Ready to explore VMware Cloud on AWS and its benefits in depth? Then you are at the right place. In this blog post, we will break down the service’s core functionalities, uncover its key features, explore use cases, differentiators, and more.
Digital transformation is a critical decision for any organization. With a vast array of cloud solutions available, VMware Cloud on AWS stands out as a transformative option. But what makes it so different? Let’s delve into the top 5 reasons why VMware Cloud on AWS would be the perfect fit for your organization.
1. Unmatched Maturity and Management
VMware Cloud on AWS stands out as the most mature VMware Cloud service. Built on the latest VMware Cloud Foundation version and boasting 24 major SDDC versions, it incorporates a wealth of features and enhancements driven by real-world customer feedback. However, what truly sets it apart is that it is THE ONLY service fully managed by VMware. This translates to significant benefits for you:
- Faster access to innovation: Receive the latest VMware SDDC features as soon as they’re available, ensuring your environment stays at the forefront.
- Hassle-free experience: VMware handles everything – delivery, operation, support, updates, upgrades, and patches. You have a single point of contact for all your needs, simplifying management.
- Focus on what matters: With VMware handling the infrastructure lifecycle management, ongoing monitoring, security, and automated processes, you can concentrate on driving innovation within your organization.
VMware Cloud on AWS leverages Site Reliability Engineers to continuously monitor the health and security of your infrastructure. This combination of maturity, comprehensive management, and access to the latest features empowers you to streamline operations and accelerate innovation.
2. Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (Lower Your IT Bill)
Moving to VMware Cloud on AWS can significantly reduce your Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) compared to on-premises deployments and other public cloud options.
According to a 2024 IDC Business Value Snapshot, customers achieve a remarkable 50% reduction in infrastructure and operational costs after migrating to VMware Cloud on AWS. Here’s how:
- Optimize Resource Utilization: VMware Cloud on AWS offers advanced features like memory overcommit, CPU oversubscription, storage compression, WAN optimization, and more. These tools help you consolidate workloads and gain maximum value out of your resources.
- Eliminate Over-provisioning: Say goodbye to idle hardware capacity and unnecessary geographical expansion by building new data centers. VMware Cloud on AWS gives you a scalable infrastructure that adapts to your needs, eliminating the need for over-provisioning.
- Built-in Enterprise Services: VMware Cloud on AWS comes with enterprise compute, storage, networking, security, and management – all pre-integrated and ready to use. This eliminates the need for additional purchases, integrations, or outsourcing.
- Capitalizing on Existing Skills and Tools: VMware Cloud on AWS seamlessly integrates with your existing VMware environment, allowing you to capitalize on your existing staff expertise and processes. This saves you significant costs associated with retraining, hiring, or establishing new procedures.
- Sustainable and Cost-Effective Infrastructure: VMware Cloud on AWS leverages AWS’s energy-efficient infrastructure with high server utilization. This translates to lower costs due to reduced hardware footprint in your on-premises data center and efficient use of power, thanks to optimized facilities, cooling systems, and workload-specific equipment. Learn more here.
- Unmatched Flexibility: Choose from a wide range of instance types (including new M7i with disaggregated storage) and storage options to perfectly match your workload requirements. This granular control over your infrastructure leads to substantial cost savings.
Combining these benefits, VMware Cloud on AWS helps you achieve a more streamlined, cost-effective, and sustainable IT environment.
3. Enterprise Grade Turnkey Cloud service
- Unmatched Availability and Disaster Recovery
- Global Reach and Resilience: For built-in fault tolerance, run your applications across 26 regions with multiple Availability Zones (AZs).
- Zero-RPO Stretched Clusters: Span multiple AZs for the industry’s first zero Recovery Point Objective (RPO) infrastructure, ideal for mission-critical workloads.
- Multi-Layered Threat Protection: Safeguard against outages, data loss, and ransomware with robust Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) options. Customers enjoy a multi-layered defense against unforeseen adversities.
- Optimized Performance and Scalability
- Predictable High Performance: Leverage dedicated, bare-metal AWS infrastructure for consistent and reliable workload performance.
- Improved Efficiency: New M7i.metal.24xl instances with 4th Gen Intel Xeon processors deliver up to 1.53x better performance for AI/ML, analytics, and HPC workloads.
- Seamless Scaling: With Elastic DRS, you can add hosts to your environment in minutes and automatically scale clusters up or down based on demand.
- Flexible Storage Options: Choose multiple storage solutions to meet your needs and optimize costs, including Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP or VMware Cloud Flex Storage.
- Unmatched Security
- Federated Identity Management: Enforce least privilege and separation of duties with role-based access control and logging.
- Advanced Network Security: Built-in NSX micro-segmentation, firewalls, and Layer 7 application ID ensure a secure infrastructure.
- Always-On Security Operations: Benefit from continuous threat monitoring and rapid response with Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) support.
- Stringent Compliance: Achieve global compliance with certifications like ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR.
4. Effortless Cloud Migration for vSphere Workloads
- Migrate Faster, Not Harder: Eliminate months of rework. Move existing vSphere workloads to the AWS Cloud in days or weeks without refactoring or re-architecting applications. Consistent infrastructure across both environments ensures a smooth transition.
- Seamless Workload Mobility: Based on your needs, move workloads freely between your on-premises vSphere environment and the AWS Cloud. Extend your existing layer 2 network to AWS, maintaining IP addresses and simplifying workload portability.
- Zero Downtime Migrations: Leverage VMware HCX Replication Assisted vMotion at scale or VMware vMotion for live migrations from on-premises to AWS Cloud, ensuring continuous application uptime.
- Flexible Migration Options: Choose from various methods: cold, warm (with or without replication), or live (with or without replication). Utilize VMware HCX for rapid, large-scale live migrations with secure connections between your on-premises vSphere and VMware Cloud on AWS. For faster cold or live migrations with vMotion, establish a high-speed, private network connection using AWS Direct Connect.
- Modernize with Ease: Leverage high-bandwidth, low-latency access to over 200 native AWS services. This seamless integration with AWS services empowers you to modernize existing applications or build next-generation cloud-native solutions effortlessly.
5. Seamless Hybrid Cloud Management
- Unified Operations: Manage your hybrid cloud environment with the same skills, tools, and processes you use on-premises. VMware vCenter Server handles day-to-day operations, while VMware Aria offers advanced management capabilities. This consistency eliminates retraining and boosts staff productivity.
- Simplified View: With Hybrid Link Mode, you can gain a single pane of glass view of your on-premises and AWS resources. There is no need to manage separate consoles, resulting in a more streamlined experience.
- Extended Governance: Leverage your existing on-premises governance and operational policies. VMware Cloud on AWS seamlessly integrates these with the robust security, compliance, and availability features of the AWS Cloud.
- Expanded Ecosystem: Enhance your cloud experience with over 300 validated open-source and third-party solutions—the same ones you rely on in your on-premises environment—extending their capabilities to VMware Cloud on AWS SDDCs.
Because of all these key differentiating factors, VMware Cloud on AWS is the preferred choice for organizations embarking on their cloud transformation journey. Please check out this blog to learn more about how customers are leveraging VMware Cloud on AWS. And to learn more about VMware Cloud on AWS, explore our website for comprehensive information, and stay connected with us on X for the latest updates.
