For the past decade, virtualization has helped hundreds of thousands of customers in simplifying the IT environment.

Today’s newer requirements are different, though.

Modern IT must adapt to support AI/ML-enabled applications, developer-driven requirements and modern threats, while at the same time having to take on more responsibilities with fewer people.

And so, to accelerate digital innovation for customers, Broadcom Inc. announced enhancements to its VMware Cloud Foundation, or VCF, platform, designed to support modern IT requirements by boosting operational efficiency, elevating security and supercharging workload performance.

The updated VCF focuses on three key areas - faster infrastructure modernization, improved developer productivity and enhanced cybersecurity with a low total cost of ownership (TCO).

VCF offers integrated compute, networking, storage, management and security for private cloud deployments. It includes native Kubernetes support for virtual machines and containerized workloads, along with features for advanced AI/ML and data services.

The update streamlines IT operations with features like continuous performance optimization, threat protection and advanced observability. VCF customers can use license portability to move subscriptions between on-premises environments and supported public clouds.

Here are the key enhancements:

• Modernize infrastructure: VCF Import allows integration of existing vSphere and vSAN environments for centralized management and resource optimization without a complete rebuild. Additionally, VCF now offers full support for vSAN Max and vSAN ESA stretched clusters. VCF Edge provides a tailored solution for edge computing to deliver scalable, cost-effective and consistent infrastructure management.
   
• Cloud experience for developers: The update simplifies application deployment with quick start templates, streamlined network integration and performance insights. VCF offers Tanzu Kubernetes Grid as an independent service to deliver faster access to the latest Kubernetes versions for developers. Enhancements to VCF networking enable rapid setup and configuration for modern network architectures. VMware Avi Load Balancer with VCF provides self-service load balancing for development and operations teams.
   
• Security and resilience: VCF with add-ons like VMware Live Recovery and vDefend strengthens private cloud security with features like high availability, malware protection and data protection. New ESXi Live Patching allows administrators to apply critical security patches without downtime. Flexible VCF Component upgrades provide access to the latest patches during version upgrades. Dual DPU support ensures continuity and protection against hardware failures. vSAN Data Protection simplifies VM recovery from accidental deletions or ransomware attacks. vDefend offers improved firewall scale, SIEM integration for enhanced east-west traffic protection and on-premises network detection and response for threat analysis. VMware Avi integration with SDDC Manager streamlines Avi software lifecycle management.

These updates to vSphere Foundatio bring faster patching with ESXi Live Patching, self-service infrastructure access for developers, faster access to latest Kubernetes versions through Tanzu Kubernetes Grid as an independent service, simplified management with a new console and improved user experience with single sign-on.

“With our latest release, VCF is delivering on key requirements driven by customer input,” said Paul Turner (News - Alert), Vice President of Products, VMware Cloud Foundation Division, Broadcom. “The new VCF Import functionality will be a game changer in accelerating VCF adoption and improving time to value. We are also delivering a set of new capabilities that helps IT more quickly meet the needs of developers without increasing business risk. This latest release of VCF puts us squarely on the path to delivering on the full promise of VCF for our customers.”

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 and VMware vSphere Foundation 5.2 are expected to be available in Broadcom’s (News - Alert) fiscal Q3FY24.