Your VMware renewal just got 5× more expensive. Let's fix that.
Broadcom's acquisition of VMware ended perpetual licensing and eliminated the bundles law firms relied on. DataWarrant migrates your VMware environment to Azure, AWS, Nutanix, or Hyper-V — before your renewal forces the issue.
VMware Migration Assessment
VMware Environment Assessment
Recommended destination: Azure VMware Solution (AVS) + native Azure for dev workloads
Total VMs
84
67 production
Current Annual Cost
$218K
VMware licensing
Renewal Quote
$1.04M
+377% increase
Projected Post-Migration
$196K
Azure AVS + compute
| Workload | Current Host | vCPU | RAM | Destination | Wave | Complexity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elite 3E App Server | ESX-PROD-01 | 8 | 32 GB | Azure AVS | Wave 2 | Medium | Assessed |
| iManage Work Server | ESX-PROD-01 | 16 | 64 GB | Azure AVS | Wave 2 | High | Assessed |
| AD Domain Controllers | ESX-PROD-02 | 4 | 16 GB | Azure AVS | Wave 1 | Low | Ready |
| File Server (DFS) | ESX-PROD-02 | 4 | 16 GB | Azure Files | Wave 1 | Low | Ready |
| SQL Server (Finance) | ESX-PROD-03 | 16 | 128 GB | Azure SQL MI | Wave 3 | High | In Review |
| Dev / Test VMs (×12) | ESX-DEV-01 | 2–4 | 8 GB | Azure IaaS | Wave 1 | Low | Ready |
Purpose-built for law firm infrastructure
Broadcom changed the rules. Your renewal date is a hard deadline.
When Broadcom acquired VMware in late 2023, it immediately discontinued perpetual licenses, eliminated standalone product SKUs, and forced customers into the VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) subscription bundle — which includes products most law firms have never used and don't need.
Renewal quotes are arriving at 3–5× prior-year costs. Firms that wait until renewal have no leverage and limited time to plan a proper migration. The firms that act now move on their own schedule, test thoroughly, and avoid costly bridge agreements.
3–5× licensing cost increase
VCF bundles are priced per core and include NSX, vSAN, and Aria — components most firms don't run. You can't opt out.
Your renewal date is your deadline
Migrations take 3–6 months. Firms that start planning after receiving the renewal quote often can't finish in time and pay for a bridge year.
Perpetual licenses are gone
If you were counting on running your existing VMware perpetual licenses long-term, that path is effectively closed. Support and security patches require the new subscription.
Four migration paths. One right answer for your firm.
We assess your environment first, then recommend. Here are the paths we execute.
Azure VMware Solution (AVS)
Run your existing VMware workloads in Microsoft's Azure datacenters with full vSphere, vSAN, and NSX compatibility. Minimal re-platforming — your VMs move as-is. Native connectivity to Microsoft 365, Azure AD, and Azure-hosted services.
- VMware-native: no re-platforming
- Direct Azure network integration
- Familiar ops model for IT staff
- Ideal for iManage, Elite, Aderant on-prem workloads
Native Azure / AWS Migration
Re-platform workloads as native Azure IaaS or AWS EC2 instances. Eliminates the VMware layer entirely for long-term cost reduction. Best suited for dev/test environments and non-latency-sensitive workloads.
- Lowest long-term cloud cost
- No VMware licensing dependency
- Right-size compute as you go
- Pairs well with AVS for mixed environments
Nutanix (On-Premise)
Replace the VMware hypervisor with Nutanix AHV on your existing hardware. Ideal for firms with data residency requirements or significant on-prem hardware investment that isn't due for refresh.
- No cloud dependency
- Reuses existing server hardware
- Simple hypervisor-level swap
- Strong alternative for latency-sensitive legal apps
Microsoft Hyper-V
Microsoft Hyper-V is included with Windows Server licenses most firms already own. The lowest-cost on-premise path for firms with smaller, less complex VMware environments.
- Often zero additional licensing cost
- Included with Windows Server
- Familiar Microsoft admin tooling
- Best for smaller environments (under 30 VMs)
Assessed, planned, and migrated before your renewal date.
A structured process built around your deadline, not ours.
- 01
Environment Assessment
Week 1–2Full inventory of every VM, host, datastore, and network segment. vCPU, RAM, and storage sizing. Application dependency mapping — what talks to what, and what breaks if it moves first. Compliance and data residency requirements captured.
- 02
Destination Design & Cost Modelling
Week 2–3We design the target architecture for your recommended destination and produce a detailed cost model: current VMware spend vs. projected post-migration cost across a 3-year horizon. You see the full picture before committing.
- 03
Wave Planning
Week 3–4Workloads grouped into migration waves based on complexity, dependencies, and business sensitivity. Dev/test environments move first. Critical legal applications move last, after full testing. Court deadlines and firm events scheduled around.
- 04
Build & Test
Weeks 4–8Target environment provisioned. Network connectivity, Active Directory integration, and application dependencies validated before any production workload moves. Each application tested against your firm's acceptance criteria.
- 05
Wave Migrations
Weeks 6–14Production workloads migrated wave by wave during scheduled maintenance windows. Most VMs cut over in under 30 minutes. Rollback procedures documented and ready for every wave.
- 06
Decommission & Optimize
Weeks 14–16VMware infrastructure decommissioned once all workloads are validated in the new environment. Right-sizing recommendations applied to reduce cloud spend. Final documentation and handoff to your IT team.
What changes after migration.
VMware Today
- $218K/yr license → $1M+ renewal quote
- Perpetual licenses discontinued
- VCF bundle forces unused products
- Per-core pricing with no opt-outs
- Renewal negotiations favor Broadcom
- Hardware refresh tied to VMware lifecycle
- Manual vSphere patching and upgrades
- No native cloud integration
- On-prem only — no hybrid flexibility
- Single-vendor lock-in with no alternative
Post-Migration
- Predictable annual cost — no surprise renewals
- No VMware licensing dependency
- Pay only for what you use
- Scale up or down per workload
- Azure or AWS managed infrastructure
- Hardware refresh cycle eliminated or extended
- Automated patching and compliance
- Native Microsoft 365 and Azure AD integration
- Hybrid flexibility — cloud and on-prem
- Open platform with multiple vendor options
Why law firms choose DataWarrant for VMware migrations.
Legal app expertise
We know Elite, iManage, NetDocuments, Aderant, and Intapp. We understand their infrastructure dependencies, licensing implications, and what breaks during a migration if you don't plan carefully.
Security & compliance first
Attorney-client privilege, data residency requirements, and bar association guidance around cloud storage inform every architecture decision we make.
Honest cost modelling
We build a 3-year total cost of ownership comparison — VMware renewal vs. each migration path — before you commit to anything. No surprises post-migration.
Renewal date awareness
We track your VMware renewal date and design the project timeline around it. If you need a short-term bridge agreement, we help you negotiate one while the migration runs.
Minimal disruption
Migrations are scheduled around court dates, closings, and firm events. Most production cutovers complete in a single overnight maintenance window.
End-to-end ownership
Assessment, architecture, build, migration, testing, and decommission — all DataWarrant. No handoffs between vendors mid-project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Know your renewal date. Start now.
Send us a note with your VMware renewal date and a rough VM count. We'll come back with a preliminary migration path and cost model within a week — no commitment required.