VMware Universal Cloud: 6 New Services, Tools, Subscriptions

From its new SaaS and subscription offering to a new cloud credit system to drive multi-cloud adoption, here’s six things about the VMware Universal Cloud you need to know.

VMware’s Answer To The ‘Next Evolution’ Of Cloud And Modern Apps

VMware is taking its multi-cloud portfolio and SaaS and subscription push to the next level with the launch of VMware Cloud Universal.

The Palo Alto, Calif.-based virtualization and hybrid cloud superstar unveiled a new Cloud Console, flexible subscription options and a new cloud credit system to make VMware the one-stop-shop for hybrid cloud software and subscription for customers.

“We are on the cusp of the next evolution of cloud and apps,” said Raghu Raghuram, chief operating officer, products and cloud services at VMware in a statement. “Architectures are becoming distributed and increasingly multi-cloud, while modern applications will soon outnumber traditional apps. The challenge for any CIO is to take advantage of this new innovation without introducing more complexity and risk.”

Here are the six biggest things to know about VMware’s new Cloud Universal subscription offering.

VMware Cloud Universal

VMware Cloud Universal is the company’s new flexible subscription offering aimed at simplifying the purchase and consumption of VMware’s multi-cloud infrastructure and management services. The subscription provides customers greater portability and flexibility to adopt cloud with a single operating model across clouds.

“With VMware Cloud Universal, customers make a single purchase and gain the ability to deploy apps across any environment, then move them as business or application requirements change,” said VMware’s Raghuram.

VMware Cloud Universal targets customers committed to a hybrid cloud architecture; have extended or variable cloud migration timelines; have cloud bursting requirements; or desire an opex model for on-premises infrastructure, according to VMware.

With VMware Cloud Universal, customers purchase credits for VMware’s multi-cloud infrastructure and management and apply these credits to deployments of VMware Cloud Foundation on-premises, VMware Cloud on Amazon Web Services (AWS), or VMware Cloud on Dell EMC.

The VMware Cloud Universal is available today in all English-speaking regions.

Cloud Foundation Credits; Converting On-Premise Licenses To Credits

To purchase VMware Cloud Universal subscriptions, customers buy credits for VMware software and services and apply them to deploy a VMware Cloud solution. Customers can buy once and deploy any eligible service at any time during the contract.

One key aspect of the credits is that customers can convert and apply unused on-premises Cloud Foundation credits towards VMware Cloud on AWS or VMware Cloud on Dell EMC at any point during the term.

For example, if a customer already purchased VMware Cloud Foundation Subscription for on-premises cloud infrastructure – the convertibility benefit provides the flexibility to convert and apply the remaining value towards a new VMware Cloud on AWS or VMware Cloud on Dell EMC subscription. This allows customers to change their deployment plans as needed

Convertibility of VMware Cloud Foundation Subscription to VMware Cloud on AWS is expected to be available in VMware’s first fiscal quarter 2022, while convertibility to VMware Cloud on Dell EMC will be available in the first half of VMware’s fiscal year 2022.

VMware Cloud Console

To support VMware’s new subscription sales motion, the company launched the VMware Cloud Console, a single, unified monitoring and management environment.

VMware said its Cloud Console delivers end-to-end visibility and control of all VMware Cloud infrastructure regardless of where its deployed whether on-premises, in the cloud or inside edge environments. The Cloud Console is an integrated portal where customers can allocate, manage, and better optimize all VMware Cloud resources.

In the new Cloud Console, customers can redeem credits, provision deployments of VMware Cloud Universal eligible offerings, and reach out to VMware support organizations.

The VMware Cloud Console is now generally available.

VMware App Navigator

VMware’s App Navigator is a new offering for assessing and prioritizing application transformation initiatives across an entire applications estate based on the value of each app.

The VMware App Navigator service helps businesses prioritize app modernization initiatives and deliver results faster. App Navigator takes an agile approach to portfolio analysis by using automated tooling and hands-on experimentation to plan just enough to get started, then quickly scale app and cloud transformation initiatives, VMware said.

During a typical engagement, customers will work alongside VMware practitioners to rationalize their app portfolio, identify modernization strategies and environments for different applications based on business and IT goals in order to build an outcome-oriented roadmap. The navigator enables customers to deliver on business needs faster, regardless of who does the work, and enables self-sufficiency to help minimize risk.

The VMware App Navigator is now generally available.

Other Features Inside Cloud Universal

There are a slew of additional benefits customers receive when selecting the VMware Cloud Universal in addition to cloud credits and convertibility.

The Cloud Universal has built-in Kubernetes with the VMware Tanzu Standard edition for simplified deployment and operations of Kubernetes.

Additionally, the offering has management and operations thanks to VMware’s vRealize Cloud Universal for SaaS-based multi-cloud management.

Lastly, customers have access to VMware Success 360, designed to help customers continually realize value and get faster outcomes. Success 360 includes design workshops, success planning and ongoing adoption guidance and support.

VMware Cloud

Initially launched several years ago, VMware Cloud is a multi-cloud platform that enables businesses to accelerate application modernization across any environment -- from the data center to the edge and on any cloud. The platform can be deployed both on-premises or in the cloud with unified security and operations that supports traditional and modern applications as well as connecting to all native cloud services.

“VMware Cloud is the only cloud solution today that customers can use in the datacenter and on any cloud, accelerating their modernization journey with speed, simplicity, and better security,” said VMware’s Raghuram.

With VMware Cloud, customers can deploy apps to VMware Cloud Foundation running in AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and Oracle Cloud; or on VMware Cloud on Dell EMC hardware; as well as across hundreds of VMware Cloud Verified partners. VMware’s Marketplace provides customers access to thousands of validated third party and open-source developer solutions.