Navigating Broadcom’s VMware Price Increases:

Navigating Broadcom’s VMware Price Increases:

Why It’s Time for Companies to Consider Hyperconvergence

The IT landscape for small and mid-sized businesses is rapidly changing, and not always for the better. Broadcom’s recent overhaul of VMware’s licensing model has raised significant concerns among small businesses operating with fewer than 72 CPU cores. If your business relies on VMware for virtualization, it’s time to take a hard look at your costs and consider more efficient alternatives; especially hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI).

The Problem: A New Pricing Reality for VMware Users

72 Core Minimum

In early 2025, Broadcom announced that the minimum core purchase requirement for VMware licenses would increase from 16 to 72 cores. This change means that small businesses with modest server infrastructures will have to pay for more cores than they use, leading to substantial cost increases. For many small businesses, this increase bumps their renewals from roughly $2,000 to $10,000.

Continued Challenges for Small Businesses

Small businesses will face other challenges due to other changes in VMware’s licensing model:

  • Subscription-Only Licensing: Broadcom has transitioned VMware’s licensing from perpetual to subscription-only models, eliminating the option for one-time purchases.
  • Bundled Offerings: The consolidation of VMware’s product offerings into bundled solutions may force small businesses to pay for services they do not need, further escalating costs.
  • Late Renewal Penalties: Broadcom has introduced a 20% penalty for customers who do not renew their subscription licenses by the anniversary date, adding financial pressure on small businesses. Some customers are receiving “cease and desist” notices from Broadcom.

For many companies, this creates a perfect storm of higher costs, less flexibility, and more complexity—a combination that’s driving many to reevaluate their entire virtualization strategy.

The Solution: Hyperconvergence as a Smarter Alternative

If you’re facing a VMware-related budget crunch, now is the perfect time to consider hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) as a more scalable, cost-effective alternative, such as Scale Computing.

What is Hyperconvergence?

Hyperconvergence combines compute, storage, networking, and virtualization into a single, software-defined platform. Instead of managing separate components, HCI provides a unified solution that’s easier to scale, deploy, and support—especially for small IT teams.

Key Benefits of Switching to HCI:

  • Lower Total Cost of Ownership: You pay for what you actually use and eliminate expensive hardware and software silos.
  • Simplified Management: HCI platforms are built with centralized management interfaces, so your team can manage infrastructure more efficiently.
  • Improved Scalability: Easily add capacity as you grow—without overbuying today.
  • Enhanced Resilience: Built-in redundancy and failover mean less downtime and fewer disruptions.
  • Vendor Flexibility: Many HCI solutions are VMware-compatible but don’t require you to stay tied to Broadcom’s pricing model.

Popular HCI platforms like Scale Computing are rapidly gaining traction among companies, offering robust virtualization features without the VMware pricing baggage.

Hyperconverged infrastructure can often be deployed for less than you’re paying in licensing and support costs alone, with better long-term ROI.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Get Locked In—Explore Your Options Now

VMware’s new pricing structure is a clear signal that change is here, and likely not in the SMB’s favor. Instead of scrambling to meet new minimums, take this opportunity to modernize your infrastructure with a solution that aligns with your actual needs and budget.

We’re helping companies across industries assess their current environments and explore VMware exit strategies that include hyperconverged infrastructure and cloud-first models. To learn more about how to combat the rising VMware costs please do not hesitate to contact us HERE.

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How to Easily Use Microsoft 365 Copilot to Empower Your Businesses

Your business needs every advantage to stay productive, responsive, and competitive. Microsoft 365 Copilot brings the power of AI directly into the tools your team already uses — like Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and more — helping streamline operations, reduce manual tasks, and drive smarter decision-making.

