As enterprises reassess their virtualization strategies, rising licensing costs, security concerns, and the need for greater flexibility are driving many organizations to explore alternatives to VMware. New research from Rimini Street, Inc. reveals that 90% of surveyed VMware users are considering other solutions due to higher licensing costs, highlighting a growing shift toward more flexible and cost-conscious IT environments.

The findings come from the 2026 IT Virtualization Survey – What’s Next for VMware Users, conducted by Unisphere Research on behalf of Rimini Street. The study surveyed 269 executives, managers, and IT professionals from organizations currently using VMware solutions between December 2025 and February 2026.

“Organizations want more choice, flexibility and control over their virtualization strategies,” said Keith Costello, EVP and chief operating officer of Rimini Street. He noted that organizations are seeking practical, vendor-independent approaches that help control costs, strengthen security, and extend existing investments without unnecessary disruption.

Rising Costs Drive Search For Alternatives

Cost remains the leading factor influencing virtualization decisions, with 73% of respondents identifying savings as a top priority. In addition to higher licensing costs, 54% cited the end of perpetual license support as a reason to evaluate other options.

However, transitioning to alternative platforms presents its own challenges. Respondents identified operational complexity (40%), multi-vendor management (38%), securing an expanded attack surface (37%), and workforce skills requirements (37%) as key barriers.

The findings suggest that organizations are not simply looking to replace one technology with another. Instead, they are weighing the financial benefits of change against the operational risks of managing increasingly complex IT environments.

Hybrid And Multi-Hypervisor Strategies Gain Ground

The survey points to growing interest in diversified virtualization environments, with 60% of respondents considering a multi-hypervisor strategy. Another 47% favor a hybrid IT virtualization environment combining hypervisors and containers to support different workloads.

Nearly half of respondents (48%) also said they do not currently plan to migrate any of their assets to VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF). This indicates that many organizations are taking a measured approach to modernization, considering their existing infrastructure, business requirements, and long-term operating models before committing to a specific platform.

As enterprises evaluate their options, virtualization strategies are increasingly incorporating a mix of on-premises infrastructure, private and public cloud, containers, and alternative hypervisors. This approach can give IT teams more flexibility in workload placement while supporting operational efficiency and cost management.

Third-Party Support Becomes Part Of The Strategy

Beyond platform decisions, organizations are also reassessing how they maintain and secure their existing VMware environments. According to the survey, 66% of respondents are currently using or considering third-party support.

The leading reasons include security (60%), installation and implementation support (57%), and service and support concerns (54%). These priorities reflect the challenges IT teams face in maintaining complex virtualized environments while managing emerging threats and ensuring business continuity.

A compromised virtual machine can potentially expose numerous guest machines, making virtualization infrastructure an important target for ransomware and other advanced threats. Against this backdrop, 77% of IT virtualization security leaders said they would see value in a security solution offering real-time threat visibility and proactive vulnerability protection rather than relying solely on Broadcom’s patching program.

The findings point to demand for security approaches that complement existing infrastructure strategies while giving organizations greater control over risk management and support.

“The shift for current VMware users is not simply about replacing one vendor with another. It reflects a broader effort by enterprises to reduce dependency on a single provider, maintain continuity for mission-critical systems and modernize at a pace that fits their own business requirements,” said Joe McKendrick, lead analyst at Unisphere Research.

For many organizations, the challenge is balancing support for existing systems with investments that improve resilience, security, and scalability over time.

A More Flexible Future For Enterprise IT

The survey underscores a broader shift in enterprise virtualization: organizations increasingly want the freedom to determine how their infrastructure evolves, rather than follow a single vendor’s roadmap. Cost control, security, operational continuity, and workload flexibility are becoming central considerations as IT leaders plan their next steps.

For VMware users, the path forward may involve a combination of existing platforms, alternative hypervisors, hybrid environments, and third-party support. The goal is to modernize at a pace that aligns with business priorities while preserving the value of current investments.

The full 2026 IT Virtualization Survey – What’s Next for VMware Users report is available for download from Rimini Street.

About Rimini Street

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI) is a global provider of enterprise software support, managed services, and Agentic AI ERP solutions. The company is a leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP, and VMware software, serving organizations across the public and private sectors. Through its Rimini Smart Path methodology, the company helps clients pursue operational improvements, reduce costs, and fund innovation, including AI initiatives.

For more information, visit Rimini Street.