I’ve got to say, the general session at VMware Explore was an absolute highlight for me, as it always is! It’s such a brilliant chance to really get under the skin of VMware’s vision and strategy, especially given everything that’s happened in the last year with the Broadcom acquisition.
Seeing Joe Baguley kick off the conference was fantastic. Right from the start, Joe put the spotlight on the community, specifically recognising vExperts and VMUG members as an element that has always helped VMware. His thanks to these communities felt genuine, and it was clear he sees them as a vital part of VMware’s future alongside Broadcom.
Then, Hock Tan took the stage to talk about the last year since the acquisition. He didn’t sugar-coat things, acknowledging the changes and challenges, like pricing adjustments, that ruffled some feathers. But Hock’s message was direct: Broadcom is about innovation, and they’re building solutions that push the envelope. For some customers, that may mean paying for this added value, but for those that aren’t willing to pay the additional value, that’s okay, we move on. It was a strong and clear message that set up the rest of the session to showcase VMware’s commitment to do more for clients, but in a way that’s refreshingly simple.
Speaking of simplicity, a huge portion of the session was all about VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF). VMware really took client feedback to heart here. They know people love vSphere, but the rest felt complex. So, they’re streamlining the whole experience into one clean, centralised dashboard for everything. The upcoming VCF 9 was on display, and it looked like a game-changer. They’ve made it simpler to navigate, and the migration path for customers once VCF 9 goes live will be clearly laid out. It’s all about giving us the scale and agility of the public cloud with the security and performance of a private cloud—a vision they’re really committed to.
Then, Private AI took the spotlight with Chris Wolf, and I have to say, this was fascinating. We all know AI’s potential, but there’s this real tension with security, especially around public LLMs like ChatGPT. VMware seems to understand the balance customers want: harnessing AI’s creativity and innovation, but with a firm grip on security. Their focus is on becoming leaders in Private AI, empowering organisations to leverage AI within their own secure environments, aligned with their own data. It’s about getting the benefits of AI without the risks that public solutions might pose.
Finally, Joe returned to introduce vDefend and showed us how a built-in copilot can step up when a cyber incident hits. The copilot’s ability to answer questions, suggest fixes, and even implement solutions in real time could be a lifeline in a high-stress situation. One thing I really appreciated was how the copilot communicates in straightforward English, so you’re not left deciphering jargon during an already tense moment. My big takeaway here is how essential it is to have a tool that not only fixes the issue but also helps us understand and learn from it—this isn’t just about patching things up; it’s about building knowledge.
Overall, it was an impressive session. VMware’s focus is clear: simplifying the client experience while keeping security rock-solid. I’m genuinely excited to see where they’re heading and what’s next for us as users and partners.
Hear my thoughts in this video and make sure you follow me on X @BizTechMeg to keep up with what else I’m covering at VMware Explore 2024!
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