VMware Launches ‘Evolutionary’ Hybrid Cloud Platform

VMware took the wraps off the new VMware Hybrid Cloud Platform at VMWorld 2019, allowing enterprises to migrate and modernize applications across data centers, clouds and edge locations.

In a bold move to simplify its hybrid cloud strategy, VMware is bringing together years of IP and services solutions together under one platform that will allow partners to build, run and manage workloads on a consistent infrastructure across data centers and public clouds.

“This is an evolutionary expansion of the concept of the software-defined data center,” said Kit Colbert, vice president and cloud CTO of VMware’s Cloud Platforms business unit. “We’ve created a holistic solution that is bringing together years of VMware investments.”

In a broad view, VMware’s hybrid cloud platform enables enterprises to migrate and modernize applications across data centers, clouds and edge locations, while also simplifying cloud planning, deployment, costs and ongoing operations.

[Related: Pivotal, Carbon Black Acquisitions To Add $3 Billion To VMware’s SaaS, Hybrid Cloud Sales]

Powered by VMware Cloud Foundation, the new platform includes vRealize automation and operations solutions, the VMware Cloud Marketplace, and a slew of services including Horizon DaaS, AppDefense, Site Recovery, Wavefront by VMware, and a new CloudHealth Hybrid offering.

Craig Manahan, senior practice manager for RoundTower Technologies, a Cincinnati-based top VMware partner, said delivering VMware solutions through a singular experience will be a huge benefit to customers.

“Customers want more simplicity. To be able to manage everything in one place is huge—it takes the complexity out of it,” said Manahan. “VMware has some world-class solutions, the best solutions in many cases, but they’re not easy. They do require some management and some expertise. So any time that takes complexity out it’s a good thing, which looks like what the platform is all about.”

The VMware hybrid cloud platform can be leveraged for the public cloud and infrastructure as a service via Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, IBM Cloud and in VMware environments. It can also be used on-premises in data center and edge environments through VMware Cloud on AWS, VMware Cloud on Dell EMC and through various VMware hardware partners.

The platform supports all operating models including being managed by the customer, channel partner or VMware.

New services for the VMware's hybrid cloud platform include CloudHealth Hybrid, which extends cost optimization, migration assessment and security functionality that CloudHealth delvers in public cloud environments to now VMware cloud environments. Another new service is VMware Cloud Solutions, designed to streamline cloud adoption by giving customers access to integrated solutions around managed Kubernetes, Disaster Recovery as a Service and Desktop as a Service, to name a few.

Newly enhanced solutions available on VMware's hybrid cloud platform include vRealize Operations 8.0 for self-driving hybrid cloud and hyper-converged infrastructure operations as well as multi-cloud monitoring. Another improved offering is vRealize Automation 8.0 for container-based microservices aimed at boosting operational agility and developer productivity with new ServiceNow, Terraform and Git integrations.

“Making it easier to use and have it integrate with things like ServiceNow is a huge step forward,” said RoundTower’s Manahan. “All of this elimination of complexity for both customers and partners is great for the channel.”

VMware’s Colbert said the new platform is aimed at helping channel partners become more strategic with their customers.

“The entire industry is moving up the stack. We’re talking to a lot of channel partners across the board around how do we help them and ourselves be more strategic to our customers?” said Colbert. “Historically, we focused on the software-defined data center, kind of single location—but now we’re able to uplevel in being able to tackle these higher-level concerns. That’s really where a lot of our channel partners will benefit because now they can have those more strategic discussions.”

VMware's hybrid cloud platform was unveiled Monday at VMWorld 2019 in San Francisco, which runs from Aug. 25 to Aug. 29.