Ready for VMware Explore 2024?  Are you attending the show?  If so, make sure to get Microsoft on your MUST SEE list.

VMware Explore 2024 is back!  And once again, the event will take place at the Venetian Convention and Expo Center in Las Vegas, August 26-29, 2024.

Get ahead of the game by reading this exclusive pre-show interview between VMblog and Liam Sosinsky, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Azure at Microsoft.

 

VMblog:  If you were giving a VMware Explore attendee a quick overview of the company, what would you say?  How would you describe the company?

Liam Sosinsky:  Microsoft is a global technology company known for its software, hardware, and cloud services. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. This mission drives Microsoft's efforts to innovate and provide solutions that enhance productivity, collaboration, and digital transformation.

When it comes to cloud migration, Microsoft offers a suite of tools and services through its Azure platform. The Azure Migration and Modernization Program helps organizations move their workloads to the cloud efficiently and securely. This program provides resources for every stage of the migration process, including assessment, planning, and deployment.

Key benefits of migrating to Azure include:

• Cost savings: Reduce infrastructure costs by leveraging Azure's pay-as-you-go model.
• Scalability: Easily scale resources up or down based on demand.
• Security: Benefit from Azure's robust security features and compliance certifications. Learn more >
• Innovation: Access advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and analytics to drive business growth.

VMblog:  As a VMware Explore 2024 sponsor, what does that sponsorship look like?  Will you have a large delegation at this year's event?  Do you have a theme for your booth?  What do you have planned at your booth?

Sosinsky:  As a Diamond sponsor at VMware Explore, Microsoft is excited to offer a variety of engaging sessions. Our experts will host: 2 hands on labs, 1 90-minute tutorial, 6 breakout sessions, 2 meet the experts sessions, and 28 in-booth theater sessions across the conference. At our booth, attendees will have the chance to learn about Azure VMware Solution with specific topics on HCX migration, external storage and BCDR, networking and security, and integrations with AI and Azure Services. With over 38 Microsoft employees present, we look forward to connecting with customers throughout the event.

VMblog:  What made your company sponsor VMware Explore this year?  Why is this a must sponsor event for your company?

Sosinsky:  As a proud partner to VMware, Microsoft has been a sponsor of VMware Explore since 2019 and remains committed to providing solutions for our shared customers.

VMblog: What key challenges are companies facing today? What examples can you cite? 

Sosinsky:  Many companies are grappling with rising infrastructure demands and the end of security support, which strain IT budgets and staff. Older on-premises workloads, often monolithic applications, require expensive and time-consuming refactoring to migrate to the cloud. A 2021 Forrester TEI study highlights that many organizations are not equipped to refactor VMware workloads due to limited time, personnel, and the risk of business disruption.

VMblog:  Do you have any speaking sessions during the event?  If so, can you give us the details?

Sosinsky:  I am excited to host six sessions at VMware Explore. In these sessions, I will introduce customers to the Azure VMware Solution and collaborate with product experts to address their questions. The topics will cover migration best practices, securing VMware workloads in Azure, networking, disaster recovery, integrating with data and AI services in Azure, and an overview of our extensive partner ecosystem of third-party services.

VMblog:  What are you personally most interested in seeing or learning at VMware Explore?

Sosinsky:  I am eager to connect with customers, understand their challenges, and learn about their aspirations regarding VMware workloads. With the rapid market changes and the rise of AI, I am particularly interested in hearing about customers' long-term platform strategies and the value they hope to achieve in the cloud. From a broader Microsoft perspective, I am keen to discover how customers are integrating their Azure VMware Solution workloads with our data and AI services.

VMblog:  Can you give us the high-level rundown of your company's technology offerings?  What kind of message will an attendee hear from you this year?

Sosinsky:  At Microsoft, we offer a suite of technology solutions designed to empower businesses in their digital transformation journey. Our key offerings include cloud services, AI and machine learning, data analytics, cybersecurity, and productivity tools.

In the context of Azure VMware Solution, attendees will hear about how this service enables seamless migration and integration of VMware workloads to Azure. We will highlight the benefits of leveraging Azure's robust infrastructure, including enhanced security, scalability, and access to advanced AI and data services. Our message this year focuses on helping customers optimize their IT investments, streamline operations, and unlock new opportunities through cloud innovation.

VMblog:  Talking about your product solutions, can you give readers a few examples of how your offerings are unique?  What are your differentiators?  What sets you apart from the competition?

Sosinsky:  Azure VMware Solution (AVS) stands out in several key ways:

Integration with Azure Services: AVS offers integrations with a wide array of Azure services, including AI, machine learning, and data analytics. This allows customers to enhance their VMware workloads with advanced capabilities that are native to Azure.

Save with Existing Licensing Benefits: We honor your existing investments through programs like the Azure Hybrid Benefit. This allows you to use your on-premises Windows Server and SQL Server licenses with Azure services at no additional cost. Plus, you can get up to 3 years of free security updates for Windows Server and SQL Server 2012.

Managed Service: Unlike offerings like Oracle Cloud VMware Solution, which requires customers to manage their own environments, AVS is a fully managed service. This means Microsoft handles the infrastructure management, allowing customers to focus on their applications and business needs.

