AWS re:Invent 2025 - AWS for VMware migrations: Successes, roadmaps, & strategies (MAM203)

AWS re:Invent 2025 - AWS for VMware Migrations: Successes, Roadmaps, & Strategies

Overview

• AWS is the longest-standing cloud provider helping customers migrate VMware workloads to the cloud
• There is no one-size-fits-all solution, as each organization has unique application, data, and infrastructure requirements
• AWS offers customers choice and flexibility in their cloud migration and modernization journeys

Migration Pathways

• Relocate VMware workloads with Amazon EVS for rapid lift-and-shift with minimal changes
• Rehost on Amazon EC2 leveraging AWS Transform for VMware to accelerate migrations
• Utilize enhanced agent-based AI capabilities for automated discovery, dependency mapping, and network translation
• Replatform to containers with Amazon ECS or Amazon EKS to modernize application architecture
• Leverage managed services like Amazon RDS, Amazon FSx, or Amazon Workspaces to reduce operational overhead
• Refactor and modernize applications with serverless and cloud-native services for agility and cost optimization

Customer Experiences

Envision Healthcare

• Fragmented infrastructure with 11+ data centers due to acquisitions and M&A activity
• Focused on consolidation, operational efficiencies, and cost savings through cloud migration
• Leveraged AWS tools like Transform for VMware, EC2, RDS, and partner support to enable rapid lift-and-shift
• Exited 2 data centers in 2025, plan to exit remaining 2 by end of 2026
• Upskilled teams through AWS Skill Builder and partnership programs

Arrow Mexico

• Decided against a lift-and-shift approach, instead focused on refactoring and replatforming critical workloads
• Utilized AWS EVS to rapidly migrate 96 servers and 50+ applications in 1 month with no operational impact
• Stretched on-premises network to the cloud using HCX technology for seamless migration
• Experienced performance improvements and enhanced security posture after the migration

University of California

• Faced urgent issues with underperforming HR/payroll and admissions systems that were crashing
• Rapidly migrated critical systems to AWS, resolving 60,000 vulnerabilities in the process
• Turned off a mainframe system, saving $3M annually
• Consolidated all workloads onto AWS, benefiting from improved performance, reduced costs, and better security

Lessons Learned

• Establish a centralized FinOps and governance model early to optimize cloud spend and security
• Leverage AWS programs like the Migration Acceleration Program (MAP) to access funding and technical resources
• Treat vendors as business partners, being transparent about challenges to unlock additional support
• Upskill teams through training like AWS Skill Builder and hands-on experience with cloud technologies
• Automate infrastructure provisioning and management through IaC tools like Terraform

Future Plans and Modernization

• Continuing to refactor and replatform remaining on-premises applications to cloud-native architectures
• Exploring options to further optimize and improve reliability of workloads running on Amazon EVS
• Leveraging AWS services like Amazon ECS, Amazon EKS, and AWS Transform for VMware to drive modernization
• Automating more of the infrastructure provisioning and management through IaC and CI/CD pipelines

Key Takeaways

• AWS provides the most comprehensive set of migration and modernization pathways for VMware workloads
• Customers are achieving significant benefits through cloud migration, including improved performance, reduced costs, and enhanced security
• Establishing centralized governance, leveraging AWS programs and partnerships, and upskilling teams are critical to successful cloud transformations
• Customers are continuing to modernize their remaining on-premises applications, leveraging cloud-native services and automation