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Azure VMware Solution

Quickly move or extend VMware environments to Azure while maintaining operational consistency, save big using our VMware Rapid Migration Plan, and unlock 200+ Azure services.
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OVERVIEW

Get fast migration for VMware workloads

  • Move to the cloud fast—without replatforming, refactoring, or rehosting. Cut costs and exit your datacenter smoothly.
  • Keep using your existing skills and processes. Azure VMware Solution includes VMware vSphere, HCX, NSX, and vSAN.
  • EnhanceVMware workloads with scalable Azure infrastructure and more than 200 services to drive innovation.
  • Fully managed infrastructure frees up IT to focus on high-value projects instead of routine maintenance.
  • Add up savings when you bring Windows and SQL Server licenses, as well as VMware Cloud Foundation subscriptions, to Azure.
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BENEFITS

Run VCF private clouds in Azure

Price protection

Lock in pricing for predictable workloads and save money by reserving infrastructure for one, three, or five years.

Efficiency

Avoid overprovisioning, hardware refreshes, and decommissioned infrastructure spend by moving to Azure VMware Solution.

Consistency

Improve IT productivity by leveraging existing VMware skills, tooling, and investments.

Reliability

Enhance vSphere workloads with business-critical capabilities such as backup, high availability, threat protection, and monitoring.

Operational simplicity

Get seamless support, timely patches, and regular VMware upgrades from Microsoft with a fully managed service.

Business agility

Adapt quickly to changing needs by running vSphere workloads on scalable, high-performance cloud infrastructure.
IMPACT

Measurable ROI with Azure VMware Solution

See how running VMware on Azure drives business value and increases efficiency.1
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Security

Built-in security and compliance 

Microsoft has committed to investing $20 billion in cybersecurity over five years.
We employ more than 8,500 security and threat intelligence experts across 77 countries.
Azure has one of the largest compliance certification portfolios in the industry.
Learn more about security on Azure
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Pricing

Reduce your IT costs with Azure VMware Solution

Save money with managed infrastructure and scale your environment on demand as your business needs change. Lower your costs with monthly consumption pricing by using your existing on-premises licenses for Windows Server and SQL Server on Azure with Azure Hybrid Benefit, and by purchasing your compute resources in advance with reservation pricing. Get free Extended Security Updates for your legacy Windows and SQL Server workloads in Azure.
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RESOURCES

Azure VMware Solution resources

  1.
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Azure VMware Solution documentation

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VMware on Azure: Migration and Modernization Planning Guide

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Azure VMware Solution learning path

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Learn why AWS is up to 5 times more expensive than Azure for Windows Server and SQL Server.

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The Ultimate Guide to VMware Migration

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CUSTOMER STORIES

See what customers are doing with Azure VMware Solution

  1. Hastings DIRECT logo
  2. Home Trust Logo
  3. Kier logo
  4. Metro South Health Logo
  5. Avianca Logo
  6. Snam Logo
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Hastings DIRECT logo
”We wouldn’t have been able to move our business without Azure VMware Solution. I don’t think enough companies realize that they can use it to take a legacy environment and bring it directly to the cloud.”
Simon Bullers, Chief Technology Officer, Hastings Direct
1.6 times
Hastings Direct migrated to Azure VMware Solution, increasing performance by 1.6 times.
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“We’ve become 100% based in Azure in three and a half years, gaining a modern technology footprint and performance improvements using Azure VMware Solution and a modern application stack.”
Doug Caldwell, Vice President of IT Infrastructure, Home Trust Company
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Kier logo
“As a large, mature organization, we couldn’t undertake a greenfield implementation, but we were able to quickly migrate and stand up our environment in the cloud with Azure VMware Solution.”
Mark Wiltshire, IT Director, Kier Group
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Metro South Health Logo
“We’re not a big team and our skillset is very much based around VMware, so Azure VMware Solution really appealed to us. The tools we use in Azure resemble what we use on premises.”
Harry Sturgess, Manager of Technology and Operations, Metro South Health
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Avianca Logo
“Azure VMware Solution was key to the fast migration of several older systems—more than 200 servers in less than four months. That migration speed and the enhanced security we achieved are a huge advantage for Avianca.”
Juan Pablo Sanchez Gandur, Cloud Platform Manager, Avianca
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Snam Logo
“Azure—and in particular Azure VMware Solution—is the right solution for us. It allows us to seamlessly move from on premises to the cloud, thereby freeing up resources and capital investments that can be used where they are needed more.”
Giorgio Veronesi, Senior Vice President of ICT Infrastructure, Snam
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PARTNERS

Explore the technology partner ecosystem

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Storage

Azure NetApp Files

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Storage

Pure Cloud Block StoreTM

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Storage

Lightbits Cloud Data Platform

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, Azure VMware Solution (AVS) supports portable VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) subscriptions. VMware customers with eligible VCF entitlements can transfer their subscriptions to AVS, enabling mobility between on-premises and Azure. This flexibility helps organizations modernize IT infrastructure while retaining the rights to their software. For pricing and further details, contact your Microsoft account team or preferred partner.
  • Popular use cases include:
    • Datacenter footprint reduction
    • On-demand expansion without requiring new hardware
    • Disaster recovery and business continuity planning
    • Application modernization by integrating with Azure services
    • Hybrid cloud operations that leverage existing VMware tools for consistent management across environments
  • Azure VMware Solution is developed, sold, and fully supported by Microsoft, ensuring a single point of contact for deployment and operations. It is also cloud-verified by VMware, meaning it meets VMware’s stringent requirements for performance, reliability, and compatibility. This partnership allows customers to run VMware workloads natively in Azure with confidence and full support.
  • Yes. When you run Windows Server or SQL Server 2012 and 2014 on Azure VMware Solution, you’re eligible for up to three years of free Extended Security Updates (ESUs) after the end of support. This helps maintain security and compliance for legacy workloads while you plan and execute your modernization or migration strategy.
  • Contact your Microsoft account team or preferred partner to get started.
  • Azure VMware Solution is a Microsoft-managed service, so all support requests should be directed to Microsoft through your existing Azure support channels. Microsoft provides end-to-end support and will engage VMware on your behalf if needed, ensuring a seamless support experience without requiring separate contact with VMware.
  • Read the Azure SLA.
  • When you first provision Azure VMware Solution, you must purchase at least three nodes. This minimum ensures proper performance and high availability for your VMware environment.
  • Customers are charged hourly each time they provision a node. You can also choose to buy reserved instances for Azure VMware Solution for one-, three-, or fiveyear periods. See the pricing page for details.
  • With Azure VMware Solution, you receive Extended Security Updates (ESUs) at no extra cost for three years on Windows Server and SQL Server workloads. On-premises or other cloud deployments would incur an additional 75 percent of the license price annually for these updates. This cost-saving benefit helps fund modernization efforts. Additionally, Azure Hybrid Benefit allows you to run workloads both on-premises and in the cloud, maximizing value.
  • Yes, AVS is a fully managed service which also includes VMware VCF and Aria. 
  • Yes, VMware HCX is included in the Azure VMware Solutions offering. 
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  1. [1]
    The Total Economic Impact™ of Microsoft Azure VMware Solution, a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Microsoft, April 2024.
  2. [2]
    IDC Business Value White Paper, sponsored by VMware in partnership with Microsoft The Business Value of Azure VMware Solution, Gary Chen, and Matthew Marden, US50851723, July 2023.