For organizations already invested in Microsoft, Azure is often the first destination considered when a Broadcom renewal lands. The key decision is whether you keep VMware running (on Azure VMware Solution) or leave it behind (native Azure). Each path has a different effort profile, a different cost curve, and a different answer to "are we actually off VMware?"
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AVS vs. native Azure
| Azure VMware Solution | Native Azure (IaaS) | |
|---|---|---|
| What runs | Full vSphere, vSAN, NSX on Azure bare metal | Standard Azure VMs on Hyper-V-based fabric |
| Migration method | HCX bulk move / live migration, no conversion | Azure Migrate replication and cutover |
| Effort | Low | Medium |
| Off VMware? | No, VMware licensing continues | Yes |
| Best for | Speed, DR, data-center exit on a deadline | Long-term Microsoft-native consolidation |
A common pattern is to land on AVS first to hit a renewal or data-center exit deadline, then selectively modernize workloads into native Azure over time. That sequencing buys speed now without locking out the cleaner end state later.
The tools that do the work
- Azure Migrate. The free, first-party hub for discovery, dependency visualization, right-sizing recommendations, and agentless or agent-based replication of VMware VMs into native Azure.
- VMware HCX. Used with Azure VMware Solution for large-scale lift-and-shift, including bulk and live migration into the AVS private cloud.
- Azure Database Migration Service. Moves SQL Server and other databases into Azure SQL Database or Managed Instance with minimal downtime.
Cost and the Microsoft advantage
The migration project follows the usual per-VM math (see the migration cost guide). What sets Azure apart is how much existing Microsoft licensing can offset the run cost:
| Lever | Impact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Azure Hybrid Benefit | Major | Apply Windows Server and SQL licenses with Software Assurance to Azure or AVS |
| Reserved Instances (1/3 yr) | Up to ~one third to ~two thirds off | Applies to native VMs and AVS nodes |
| Right-sizing at cutover | 20–40% typical | Azure Migrate flags over-provisioned VMware VMs |
| Egress and inter-region traffic | Watch closely | Hybrid and cross-region patterns add up fast |
The comparison nobody runs: staying on VMware for less
If the goal is to escape Broadcom pricing rather than to be on Azure specifically, price the managed-VMware option first. A VCSP provider keeps vSphere intact and delivers savings against a Broadcom-direct renewal quickly, with far less project risk than a hyperscaler move. See our VMware vs. Azure VMware Solution comparison and the full alternatives matrix for the side-by-side.
How to decide
Compare 3-year TCO, not migration price: status quo (Broadcom renewal × 3 plus hardware) against each Azure path (one-time migration plus run cost × 3, net of Hybrid Benefit). Run your numbers in the free cost calculator, or get a priced comparison across Azure, the other hyperscalers, and managed VMware with a free assessment.