By https://www.dbta.com/Authors/Stephanie-Simone-6842.aspx
Publication Date: 2026-08-04 00:00:00
Organizations are adapting to a new era of IT virtualization and data center infrastructure management as VMware shifts to costly subscription models and ends support for vSphere 8 perpetual licenses in October 2027.
The end of VMware vSphere 8 general support will also mark the end of general support for all Broadcom VMware perpetual licenses. IT infrastructure and security leaders globally are re-evaluating their long-term road maps to balance budgets, minimize operational complexity, remain secure and maintain resiliency.
DBTA recently held a webinar, 2026 IT Virtualization Survey: What’s Next for VMware Users, with industry experts who broke down the findings of the new “2026 IT Virtualization Survey: What’s Next for VMware Users,” which gathered data from 269 global IT infrastructure and security leaders.
“It’s a significant inflection point,” said Joe McKendrick, author and analyst for Unisphere Research. “Making decisions these days on virtualization has moved from incremental or tactical overhauls on local servers to enterprise-wide transformation.”
According to the survey, VMware customers are reassessing their future, with 90% are considering leaving VMware/Broadcom due to higher licensing costs and 54% cite the October 2027 end of support deadline for perpetual licenses as a reason to evaluate alternatives.
“Organizations want to keep their current data requirements fully supported, they want them secured, and stable all while…
