Are You Still Using VMware Tanzu? (And Is Now the Time to Migrate?)

Many organizations used VMware Tanzu when they were seeking to modernize their applications and infrastructure. This suite of products and services was designed to help organizations build, manage, and run modern applications on Kubernetes across multi-cloud and on-premises environments. As we move into 2025, it’s a good time to examine whether VMware Tanzu is still the best choice for your organization—or if it’s time to consider the other alternatives available in the market.

VMware Tanzu Today

VMware Tanzu provides a comprehensive portfolio of products and services that help organizations reach modernization goals. The platform includes tools for Kubernetes operations, application development, and cloud management.

Relatively recent developments in the Tanzu ecosystem include:

• The introduction of Tanzu Transformer (formerly VMware Aria Migration), which helps improve application discovery and migration performance across multiple clouds.
• Continued integration with existing VMware products, making it an attractive option for organizations already invested in the VMware ecosystem.
• Ongoing support for full-fledged Kubernetes distribution through Tanzu Kubernetes Grid.

VMware Tanzue simplifies Kubernetes management at scale, enables DevOps workflows and automation, and supports modern application development with microservices and containerization.

Why Consider Migrating from VMware Tanzu?

Despite its powerful tools for managing Kubernetes, there are also potential drawbacks. Let’s walk through the most common concerns organizations may have with the VMware Tanzu ecosystem.

1. Cost Considerations & Licensing Complexity

• VMware Tanzu can be expensive, especially for smaller companies or startups.
• The cost of licensing and maintaining Tanzu can be significant, especially for large-scale deployments.
• Licensing can be complex, requiring multiple subscriptions depending on the features needed.

2. Steep Learning Curve

• Some users report that the initial setup and configuration can be quite challenging and require a lot of manual configuration
• Tanzu has a broad suite of tools, which can be overwhelming for teams unfamiliar with the VMware ecosystem.
• It requires specialized expertise in VMware products, Kubernetes, and cloud-native development.
• Integrating various Tanzu components with existing infrastructure and applications can be complex, requiring careful planning and potentially significant effort.

3. Vendor Lock-in Concerns

• Organizations already using VMware may find Tanzu convenient, but it ties them further into the VMware ecosystem.
• Migrating away from Tanzu in the future could be complex and costly.
• Some organizations may be wary of becoming too dependent on a single vendor's ecosystem, preferring more open or multi-vendor solutions.

4. Multi-Cloud Environment Complexity

• While Tanzu supports multiple clouds, some organizations find it less flexible than vendor-neutral Kubernetes solutions, such as OpenShift or Rancher.
• Managing Tanzu alongside other Kubernetes distributions can introduce additional complexity.

5. Alternative Kubernetes Solutions

As cloud-native technologies evolve, there are now several compelling alternatives to Tanzu that offer similar or even enhanced capabilities, often with a more streamlined approach.

• Managed Kubernetes Services: Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), and Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) offer fully managed Kubernetes with built-in scaling, security, and integration with cloud-native services.
• Open-Source Solutions: Kubernetes distributions, including K3s, OpenShift, and Rancher provide more control and flexibility for different types of deployments.

6. Performance Overhead

• Some users report that Tanzu adds operational overhead compared to leaner Kubernetes distributions.
• Features like Tanzu Mission Control introduce additional layers that may not be necessary for all organizations.

Alternatives to Consider

If you're thinking about migrating away from VMware Tanzu, here are some of the top alternatives:

Red Hat OpenShift: A robust, Kubernetes-based platform with additional abstraction layers that simplify the developer experience.

• Full Kubernetes platform with built-in security and automation.
• Supports hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Integrated developer tools and CI/CD pipelines.
• Enterprise support from Red Hat.
• Licensing costs can be high; requires OpenShift expertise.

Rancher (SUSE): Offers multi-cluster Kubernetes management with flexibility.

• Open-source and cloud-agnostic.
• Simple UI and automation for managing multiple Kubernetes clusters.
• Lightweight and easy to set up.
• Works with EKS, AKS, GKE, and on-prem Kubernetes.
• Lacks some enterprise features, including deep security policies; requires additional tools for advanced monitoring.

Amazon EKS: Excellent choice for AWS-native Kubernetes workloads.

• Fully managed Kubernetes on AWS.
• Deep integration with AWS services (IAM, networking, monitoring).
• Scales with AWS infrastructure.
• AWS lock-in; requires AWS-specific expertise.

Azure AKS: Excellent choice for organizations already using Microsoft Azure and the Microsoft ecosystem.

• Managed Kubernetes with automatic scaling and security.
• Seamless integration with Azure DevOps, networking, and security.
• Cost-effective for Azure customers.
• Azure-specific features make migration difficult; some operational overhead.

Google GKE: Excellent choice for cloud-native Kubernetes with AI/ML and big data integrations.

• Autopilot mode for automated cluster management.
• Native integration with Google Cloud Platform services.
• Simple deployment and straightforward pricing.
• Google Cloud dependency; less control over configurations.

Mirantis Kubernetes Engine: Good choice for organizations transitioning from Docker Swarm to Kubernetes.

• Enterprise-grade Kubernetes for hybrid and multi-cloud.
• Strong container security and lifecycle management.
• Works with Swarm and Kubernetes simultaneously.
• Smaller ecosystem compared to OpenShift or cloud providers.

Factors to Consider When Migrating

If you're thinking about migrating from VMware Tanzu, take the following steps first:

1. Assess Your Current Stack: Make sure you have a clear understanding of your applications, services, and their dependencies.
2. Evaluate Cloud Readiness: Identify which applications are suitable for cloud migration and which may need to remain on-premises.
3. Analyze Existing Cloud Usage: Identify what cloud providers or tools you’re already using to determine which platform might be the best fit for your organization.
4. Consider Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Strategies: Determine if a hybrid or multi-cloud approach might better serve your organization's needs.
5. Analyze Total Cost of Ownership: Compare the long-term costs of staying with Tanzu versus migrating to an alternative solution.
6. Assess Team Skills: Consider your team's expertise and the learning curve associated with adopting a new platform.

Is VMware Tanzu Still Right for You?

While VMware Tanzu continues to be a powerful platform for application modernization and infrastructure management, acquisitions and shifts in the market are causing many organizations to consider other options. In addition, the rapidly evolving cloud-native landscape now offers multiple compelling and robust alternatives. Organizations should carefully evaluate their specific needs, long-term strategy, and the total cost of ownership when deciding whether to stick with Tanzu or migrate to a different solution.

Ultimately, the decision to migrate from VMware Tanzu should be based on a thorough analysis of your organization's unique requirements, future growth plans, and the potential benefits offered by alternative platforms. Staying agile and open to new technologies will be key to maintaining a competitive edge in the years to come.

If you’d like to migrate from VMware Tanzu to one of the alternative Kubernetes offerings, but don’t want to build the in-house teams required to build, deploy, and maintain it, consider Managed Kubernetes-as-a-Service. Fairwinds will ensure that your adoption goes smoothly so you can focus on your business, not your infrastructure.