Here’s how Copilot can make a big impact for small businesses:

1. Smarter Meetings in Microsoft Teams

Meetings are essential — but they often lead to lost time, unclear follow-ups, and inconsistent note-taking. Copilot transforms how small businesses approach meetings in Teams:

  • Instant Meeting Recaps: Missed a call? Copilot can summarize meetings with key takeaways, action items, and decisions.
  • Real-Time Assistance: During meetings, Copilot can highlight discussion points, answer questions, and even generate notes live.
  • Follow-Up Automation: Automatically draft follow-up emails or task lists based on what was discussed, so nothing slips through the cracks.

Result: Fewer missed details, faster follow-ups, and more productive collaboration.

2. Email Organization and Drafting in Outlook

Email overload is a common pain point for small business teams. Copilot streamlines inbox management and communication:

  • Email Summaries: Quickly catch up on long threads without reading every message.
  • Draft Assistance: Copilot helps write, edit, or even rephrase emails to match the tone and intent — saving time and improving clarity.
  • Prioritization Help: It can highlight urgent emails or suggest what needs action first.

Result: Clean inboxes, better communication, and more time focused on what matters.

3. Document Creation Made Easy

Creating professional documents can take hours. Copilot helps generate content in Word and PowerPoint quickly and accurately:

  • First Drafts in Seconds: Start a proposal, report, or presentation by simply telling Copilot what you need to generate a structured first draft.
  • Edit and Improve: Copilot can rework paragraphs, improve clarity, or tailor content for specific audiences.
  • Consistent Branding: It can help apply your business’s tone, formatting, and structure across all materials.

Result: Faster document creation with a polished, professional finish.

4. Smarter Data Work in Excel

Not every small business has a data analyst — and now, you don’t need one.

  • Natural Language Queries: Ask questions like “What were our top-selling products last quarter?” and get instant answers.
  • Automated Insights: Copilot finds trends, creates charts, and helps make data-driven decisions without needing advanced Excel skills.

Result: Insights made simple — no pivot tables required.

5. Time Saved Across the Board

Small business teams wear many hats. With Copilot handling routine tasks and heavy lifting across the M365 platform, your team gets time back:

  • Reduce repetitive work
  • Make meetings and emails more efficient
  • Focus more on customers, strategy, and growth

Is Your Business Ready for Microsoft Copilot?

Copilot isn’t just for large enterprises. For small businesses using Microsoft 365, it’s a powerful way to scale productivity without scaling headcount. As your trusted Microsoft partner, we can help you:

  • Assess readiness and licensing
  • Train your team on Copilot use cases
  • Ensure data governance and security are in place

If you are interested in optimizing Copilot for your business, please reach out to us HERE.

Enter to win a free Lenovo Windows 11 Laptop! #Windows11

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Why Lenovo is the Perfect Choice for Your Windows 11 Upgrade

As company prepares to upgrade to Windows 11, choosing the right PC is critical for a smooth transition. Lenovo offers a wide range of laptops and desktops that are perfectly suited for Windows 11, providing enhanced performance, security, and user experience.

Benefits of Lenovo:

  1. Reliability and Durability: Lenovo devices are known for their reliability and durability, making them a trusted choice for businesses. With rigorous testing and high-quality materials, Lenovo laptops and desktops are built to last.
  2. Advanced Security Features: Lenovo devices come with advanced security features such as TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and built-in biometric authentication, ensuring that your data is protected against modern threats.
  3. Superior Performance: Equipped with the latest processors, ample RAM, and fast storage options, Lenovo devices deliver superior performance, allowing users to run multiple applications smoothly and efficiently.
  4. User-Friendly Design: Lenovo laptops and desktops are designed with the user in mind, offering ergonomic keyboards, high-resolution displays, and intuitive interfaces that enhance productivity and comfort.

Don’t Wait – Act Now
For those who cannot upgrade or due to computer price increases tariffs, you will be able to extend your Windows 10 security patches for 1 year per Microsoft at a cost of $61.  For more information, please email info@nevtec.com!

