Rimini Street published its "2026 IT Virtualization Survey – What's Next for VMware Users" today, showing 90 percent of VMware customers are exploring alternatives for their virtualization strategies. The shift follows Broadcom's acquisition of VMware and aggressive repricing of its licensing model.
Customers have reported cost increases as high as 1,000 percent since Broadcom took over, with many others experiencing hikes of 100 to 300 percent. For 73 percent of survey respondents, cost savings now rank as a top priority in virtualization roadmap decisions. Broadcom's decision to end perpetual license support prompted 54 percent of respondents to actively seek alternatives.
Yet exodus intentions clash with execution reality. Operational complexity blocks 40 percent of organizations exploring new virtualization options. Multi-vendor management challenges affect 38 percent, while securing the expanded attack surface and acquiring team skills requirements each pose hurdles for 37 percent. The math is stark: customer appetite for change far outpaces ability to execute it.
Sixty percent of surveyed organizations are considering a multi-hypervisor strategy, and 47 percent favor hybrid IT virtualization combining hypervisors and containers. The interest in architectural diversity reflects both operational and financial pressure—but also technical caution. Notably, 48 percent of respondents are not planning to move any assets to VMware's hybrid cloud platform, Cloud Foundation, suggesting reluctance to deepen commitment to Broadcom's ecosystem even among existing users.
Gartner analyst Tony Harvey previously characterized the Broadcom takeover as a "wake-up call" on single-vendor dependency, noting clients are seeking more diversity in on-premises environments.
The survey examined 300 organizations worldwide that use VMware and was conducted by third-party research company Unisphere Research. Rimini Street, which sells third-party support for VMware and other enterprise software, has financial incentive to highlight customer obstacles, but the findings align with broader reports on VMware customer sentiment.
