Navigating the VMware Landscape: Understanding Your Options

The VMware ecosystem has evolved, but that does not mean your customers' environments need to.

There is a significant amount of discussion around Broadcom's changes to the VMware partner programme. Some of it is helpful. Much of it simplifies what is, in reality, a more complex and nuanced situation.

So let's focus on clarity: what has actually changed, what options are realistically available, and how partners can move forward while continuing to operate their VMware business.

You stay in control. We support the foundation.

Our model is not built around taking over your customers or delivering a fully managed MSP service. That approach does not reflect how most partners operate, or what their customers expect.

Instead, we provide a more targeted structure:

You continue running your VMware environments using the same tools, interfaces and processes your team already knows. We deliver the underlying infrastructure (compute, storage and networking) hosted in our data centres, while also handling licensing and compliance at Pinnacle Partner level.

The outcome is straightforward:

• The same VMware platform, without the operational overhead of managing hardware.
• No replatforming. No retraining. No disruption to existing SLAs.

For many partners, that distinction is critical.

What has changed, and why it matters

Following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware in late 2023, the partner ecosystem was significantly restructured. A large number of partners were removed from the programme and can no longer independently sell, licence or support VMware solutions.

team.blue, through UKDedicated, Curanet, Proserve and Combell, remains a VMware Pinnacle Partner — one of roughly 100 globally. This position enables us to provide an authorised route for affected partners to continue operating as before, without impacting their customers.

Timing is important. While agreements extend to April 2027, transitions of this scale typically require 12–18 months. Delaying decisions reduces available options and increases operational risk.

Partner-first approach, not competition

A common concern is whether working with us means losing ownership of the customer relationship. It does not.

For over two decades, we have followed a strict principle: if we are invited to engage with a customer already served by a partner, we step back. No exceptions.

You remain the customer-facing organisation. We operate behind the scenes as your infrastructure provider. This principle is fundamental to how our partner model works.

Your VMware expertise still matters

Your organisation has invested years building knowledge, processes and operational confidence around VMware. That expertise is valuable, and it is one of the reasons your customers trust you.

Moving to another hypervisor is not simply a technical migration. It requires rebuilding internal knowledge, retraining teams and introducing risk for customers.

Across team.blue, we have assessed alternative platforms from technical, operational and commercial perspectives. The conclusion has been consistent: when migration costs are included, no current alternative matches VMware in maturity, ecosystem strength, stability and total cost. This assessment is based on analysis, not vendor loyalty.

Three ways to work together

You retain the customer relationship and continue managing the VMware platform. We provide the infrastructure and licensing behind it. The exact model depends on your current setup.

Continue as you are (Brownfield)

Your existing hardware remains in place. We assume responsibility for both the hardware and VMware licensing, delivering it back to you as a service.

• You keep control of storage, backup and networking.
• We manage VCF components and licensing.
• From your customers' perspective, nothing changes.

Edge Cloud

If you have invested in hardware or need workloads to remain on-site (for regulatory, commercial or operational reasons) Edge Cloud offers a hybrid approach.

• We deploy and operate the hardware. You manage the workloads.
• You provide rack space, power and connectivity. We handle the rest.

Private Cloud

A full transition option: workloads are moved into a dedicated Private Cloud environment within our certified datacentres (ISAE 3402, ISAE 3000, ISO 27001).

• Your VMware environment remains unchanged from an operational perspective.
• We manage the migration. You define the timeline.
• Billing is consumption-based, with no upfront investment.

Planning beyond April 2027

Many partners ask whether VMware delivery remains possible after 2027. Yes — using the same VMware platform, managed by you, running on our infrastructure.

Transition paths can be adapted:

• Existing hardware can be included in phased timelines.
• Edge Cloud allows gradual migration while assets are depreciated.
• Transition periods of 12 months or longer are supported.

The objective is simple: maintain continuity without disruption.

What this looks like day to day

In practice, your customers' workloads run in VMware environments hosted in our datacentres, either shared or dedicated.

• You continue managing those environments as you do today.
• We handle infrastructure, licensing, compliance and lifecycle management.
• Your customers experience no visible change.
• Your operational workflows remain consistent.
• Your relationships stay yours.

That is the distinction: we operate the infrastructure behind partner-managed VMware environments, not in front of your customers.

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