Title

AWS re:Invent 2022 - All you need to know about architecting VMware Cloud on AWS deployment (PRT252)

Summary

• Overview of VMware Cloud on AWS: Sonali Desai introduced the service, highlighting its role in IT modernization and digital transformation. The service offers VMware's software-defined data center (SDDC) on AWS's bare metal EC2 instances, providing performance and scalability akin to on-premises environments.
• Customer Experience: Vikash Verma from Johnson & Johnson shared insights on their cloud migration journey, emphasizing the importance of a Cloud First strategy, the benefits of cloud migration, and advice for cloud adoption at scale.
• Technical Deep Dive: Oleg Olenov delved into the technical aspects of VMware Cloud on AWS, covering configuration maximums, elasticity, storage options, networking, migration, disaster recovery, ransomware protection, and the new VMware Cloud Flex Compute service.
• Key Use Cases: The service supports various use cases such as cloud migration, data center extension, virtual desktops, disaster recovery, and ransomware recovery.
• Pricing and Packaging: The service offers flexible consumption options, including on-demand hourly rates and one or three-year subscriptions, with a recent introduction of flexible subscriptions.
• Global Expansion and Compliance: VMware Cloud on AWS has expanded to 21 global regions, achieved 16+ global compliance certifications, and continues to grow.
• Customer Stories: Success stories from the College of New Jersey and Merrick & Company were shared, highlighting significant cost savings and improved disaster recovery capabilities.
• VMware Cloud on AWS Outposts: A new solution for customers with specific needs such as low latency applications, local data processing, or regulatory requirements, allowing them to run VMware SDDC software on AWS Outpost infrastructure in their own data centers.

Insights

• Digital Transformation and IT Modernization: The session underscored the critical role of modern applications and infrastructure in achieving digital transformation, with VMware Cloud on AWS positioned as a key enabler.
• Challenges in Cloud Migration: The talk highlighted common challenges faced by organizations during cloud migration, including operational inconsistencies, delivering enterprise applications, and application modernization.
• Operational Consistency: A significant advantage of VMware Cloud on AWS is the operational consistency it offers with on-premises environments, minimizing the learning curve and facilitating faster migrations.
• Integration with AWS Services: The service provides seamless integration with AWS services, allowing customers to leverage AWS's native capabilities for application modernization.
• Focus on Performance and Availability: The technical deep dive emphasized the importance of performance and availability, with features like stretch clusters and automatic policy management to ensure SLAs are met.
• Elasticity and Scalability: The service's elasticity, allowing for rapid scaling of resources to meet demand, was highlighted as a key benefit, particularly for use cases like virtual desktops and disaster recovery.
• Networking and Migration Tools: The session detailed the comprehensive networking options and migration tools available, which are crucial for integrating VMware Cloud on AWS with existing on-premises and cloud environments.
• Cost Savings and TCO: The presentation provided evidence of cost savings and lower total cost of ownership (TCO) when using VMware Cloud on AWS compared to other cloud options, backed by studies from Forrester and IDC.
• Customer-Centric Approach: The inclusion of customer experiences and stories demonstrated a customer-centric approach, showcasing real-world benefits and practical advice for cloud adoption.
• Continuous Innovation: The announcement of VMware Cloud on AWS Outposts and VMware Cloud Flex Compute service indicated a commitment to continuous innovation and addressing diverse customer needs.