Transitioning from VMware to the AWS Cloud - AWS Prescriptive Guidance
ObjectivesIntended audience

Transitioning from VMware to the AWS Cloud

Amazon Web Services (contributors)

August 2025 (document history)

Notice:

As of April 30, 2024, VMware on AWS is no longer resold by AWS or its channel partners. The service continues to be available through Broadcom. We encourage you to reach out to your AWS representative for details.

The transition from VMware to the AWS Cloud represents a significant organizational transformation that extends beyond technology. Although chief technology officers (CTOs) recognize the operational benefits of cloud adoption, they often face two primary challenges: the technical learning curve and organizational change management. The journey requires strategic workforce development and cultural transformation.

This shift demands careful attention to upskilling existing teams, adapting operational processes, and implementing comprehensive change management strategies to ensure successful cloud adoption.

For organizations that are beginning their cloud journey to AWS, this guide examines the transition in three key sections:

  • On-premises operational analysis – Perform a systematic evaluation of existing infrastructure, operational practices, and business requirements to create a transformation baseline.

  • Transition to the AWS Cloud – Create a comprehensive migration blueprint that transforms VMware workloads to the AWS Cloud while ensuring business continuity and security.

  • Implementing IT operations in the AWS Cloud – Evolve traditional IT operations into cloud-optimized practices that maximize agility, efficiency, and innovation.

Objectives

This guide provides a comprehensive blueprint for organizations transitioning from VMware to the AWS Cloud. It delivers a structured framework to help you:

  • Map VMware workloads to AWS cloud-native services

  • Maintain operational stability during transformation

  • Implement cloud-optimized practices for long-term success

Intended audience

This guide is intended for technology leaders, cloud architects, and operations teams who are embarking on a journey to migrate their enterprise IT infrastructure to AWS. The guide assumes that you have knowledge and experience with VMware technologies, tools, and services for managing on-premises infrastructure.