A recent survey of IT leaders indicates that VMware customers continue to face significant challenges more than two years after Broadcom’s acquisition. CloudBolt Software’s January study of 302 North American IT decision-makers at companies with 1,000+ employees reveals ongoing disruption, with 88% of respondents describing the transition as disruptive.
The primary drivers of this disruption are clear from the data. Price increases were cited by 89% of survey participants, making them the most frequently mentioned concern. Uncertainty about Broadcom’s strategic direction followed at 85%, while support quality issues concerned 78% of respondents. The shift from perpetual licenses to subscription models affected 72%, changes to VMware’s partner program impacted 68%, and forced product bundling troubled 65%.
CloudBolt’s findings provide a more nuanced picture of pricing changes than earlier anecdotal reports. While some customers initially reported quotes showing 1,000% increases, the survey reveals a broader distribution: 14% experienced costs that at least doubled, 12% saw increases of 50-99%, 33% reported hikes of 24-49%, and 31% faced increases below 25%.
Despite these relatively moderate increases compared to initial fears, pricing remains a critical concern. The survey shows 85% of respondents worry that VMware will become even more expensive under Broadcom’s ownership. This concern persists even as companies work to reduce their VMware dependencies.
CloudBolt Software, a hybrid cloud management platform provider, conducted this research to understand VMware customers’ pain points. The company aims to identify challenges that might lead customers to seek alternative solutions. While the survey sample of 302 decision-makers isn’t comprehensive, it offers valuable insight into the obstacles facing enterprise VMware users.
Broadcom completed its VMware acquisition in November 2023, and the transition continues to create operational challenges. The survey data suggests that pricing changes, licensing model shifts, and program modifications are creating sustained pressure on VMware’s enterprise customer base.
