VMware Migration to Azure or Hyper-V
Broadcom’s licensing changes have put VMware estates under review. Maintech maps your workloads, compares the realistic alternatives, and moves you to the right platform in controlled waves, without disrupting the business.
Delivered by engineers who run VMware, Hyper-V, and Nutanix environments every day.
Why VMware Estates Are Under Review
Since Broadcom acquired VMware, many IT leaders have faced new subscription bundles and renewal quotes that no longer match how they use the platform. The question is no longer whether to review the estate; it’s where to go next and how to get there safely.
“Our renewal quote came in well over budget, and we have months, not years, to decide.”
“We know we want to move, but we can’t tell whether Azure, Hyper-V or something else fits our workloads.”
“The systems that run the business can’t go down, so a big-bang migration is off the table.”
Leave VMware on Your Terms
A VMware exit is a chance to right-size the estate, not just relocate it. Maintech maps every virtual machine and dependency first, so you choose a platform on workload evidence, then migrate in planned waves with rollback ready at each step.
Hybrid VMware and Azure Server Move
Applications, VMware and Azure servers, mailboxes, and SaaS sign-on moved as one coordinated program, from discovery through to end-user support after cutover.
Server Estate Migrated to Azure for a Manufacturer
A validated workload inventory and dependency matrix, planned migration waves and maintenance windows, and as-built runbooks at handoff.
VMware, Hyper-V, and Nutanix Run Day to Day
Maintech manages virtualization platforms under ongoing service agreements, so the team that migrates you already knows how each platform behaves in production.
Azure, Hyper-V, Nutanix, or Azure VMware Solution?
The main alternatives to VMware are Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Hyper-V on your own hardware, Nutanix AHV, and Azure VMware Solution. The right one depends on where your workloads need to run, how much change your team can absorb, and your licensing position.
Option
Microsoft Azure (native VMs)
Best fit when
You want to leave the data center or skip the next hardware refresh
What changes
VMs move into an Azure landing zone with governance, backup, and cost management
Watch for
Consumption costs need active governance; some legacy apps need remediation
Microsoft Hyper-V (on-premises)
Workloads must stay on-site for latency, data residency, or cost reasons
The hypervisor changes; management, backup, and monitoring tools are updated
Hardware compatibility and tooling changes
Nutanix AHV
You want hyperconverged infrastructure and simpler on-site operations
New platform, often with new hardware and licensing
Separate licensing and new skills for your team
Azure VMware Solution
You need to leave the data center fast without re-platforming
VMware keeps running, hosted in Azure
VMware licensing still applies; usually an interim step
How Maintech Plans and Delivers Your VMware Exit
Inventory Every VM and Dependency
Build a validated workload inventory and dependency matrix before any platform decision is made.
Choose the Platform on Evidence
Compare Azure, Hyper-V, Nutanix, and Azure VMware Solution against your workloads, skills, and licensing.
Build the Landing Zone First
Get identity, networking, backup, and monitoring ready on the target platform before the first VM moves.
Pilot Before You Commit
Migrate a representative group first to prove the tooling, performance, and rollback.
Migrate in Controlled Waves
Every wave runs in an agreed maintenance window, with a rollback plan and your sign-off.
Hand Off Ready to Run
Receive as-built documentation, runbooks, and knowledge transfer, or let Maintech run the platform for you.
How a VMware Migration Works
Every VMware exit follows the same governed path, from a full inventory of your estate to a platform your team is ready to run, with sign-off between each phase.
Step 1
Discover: VM inventory, dependency mapping, and a licensing review.
Step 2
Design and Pilot: Platform decision, target build, and a pilot migration to validate tooling.
Step 3
Migrate: Controlled waves with rollback plans, cutover records, and validation results.
Step 4
Stabilize and Hand Off: Hypercare, as-built documentation, runbooks, and optional managed operations.
What the VMware Assessment Engagement Delivers
Every engagement leaves you with a clear plan and a platform ready to run.
VMware Exit Assessment
Inventory, dependency map, licensing review, and a platform recommendation.
Migration Plan
Waves, maintenance windows, rollback plans, and acceptance criteria for each phase.
Target Platform Build
Azure landing zone or on-premises cluster, with backup, monitoring, and a security baseline.
Cutover and Handoff Pack
Cutover records, exception register, as-built documentation, and runbooks.
Why Maintech for VMware Migration?
- 50+ years in IT services, applied to enterprise infrastructure change.
- Vendor-neutral platform advice, based on your workloads rather than a product to resell.
- One partner from migration to operations, with VMware, Hyper-V, and Nutanix already managed day to day.
- Governed delivery, with customer sign-off between every phase.
VMware Frequently Asked Questions
What are the alternatives to VMware after the Broadcom acquisition?
The main alternatives are Microsoft Azure (native virtual machines), Microsoft Hyper-V on your own hardware, Nutanix AHV, and Azure VMware Solution as an interim step. The right choice depends on where your workloads need to run, how much change your team can absorb, and your licensing position.
How long does a VMware migration take?
It depends on the number of virtual machines and how tightly they depend on each other. A small estate can move in weeks; a large or multi-site estate runs as a phased program over several months. The VMware Exit Assessment gives you a dated plan before any work starts.
Can you migrate from VMware without downtime?
Most virtual machines move with a short, planned cutover window rather than an outage. Replication keeps the source running until cutover, each wave runs in an agreed maintenance window, and every wave has a tested rollback plan.
Should we move to Azure or stay on-premises with Hyper-V?
Choose Azure when you want to exit the data center or avoid the next hardware refresh. Choose Hyper-V when workloads must stay on-site for latency, data residency, or cost reasons. Many organizations end up hybrid, and the assessment shows which workloads fit where.
Do we have to move everything at once?
No. Maintech migrates in waves, starting with a pilot group. Some workloads can stay on VMware or move to Azure VMware Solution while the rest of the estate is re-platformed.
Can Maintech manage the new platform after migration?
Yes. Maintech already runs VMware, Hyper-V, and Nutanix environments under managed service, so the team that moves you can keep the new platform monitored, patched, and backed up.
REQUEST YOUR FREE VMWARE EXIT CONSULT
Plan Your VMware Exit With Confidence
Start with a VMware Exit Assessment. A short scoping call confirms the estate in scope, the access we need, and your renewal date.
- A platform recommendation backed by workload evidence
- A dated migration plan with waves and rollback built in
- Works alongside your internal IT team or existing provider