Last updated February 3, 2022
Ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees, customers and partners is always our top priority.
VMware is actively monitoring the ongoing developments of the COVID-19 outbreak and taking precautions to address the safety of our employees and the business needs of our key customers, vendors and others who are in VMware facilities.
VMware Discovery Center and Briefing Centers
VMware Briefings Centers and the VMware Discovery Center in Palo Alto continue to offer an extensive online briefing program. The Palo Alto Discovery Center and Briefing centers in the Asia-Pacific Japan (APJ) regions re-opened for in-person briefings (observing VMware and local guidelines). For information on scheduling an online or in-person briefing, or to confirm an existing appointment, please contact your VMware sales representative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you expect COVID-19 to impact the availability of VMware products and solutions?
A: No. We do not expect COVID-19 to impact the availability of VMware products and solutions.
Q: Have any new or updated VMware offerings been delayed due to COVID-19?
A: No. VMware has established business continuity plans to ensure we can successfully operate. The VMware Crisis Management Teams are following the VMware Contagious Illness Response Plan, which provides guidelines, processes, and procedures for responding to and managing the occurrence of a contagious illness outbreak that affects VMware facilities worldwide.
Q: Do you expect COVID-19 to impact Global Services Support and Professional Services?
A: Global Services Support and Professional Services have a comprehensive Business Continuity plan in place. Learn more here: https://www.vmware.com/support/covid19-response.html
Q: Do you anticipate any issues fulfilling customer software orders due to supply chain issues?
A: No. As most VMware’s offerings are software, we should not have any issue fulfilling orders.
Q: Do you anticipate any issues fulfilling customer hardware orders due to supply chain issues?
A: Some VMware SD-WAN hardware appliances are on backorder as a result of supply chain issues. As a result, we are extending the option to update existing orders with different appliances where inventory is more readily available. Customers may contact special email hotline with questions related to backordered appliances. Please send an email to sd-wan-hotline@vmware.com with your questions and include the order number, urgent quantities, and contact information. We will do our best to respond within 48 hours.
Q: What offers are available from VMware to assist customers in need?
A: We recognize that COVID-19 presents challenges for customers. We have some options to help you, and we are offering these to all customers. Please reach out to your VMware sales contact for more information.
Q: What is VMware doing to assist customers with the challenges related to IT operations and strategic planning?
A: The current business environment has created a climate of uncertainty leading to challenges for IT operations and strategic planning. While customers look to resume regular business at some point in the near future, they need stable, non-disruptive operations now to help with that transition to a desired future state. To help customers with that transition, we have extended the general support periods for vSphere 6.7 and vSphere 6.5 as well as vSAN 6.6 and vSAN 6.5 by 11 months to October 15, 2022. Originally, vSphere 6.7, vSphere 6.5, vSAN 6.6 and vSAN 6.5 were all scheduled to reach EoGS (End of General Support) on November 15, 2021.
Learn more about the:
- vSphere 6.7 EoGS extension here.
- vSphere 6.5 EoGS extension here.
- vSAN 6.6 and vSAN 6.5 EoGS extensions here.
Q: Are there online/remote options to take VMware certification exams?
A: Yes. We are thrilled to announce that remote proctoring of exams, delivered by Pearson VUE, will be available starting Monday, April 20, 2020. Remote proctoring allows our testing candidates to take their exams from ANY secure location. With artificial intelligence combined with live monitoring, these new exam options offer the most up-to-date technology, including enhanced security features such as face-matching technology, virtual ID verification, session monitoring, browser lockdown, recording, and more.
This will be a permanent offering from the certification team, regardless of the availability of in-person testing centers in the short- or long-term. The cost per exam for our candidates remains the same.
You can see more about how the remote proctored solution works by visiting this site: https://home.pearsonvue.com/vmware/onvue.
Q: How does VMware prepare for these kinds of situations? Does VMware have a business continuity plan?
A: Crisis Management Teams are following the VMware Contagious Illness Response Plan, which provides guidelines, processes, and procedures for responding to and managing the occurrence of a contagious illness outbreak that affects VMware facilities world-wide. The information and procedures presented in the plan are based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other authoritative sources.
Q: Do you expect any supply chain issues with vendors VMware works with to impact VMware operations?
A: We do not anticipate issues incurred by our vendors to impact VMware operations.
Q: Will employees, contractors and visitors entering a VMware office or building need to be vaccinated?
A: All U.S. and APJ offices that have been reopened as of February 1, 2022, are “vaccinated only” for the foreseeable future, as described below.
For other countries, offices will be reopened either as "vaccinated only” (the majority of offices reopened after August 1, 2021) or as “mixed with restrictions” (in locations where the vaccine is not readily available or where privacy laws prevent VMware from asking for health and vaccine attestation). The following describes policies for each of these office environments.
- Vaccinated Only Offices: We will continue to monitor and communicate local health and safety guidelines, including guidance around masks and social distancing per location, as required. Anyone entering a VMware building will be required to affirm their health and/or fully vaccinated status before entering through an online tool. Employee and contractor badges will not be activated, and visitors not allowed into our facilities, without this affirmation.
- Mixed Offices: Offices that have mixed vaccinated and unvaccinated employees, contractors and visitors (primarily in countries with privacy restrictions) will continue to require masks and social distancing in accordance with local regulations. Offices not yet at full capacity will require full vaccination as allowed per local requirements when removing capacity restrictions. Contractors and visitors will be required to follow the same guidelines and protocols as employees.
Q: How can VMware help customers enable their employees to work remotely, maintain productivity, increase connectivity, and provide for continuous secure access to applications regardless of the endpoints?
A: For more information on our business continuity solutions, visit https://www.vmware.com/solutions/business-continuity
Q: Where may I go if I have additional questions?
A: For COVID-19-specifc questions, please email: COVID19_Questions@vmware.com. For customer service-related questions or product support please visit Contact Support, or contact your VMware sales representative.