Security and Compliance: AVS benefits from Azure's robust security framework and compliance certifications. This ensures that VMware workloads are protected by industry-leading security measures such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), extended detection and response platforms such as Microsoft Defender, access management, and endpoint protection; all of which help meet various regulatory requirements.

Global Reach: Azure has a vast global footprint with over 60+ data centers; more regions than any other cloud provider. This extensive reach allows customers to deploy their VMware workloads closer to their users, improving performance and compliance.

Hybrid Capabilities: AVS supports hybrid cloud scenarios, enabling seamless connectivity between on-premises environments and the Azure cloud. This is particularly beneficial for organizations looking to gradually migrate their workloads to the cloud.

VMblog:  What specifically does your company offer a VMware shop or a VMware implementation?  What problems do you solve for them?

Sosinsky:  Microsoft offers a broad portfolio of services for VMware workloads. First and foremost, we offer Azure VMware Solution, a first-party Azure service mirrors on-premises VMware technology, simplifying the transition with a monthly subscription that includes all VMware licenses within Azure compute costs. It's an attractive option for those with existing VMware expertise and developing cloud skills, as it requires no application refactoring or reskilling.

For customers that have workloads that must remain on-premises, we offer two unique solutions that stand out from other on-premises services. Our goal with these on-premises options is not to replace a customer's datacenter, but to provide solutions that function effectively at the edge, bringing Azure services to the customers on-premises environment.

For VMware workloads that need to stay on-premises, Azure Arc for VMware vSphere offers an extendable solution. It enhances VMware vSphere environments with Azure's robust security, governance, and management features, and also enables self-service access for VMware vSphere resources, facilitating full virtual machine lifecycle operations through Azure.

For specific on-premises scenarios where cloud migration isn't feasible, Azure Stack HCI is another solution.

Azure Arc connects across these options, providing a common management plane that supports innovation everywhere with consistent development, operations, and security.

VMblog:  How does your company work with VMware?  Where do you fit within the VMware ecosystem?

Sosinsky:  Microsoft and Broadcom have partnered closely for many years to support our mutual customers, and we continue to build and innovate together as customer needs change. Together, we have brought to market Azure VMware Solution (AVS). Azure VMware Solution (AVS) is a Microsoft service, certified by VMware, that provides a VMware-consistent environment within Azure. It allows you to easily move your VMware-based workloads from your datacenter to Azure, integrating your VMware environment with Azure without minimal disruption. 

VMblog:  VMworld has typically been a launching platform for new products.  At VMware Explore, will your company be announcing anything new?  If so, can you give us a sneak peek?  Or, have you launched anything new recently that you can spotlight for us?

Sosinsky:  Microsoft and Broadcom are expanding the partnership with plans to support VMware Cloud Foundation subscriptions on Azure VMware Solution. Customers that have purchased a  VMware Cloud Foundation subscription,  will be able to use those licenses on Azure VMware Solution, as well as their own datacenters, giving them flexibility to meet changing business needs. 

Microsoft also recently announced the VMware Rapid Migration Plan, which is a comprehensive set of licensing benefits and programs to give customers price protection and savings as they migrate to Azure VMware Solution.

VMblog:  VMware gets the big stage to deliver their message during the keynote sessions.  If you were giving the keynote, what big topics would you discuss?  What big changes or trends do you see taking shape in the industry for 2024 and beyond?

Sosinsky:  If I were giving the keynote, I would focus on the following topics that are shaping the future of the industry:

Trend: Increased Adoption of AI and Automation

Topic: AI and Machine Learning Integration: The rise of AI and machine learning is fundamentally changing how businesses operate, gather insights, and improve processes. I would discuss how integrating these technologies with VMware workloads on Azure can drive innovation, enhance decision-making, and improve operational efficiency.

Trend: Expansion of Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Environments

Topic: Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Strategies: As organizations continue to adopt hybrid and multi-cloud environments, I would highlight the importance of seamless integration and interoperability. Azure VMware Solution (AVS) paired with Azure Arc offers robust capabilities to manage and optimize workloads across different cloud platforms, ensuring flexibility and resilience.

Trend: Focus on Cybersecurity

Topic: Security and Compliance: With increasing cyber threats, security remains a top priority. I would emphasize how AVS leverages Azure's comprehensive security framework to protect VMware workloads, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Trend: Sustainability Initiatives

Topic: Sustainability and Green IT: Environmental sustainability is becoming a critical focus for many organizations. I would discuss how migrating to the cloud and optimizing IT infrastructure with AVS can contribute to reducing carbon footprints and promoting green IT practices.

VMblog: As a show sponsor, do you have any tips for attendees to better prepare for the conference?

Sosinsky:  Before the conference, I recommend exploring the session catalog and planning which sessions to attend. Additionally, gather questions from colleagues who won't be attending, so you can address their queries as well. This approach will make your trip even more valuable.

Besides attending sessions and visiting the expo, consider reaching out to your cloud providers' account teams to schedule meetings. In-person opportunities to connect with experts can provide valuable guidance and strategic insights.

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