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Windows 10 end of life

The Dangers of Not Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 

Once Microsoft ends support for Windows 10, businesses still using it will face risks and issues, including:

Risks of Not Upgrading:

  • Increased Security Risks: Without regular security updates and patches, you are at risk for more cyberattacks. In October when Windows 10 reaches end of life, Microsoft will no longer provide security patches and updates to Windows 10 machines putting you and your company at greater risk of a cyber-attack.
  • Compliance : Increased industry regulations and compliance requirements require you to upgrade your OS or you many face fines. By not updating your end-of-life Windows 10 operating system, you may not meet your regulatory requirements, putting your risk of non-compliance.
  • Performance Dips: Windows 10 machines will have trouble running the more powerful Windows 11.  Keeping Windows 10 machines to save money will cost you more in lost productivity and downtime.
  • No More Technical Support: Microsoft ends support of Windows 10 in October. If you do have an issue with Windows 10, you will not be able to reach out to Microsoft for support to resolve the issue.

Tariff increases predicted to increase workstation and software licensing prices by as much as 25% in the next six months. Most or all your Windows 10 machines will not successfully run the more robust and powerful operating system of Windows 11.

The time to plan, budget, procure and execute your Windows 10 upgrade is now. Don’t risk downtime, lost productivity, and lost revenue. Plan your upgrade today.

For those who cannot upgrade or due to computer price increases tariffs, you will be able to extend your Windows 10 security patches for 1 year per Microsoft at a cost of $61.  For more information, please email info@nevtec.com!

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Windows 10 End of Life Is Here – Time is Running Out – Upgrade Now

With Windows 10 reaching its end of life in October 2025, you need to act now to prevent security and  compliance risks, plus performance issues. Continuing to run an unsupported operating system could expose your business to disruptions and avoidable issues. If you haven’t planned your Windows 11 upgrade, the time is now.

The Risks of Windows 10

  • No More Security Updates: Without Microsoft’s security patches, Windows 10 systems will be vulnerable to cyber threats, including malware and ransomware attacks.
  • Compliance Violations: Industries requiring regulatory compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS) may face penalties for running an unsupported OS.
  • Performance Decline: Over time, system performance may deteriorate, leading to decreased productivity and software compatibility issues.
  • Lack of Technical Support: Microsoft will no longer provide assistance, leaving businesses to handle issues independently.

Windows 11: The Future of Business Compute

Upgrading to Windows 11 now will eliminate risks and unlock cool new features designed to enhance security, efficiency, and productivity growth:

  • Enhanced Security Features: Built-in protections such as TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and increased malware detection help protect your sensitive data.
  • Performance Optimization: Windows 11 offers faster processing, improved multitasking, and an upgraded Start Menu for a better user experience.
  • Cloud & Collaboration Tools: You can easily leverage  Microsoft 365, OneDrive, and Teams for improved teamwork and remote work capabilities.
  • Secure Your IT Infrastructure: Ongoing support and feature updates keep your systems efficient and secure.

How to Upgrade Now Before it’s Too Late

  1. Assess Your Windows 10 Machines: The PC Health Check Tool will determine if your current Windows 10 machines will accommodate Windows 11. Prepare to replace those machines. The Windows 11 operating system is more robust than Windows 10 and require more compute power.
  2. Back Up Your Data First: Don’t risk data loss or upgrade disruptions. Back up all your machines before you start upgrading just in case you run into an issue and need to recover that data.
  3. Plan a Phased Rollout: Start with a few machines, test the upgrade, work through the issues and improve your plan so the rest of the upgrades are easier.
  4. Train Employees: Help staff adapt to Windows 11’s new features so they can adapt to the new OS immediately.
  5. Hire Upgrade Experts: We have performed dozens of seamless Windows 10 upgrades to Windows 11 for many businesses of different sizes and industries. We will make it easy for you.

Don’t Wait – Act Now

For those who cannot upgrade or due to computer price increases tariffs, you will be able to extend your Windows 10 security patches for 1 year per Microsoft at a cost of $61.  For more information, please email info@nevtec.com!

 

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