider-agnostic solutions for visibility, policy enforcement, and cost management will be well-positioned to assist organizations navigating a reduced VMware footprint. The CloudBolt survey underscores the need for practical, actionable roadmaps that help organizations quantify, plan, and execute a phased transition that minimizes risk while maximizing long-term benefits.

Longer-term implications include potential regulatory and compliance considerations. As workloads spread across multiple clouds and environments, ensuring consistent data protection, access control, and regulatory alignment becomes more complex. Businesses may need to adopt standardized security and compliance frameworks across heterogeneous platforms, which could influence tool selection and vendor partnerships.

In sum, the survey paints a picture of a VMware-backed virtualization landscape that is evolving rather than collapsing. Enterprises are increasingly deliberate about their platform choices, recognizing that modernization often requires a combination of retaining established, reliable infrastructure and embracing newer approaches that deliver agility and cost efficiency. The balance struck by each organization will depend on its workload characteristics, risk tolerance, and strategic priorities.

Key Takeaways¶

Main Points:
– Enterprises are actively reducing their VMware footprint, not abandoning VMware entirely.
– Broadcom’s VMware strategy is perceived as not primarily aimed at keeping every customer on VMware.
– Decision-making is increasingly driven by cost, modernization potential, and the benefits of cloud-native architectures.

Areas of Concern:
– Migration can be costly and complex, with potential downtime and compatibility risks.
– Managing a more heterogeneous environment poses governance and security challenges.
– Skill gaps and training needs may slow transition timelines if not addressed proactively.

Summary and Recommendations¶

The current trajectory suggests that VMware will remain part of many enterprise IT stacks for the foreseeable future, but its role is transitioning from a sole virtualization powerhouse to a component within a broader, multi-cloud and modernized architecture. The CloudBolt findings corroborate a pragmatic trend: organizations are actively working to reduce reliance on VMware by migrating select workloads to alternative platforms, refactoring applications for containerized deployment, and leveraging cloud-native services where appropriate. This diversification is motivated by licensing considerations, cost optimization, and the operational efficiencies associated with modern platforms.

For IT leaders, the prudent course is to approach modernization strategically. Begin with a comprehensive inventory of workloads, classify them by compatibility and criticality, and map out a staged migration plan. Prioritize applications that would benefit most from cloud-native features—scalability, resilience, and automation—while preserving workloads that require VMware’s mature tooling and performance characteristics. Build a business case that compares the current VMware TCO against a forecasted total cost of modernization, including risk-adjusted estimates for downtime and data migration.

Invest in people and processes as much as technology. Upskill teams on Kubernetes, container orchestration, and cloud management platforms, and establish governance frameworks that ensure security, compliance, and cost control across heterogeneous environments. Consider partnering with integrators and service providers experienced in multi-cloud migrations to reduce risk and accelerate timelines.

Finally, maintain awareness of vendor strategies and product roadmaps. Engage with Broadcom’s VMware trajectory to ensure alignment with your modernization goals, and seek assurances that VMware will remain compatible with other platforms and management tools. The objective is not to rush a fork from VMware but to enable a measured, cost-aware transition that preserves service continuity while unlocking the benefits of modernization.

In a landscape where virtualization remains essential but not exclusive, the most successful organizations will be those that design flexible, scalable, and well-governed environments. The data from CloudBolt’s survey reinforces the sense that the path forward is not a single destination but a carefully navigated journey toward a more diversified, cloud-enabled IT ecosystem.

References¶

• Original: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2026/02/most-vmware-users-still-actively-reducing-their-vmware-footprint-survey-finds/
• Additional context on multi-cloud strategies and virtualization trends:
• https://www.cloudbolt.com/resources
• https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/products/industries/enterprise-trends-2025.pdf

Note: The above references are suggestions to provide broader context; please replace with authoritative sources as needed.

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