Broadcom has quietly shut off public access to a piece of software that Australian IT teams have relied on for years to plan an exit from VMware. The move, confirmed to trade press on Tuesday, September 9, 2026, lands in the same fortnight that three federal agencies disclosed a combined $264 million in fresh VMware renewals, a coincidence that has sharpened questions about whether Broadcom is deliberately raising the cost of leaving its platform rather than just the cost of staying on it.
Broadcom Blocks VMware Exit Tool, AU Pays $264M [2026]
![Broadcom Blocks VMware Exit Tool, AU Pays $264M [2026]](https://i0.wp.com/tech-insider.org/au/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/09/broadcom-vmware-vddk-lock-in-australia-2026-1.webp?ssl=1 "Broadcom Blocks VMware Exit Tool, AU Pays $264M [2026]")
