Remember when we were all told, “Everything is moving to public cloud, private cloud is dead”?
Well… fast forward a few years, and the pendulum is swinging back. Cloud bills are exploding, data privacy is more critical than ever, and many customers are realizing: control, predictability, and performance still matter. Enter: VMware Cloud Foundation 9.
This is not just another version bump. It's a real architectural milestone. And as someone who’s been deep in the trenches of private cloud deployments for over a decade—and recently knighted into the Broadcom Knight Program—I can say this release feels different.
Let me walk you through the highlights of VCF 9 in a way that doesn’t require a vSphere certification (but still respects the tech-savvy crowd).
What’s the Big Deal with VCF 9?
If you're used to hearing “Cloud Foundation” and immediately thinking “complex, rigid, requires vSAN and NSX, and only works for the big guys”—this release flips a lot of that on its head.
1. Private Cloud at Scale, Finally Done Right
The new three-tier architecture brings clarity:
- Private Cloud: Think of it as your global control plane.
- Fleet: Logical groupings (e.g., departments, geos, business units).
- Instances: Individual VCF deployments.
This structure finally allows customers to manage many environments as one, without the chaos of managing separate SDDC Managers for each.
2. Centralized Operations and Automation
With VCF Operations, you get centralized lifecycle, observability, and policy management across all your deployments. Whether you're patching one site or ten—this brings a level of simplicity and consistency that was previously hard to achieve.
There’s also a new Automation Control Plane, which brings the dream of a self-service catalog much closer. It’s still early days (don’t throw away Cloud Director just yet), but the foundation is solid.
3. Storage Flexibility Is Back
One of the biggest “finally!” moments: You are no longer forced to use vSAN in the management domain. If you’ve got Fibre Channel or NFS in place—VCF 9 supports it.
This is a game-changer for organizations that have already invested in traditional SAN/NAS storage or want to architect beyond the vSAN-only model.
4. Networking Without the Headaches
NSX is still there (and for good reason), but it’s now simpler to deploy and manage:
- You can run a single NSX Manager for edge or smaller setups.
- NSX is tightly integrated into vCenter for better day-to-day visibility.
- And the new VPC model brings cloud-like networking constructs to private cloud.
So Why Does This Matter Now?
In the past 12 months, I’ve seen a distinct shift. Customers—especially those with complex environments—are rethinking their cloud strategies. They want:
- Predictability in cost
- Sovereignty over data
- A platform that supports modern apps and traditional workloads
- And, honestly, fewer surprises on the monthly cloud bill [which leads us back to predictability in costs ;)]
VCF 9 delivers on these needs. It modernizes private cloud without giving up control.
Who Am I and Why Should You Care?
I’m Fabian Lenz, a long-time VMware architect, part of the Broadcom Knight program, and working with Comdivision—a team of VMware experts trusted by some of the largest (and smallest!) organizations in Europe/America & the Middle East.
The Knight program exists to connect Broadcom’s strategic product direction with the real world. We provide feedback, test capabilities, and help ensure customers get not just features—but solutions that actually work.
At comdivision, we’ve built private clouds for service providers, manufacturers, healthcare, and AI startups. VCF is in our DNA—and VCF 9 gives us the tools to take that to the next level.
Business Benefits (No Buzzwords, I Promise)
Here’s what you can actually expect from VCF 9:
- Lower effort: One place to manage everything means fewer human errors
- Faster delivery: Provision new environments in hours, not weeks
- Better ROI: Use your existing storage and network where it makes sense
- Hybrid cloud alignment: Same tools, same workflows, from data center to hyperscaler
- AI-ready: GPU vMotion is now up to 6× faster, and memory tiering helps pack more performance into existing hosts
And yes, licensing is simpler too. One subscription per core, centrally managed. No more juggling license keys between environments.
This Isn’t Just for Enterprises Anymore
One of the most exciting changes is how VCF 9 is finally accessible to mid-sized IT teams. Smaller NSX footprints, no vSAN mandate, and the ability to scale gradually without massive rearchitecture make this release attractive beyond the Fortune 500.
If you’ve previously written off VCF as “too heavy,” this is the time to take another look.
Ready to Explore?
If you’re considering how VCF 9 fits into your strategy, let’s talk. comdivision offers:
- Discovery workshops to evaluate fit
- Architecture and migration planning
- Fully guided deployments with your team onboard
- Custom training and enablement for Day 2 operations
Feel free to reach out directly or connect on LinkedIn.
Final Thoughts
VCF 9 doesn’t just fix old limitations—it repositions private cloud as a modern, flexible, and competitive platform. It aligns with how businesses operate today: distributed, fast-paced, and cost-conscious.
And with the Broadcom + VMware strategy focusing heavily on simplifying and scaling infrastructure, I have no doubt this release is just the beginning.
Thanks for reading—and if you’re planning your next infrastructure move, don’t ignore what VCF 9 brings to the table. The private cloud comeback is real.