The cloud migration world is in full shake-up mode. Broadcom’s takeover of VMware has stirred the pot - partner lists are shifting, licence terms are evolving, and IT teams everywhere are wondering what this means for their future.
In the middle of the reshuffle, Microsoft Azure has stepped into the spotlight as a key strategic player in delivering VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) services. With Azure VMware Solution (AVS), you can run your VMware workloads in a secure, scalable home that feels just like the one you know, minus the need for costly refactoring or a complete rebuild.
In this blog, we’ll break down how to make the move to AVS with minimal disruption, maximum confidence, and a clear view of the road ahead - all powered by Nasstar’s hands-on experience and industry know-how.
Why migrate from VMware to Azure?
Migrating to Azure isn’t just a technical decision - it’s a strategic one. Rising licensing complexity, evolving vendor priorities, and increasing pressure to modernise IT estates are prompting organisations to look for a cloud strategy that delivers both stability and innovation.
Microsoft Azure VMware Solution (AVS) bridges that gap - offering a low-risk path to the cloud that keeps familiar VMware operations intact, while adding the scalability, security, and integration of Azure’s global platform.
A move from VMware to Azure not only protects existing investments but also positions your business to take advantage of cutting-edge Azure services without a disruptive rebuild.
Stability amid change
With Broadcom’s changes to the VMware partner ecosystem, many businesses are losing access to long-standing support channels. Microsoft’s AVS offers continuity, backed by Microsoft’s enterprise-grade support and global infrastructure.
Licensing simplification
Microsoft now supports VCF subscriptions on AVS, allowing businesses to bring their existing licences and reduce costs. This includes support for Windows Server and SQL Server licensing models, which can be complex to navigate without expert guidance.
Operational continuity
AVS enables you to run VMware workloads natively in Azure, preserving existing tools, processes, and skillsets. There’s no need to retrain teams or rearchitect applications - just lift, shift, and optimise. Microsoft also provides funding and investment through its MCI Program to reduce cost of such migrations.
Enhanced security and compliance
Azure’s layered security model, rapid patching capabilities, and compliance certifications (including ISO, GDPR, and UK Cyber Essentials) ensure your workloads remain protected and compliant.
Innovation and integration
Azure’s native services, such as Microsoft Fabric, analytics services, Azure AI services, and automation, can be seamlessly integrated with AVS, unlocking new opportunities for innovation and efficiency.
Key considerations before starting the migration
Migrating workloads from VMware to Azure requires more than a lift-and-shift. Hasty moves can lead to surprises ranging from unexpected downtime to runaway costs, so thoughtful preparation is key for a smart migration.
Getting your inventory assessment right
You can’t migrate what you haven’t mapped. An accurate inventory lets you understand which workloads are cloud-ready and which need prep work. You will need to catalogue your workloads, their dependencies, and define their performance baselines. You should also decide whether to assess "as-is" or based on real performance metrics.
Application dependencies
Missing a dependency is not just inconvenient, it can break services mid-migration, degrade performance, and lead to downtime. You will need to understand how applications interact with other applications and services.
You should analyse interactions between applications, databases, and services so you can migrate in the right sequence. Tools like Azure Migrate and VMware HCX can uncover dependencies, helping you avoid post-migration surprises.
Migration goals
Without benchmarks, how will you know if you’ve succeeded? It’s important to define what success looks like in terms of cost savings, deployment speed, performance, agility, security, and compliance. Use Azure pricing calculators and Cloud Adoption Framework guidance to set SMART goals that align with your business needs.
Licensing and cost management
Unexpected licensing fees can blow your budget. You need to clarify Microsoft licensing for VMware, Windows Server, and SQL Server. Monitor and control spend using Azure Cost Management and Budget tools, and set alerts or governance policies to avoid surprises.
Networking and connectivity
A good network is the bridge that makes a migration work smoothly. You will need to design a hybrid network architecture that integrates on-premises and AVS environments.
Security and compliance
Your move doesn’t relieve you of regulatory or threat-response obligations. You will need to map your regulatory requirements and ensure Azure meets them. The good news is that AVS benefits from Azure’s leading-edge compliance certifications (GDPR, ISO, etc.).
Skillsets and training
You’re not just moving workloads - you’re empowering people. It’s important that you upskill your teams on Azure and AVS. To optimise and manage your new environment, you might benefit from training in Azure fundamentals (networking, cost governance, monitoring, security), guided by resources like the Cloud Adoption Framework.
Best practices for a smooth VMware to Azure migration
Before you kick off your migration, take a deep breath, then plan. Migrating your VMware workloads to Azure is more than a technical task, it’s a strategic endeavour. From network design to skills development, each step matters.
Pre-migration planning
Establish a detailed migration roadmap that outlines phases, timelines, responsibilities, success metrics, and fallback plans. Microsoft’s Cloud Adoption Framework provides templates that can help you structure your backlog and map roles and responsibilities.
Align all stakeholders early, from IT and security teams to leadership and business sponsors. This will ensure the project is supported from the very start.
It’s critical that you define your success metrics from the beginning. Whether it's cost reduction, deployment speed, compliance targets, or uptime during migration, it’s essential that you can successfully measure what “winning” looks like.
Technical preparation
Ensure your on-premises VMware tools and versions are supported by AVS to validate compatibility. Confirm you have the right Azure subscription and sufficient quotas. You’ll also need to prepare your Azure Landing Zone and AVS infrastructure, including deploying your AVS private cloud and configuring networking settings for seamless connectivity.
Testing and pilot migration
Run pilot migrations to uncover issues early. Start with non-critical workloads to test your approach and uncover small issues before they become big ones. You could also utilise test migrations via Azure Migrate - the VM stays on-prem while a copy spins up in Azure, giving you a sandbox to validate performance and dependencies.
