VMware Cloud Foundation

Choosing Your Virtualization Platform: A 2025 Licensing Analysis

Choosing Your Virtualization Platform: A 2025 Licensing Analysis

Virtualization licensing just got complicated. With VMware's Broadcom acquisition driving 3x cost increases and Microsoft introducing new subscription models, IT leaders need a clear roadmap. This blog provides the analysis and insights you need to make informed decisions that align with your budget and strategy.

Welcome to Part 2 of our “Beyond the Cloud: The Case for On-Premises Virtualization” series. In our introductory post, we explored why organizations are reconsidering their virtualization strategies post-VMware acquisition. In Part 1, we conducted a detailed five-year Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis comparing Windows Hyper-V, Azure VMware Solution (AVS), and Azure Local, revealing how different cost structures impact long-term budgets. A key factor driving those cost differences was how each platform’s licensing model works.