Migration execution
Use Azure Migrate with agentless or agent-based options to move VMs. The agentless method is simpler, while agent-based grants more control. For smooth transfer and minimal interruption, apply VMware HCX and ExpressRoute with Global Reach for resilient, low-latency connectivity.
Post-migration optimisation
Tune performance, configure monitoring, and identify where you can optimise consumption costs.
Monitor and tune with Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Application Insights to track performance, latency, and bottlenecks. Secure your new setup using Azure Backup, Disk Encryption, and Security Center for protection and compliance. Optimise costs using Azure Cost Management, Azure Advisor, and right‑sizing strategies.
Adoption and change management
Provide training, documentation, and communications for IT teams and users explaining new workflows, management interfaces, and support routes. Microsoft recommends skill-building aligned with cloud adoption frameworks.
Support your adopters with just-in-time guides, FAQs, and hands-on sessions for AVS and Azure management tools. Use change management communications to keep staff informed about benefits, new processes, and support paths to reduce friction.
How to minimise downtime and ensure business continuity
Minimising downtime during a VMware to Azure migration starts with meticulous planning. Schedule the move during periods of low user activity to limit the impact on daily operations and ensure all stakeholders are aware of the migration window. A well-communicated plan helps avoid surprises and keeps teams aligned throughout the process.
Reliable connectivity is another cornerstone of business continuity. Extending your on-premises network securely into Azure through ExpressRoute or VPN gateways ensures workloads can communicate seamlessly before, during, and after migration. This secure connectivity also helps maintain compliance with industry mandates, which should be considered early in your planning to avoid costly remediation later.
The right tools can make all the difference in reducing downtime. VMware HCX enables live migrations, moving workloads with minimal disruption, while Azure Site Recovery provides robust failover capabilities in case something doesn’t go as planned. Before committing to a full cutover, conduct thorough testing to validate performance, dependencies, and access. A staged, smart cutover strategy ensures any issues are caught in a controlled environment rather than in production.
Finally, make sure your monitoring and identity systems are ready before the move. Configuring Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and user access controls in advance allows for immediate oversight of the new environment.
While planning and preparation are critical, working with an experienced migration partner like Nasstar can accelerate the process and help you avoid common pitfalls, ensuring a smooth transition for everyone involved.
Post-migration steps to ensure success
Completing the migration from VMware to Azure is a significant milestone, but the real measure of success comes from what happens next. Post-migration activities are critical for validating the new environment, optimising operations, and ensuring your teams can manage and evolve the platform effectively.
Validation and verification
The first step after cutover is to verify that all workloads are running as intended. This includes checking application performance against pre-migration baselines, validating data integrity, and confirming that dependencies are intact.
Cost optimisation
Cloud costs can escalate quickly without active management. Use Azure Cost Management and Billing to analyse usage patterns, spot idle or underused resources, and take advantage of cost-saving options such as Reserved Instances and Azure Hybrid Benefit.
Monitoring and alerts
Proactive monitoring is essential for maintaining service quality. Set up dashboards and alerts in Azure Monitor and Log Analytics to track performance metrics, availability, and security events. Configuring alerts for unusual activity ensures that potential issues are flagged before they escalate.
Operations & automation
Automating repetitive operational tasks frees up your IT teams to focus on higher-value activities. Use Azure Automation and Logic Apps to handle routine jobs such as patching, backup scheduling, and compliance checks. Automation also reduces the risk of human error, improving both reliability and security.
Training documentation
Ensure your operations teams have the resources they need to manage the new environment confidently. Develop clear, role-based documentation covering common tasks, escalation paths, and troubleshooting guides. Where possible, provide hands-on training so teams can practise using Azure tools in realistic scenarios.
Knowledge transfer
Smoothly transitioning from the migration project team to business-as-usual operations is essential. To avoid operational gaps and maintain momentum, schedule structured knowledge transfer sessions, covering environment architecture, custom configurations, and any lessons learned during migration.
Feedback and continuous improvement
Post-migration is also a time for reflection. Gather feedback from technical teams, end users, and stakeholders to identify what went well and where processes could be improved. Feed these insights back to refine future migrations or optimisation initiatives.
Common challenges in VMware to Azure migration and how to overcome them
Migrating VMware workloads to Azure brings huge opportunities, but it’s not without hurdles. Security is often top of mind, with concerns around compliance and protecting sensitive data. Azure’s layered security model, rapid patching, and broad compliance portfolio, including ISO, GDPR, and UK Cyber Essentials, help address these risks, while encryption and network isolation keep workloads safe in transit and at rest.
Compatibility worries are also common, but Azure VMware Solution (AVS) runs VMware natively in Azure, meaning you can keep using vSphere, vSAN, and NSX-T without rearchitecting applications. For cost control, Azure supports licence portability via Azure Hybrid Benefit and offers optimisation tools like Azure Cost Management to right-size resources and prevent overspend.
Skill gaps can also slow progress. Investing in targeted Azure and AVS training builds in-house capability, while working with experienced partners like Nasstar ensures you have the expertise to plan, execute, and optimise migrations without disrupting business operations.
How Nasstar can help
At Nasstar, we understand that every migration is unique. Our experts combine our Microsoft partnership with deep technical knowledge and business insight to deliver seamless VMware to Azure migrations.
Nasstar can offer guidance and support with:
Strategic planning and assessment
Technical execution and optimisation
Post-migration support and training
Service transition and operational readiness
Whether you’re responding to the Broadcom changes or proactively modernising your infrastructure, Nasstar is here to help you migrate with confidence.
Ready to take the next step? Get in touch today to start your VMware to Azure journey.
