In the rapidly evolving world of virtualization and network security, businesses need reliable, cost-effective solutions that adapt to their unique environments. Following the acquisition of VMware by Broadcom, numerous enterprises are grappling with significant changes in VMware's strategy, product offerings, and pricing structures. Many are now searching for viable alternatives to VMware Hypervisor and NSX that offer more flexibility and better alignment with their specific needs.
We’re Zero Networks, an Oracle Linux partner poised to provide unmatched automated microsegmentation solutions integrated with Oracle's Virtualization Platform. We’re thrilled to meet you – read on to learn more about who we are and what makes us the #1 NSX alternative (hint: we believe in Microsegmentation for All).
Broadcom Blues? We Feel Your Pain
Broadcom's acquisition of VMware has been a turning point for many VMware customers, with some even seeing a 1200% price increase. Tracy Woo, principal analyst at Forrester, described the painful situation for VMware users in CIO Dive’s recent article: “[Woo] said the firm has seen what it characterized as an ‘effort to divorce the customer’ with [Broadcom’s] extreme price increases and unwillingness to negotiate. ‘They’re not trying to play nice and then stab you in the back,’ Woo said. ‘They’re holding the knife right to you and saying, ‘This is what you have to do or you’re out.’”
As many of us know (or are in the throes of learning), this strategy has led many businesses to reconsider their reliance on VMware NSX. Broadcom’s modus operandi of bundling and cutting products to inflate prices is well-documented – they've already discontinued 56 (and counting) standalone VMware products that are used in the majority of the world’s data centers. Customers are being left with unnecessary features and hefty costs, and resellers are being handcuffed to high annual revenue commitments and hefty, nearly unsellable VCF bundles.
This has been a rallying cry for our team of passionate network security professionals. While the rest of our team is receiving and ramping customers switching from NSX, our VP of Channels, Adam Hofeler, is determined to help resellers, too:
“Customers and the partner community have been looking for alternatives to VMware NSX even before the Broadcom acquisition, but the recent upheaval has accelerated buyers’ searches significantly. The product bundles are staggeringly expensive and bloated, and don’t address customer needs. Come over to Zero Networks – you'll get a better solution that implements in 30 days, 24/7 global customer service, and a massive reduction in cost. Plus, our partner team loves to help resellers battling the Broadcom blues: we just earned a 5-star partner rating in the 2024 CRN Partner Program Guide. Let’s get clients happy again.”
Reader, we want to be your alternative – your upgrade. Let’s get down to brass tacks.
Zero Networks: The #1 VMware NSX Alternative
Zero Networks delivers an all-in-one platform that simplifies network security through automated, agentless network segmentation and advanced identity protection solutions. Unlike VMware NSX, which is limited to protecting virtual machines (VMs), Zero Networks extends its protection to the entire virtualization stack, including hosts and the virtualization manager. This comprehensive coverage addresses a critical gap in virtualization security, as highlighted by incidents like the ESXi hack, where hackers exploited vulnerabilities to compromise multiple VMs.
Key Differentiators: Zero Networks vs. VMware NSX
1. Broad Coverage Beyond VMs
VMware NSX is limited to securing VMs, leaving the host and the virtualization manager vulnerable to attacks. Zero Networks, on the other hand, offers protection across the entire virtualization environment. By safeguarding the host, the virtualization manager, and all VMs, Zero Networks mitigates the risk of host-level compromises, which can have devastating effects on the entire virtualization infrastructure.
2. Simplified Implementation
Implementing Zero Networks is straightforward and efficient. Our platform can be fully operational within 30 days, providing quick turnaround times and minimal disruption to business operations. This ease of implementation contrasts sharply with VMware NSX, which often requires complex, time-consuming deployment processes that can take multiple years.
Here’s how it works: Zero Networks Segment monitors and learns all network connections over a period of up to 30 days, and then creates corresponding and highly accurate firewall rules. The rules and policies are then centrally applied to the host firewalls of all assets in the network. The policies allow only legitimate traffic, hence transparent to end users, and apply just-in-time MFA to privileged remote admin protocols like RDP, SSH or WinRM that are also used by attackers to move laterally.
3. Cost-Effective and Transparent Pricing
Zero Networks prides itself on a transparent pricing model that avoids unnecessary bundling of features. Customers pay only for the services they need, which stands in stark contrast to Broadcom’s strategy with VMware NSX, where bundling and inflated prices are the norm. This approach not only reduces costs but also ensures that businesses are not forced to invest in features that do not align with their specific requirements.
4. Flexibility and Scalability
Zero Networks is designed to work across diverse environments, supporting any client, server, VM, and cloud workload. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for large enterprises with complex infrastructures, which may find VMware NSX's manual and complicated management challenging and restrictive. Zero Networks was built in the cloud and can scale across any number of hosts in the existing environment.
The Oracle Linux + Zero Networks Partner Advantage
As an Oracle Linux partner, Zero Networks is uniquely positioned to enhance Oracle's virtualization offerings with its cutting-edge network security solutions. By deploying Zero Networks with Oracle, customers can achieve unparalleled security for their virtual environments. Our collaboration with Oracle ensures that businesses receive an optimized solution that leverages the strengths of both platforms.
Protection for Hosts and Beyond
One of the standout features of Zero Networks is its ability to protect not just the VMs but also the underlying hosts and the virtualization manager. This comprehensive approach is crucial in today's threat landscape, where attackers increasingly target the host to gain control over all VMs. The ESXi vulnerability incident underscores the importance of securing every layer of the virtualization stack. Zero Networks fills this critical gap, offering robust protection against such sophisticated attacks.
Streamlined Migration Path
For Oracle customers currently using VMware NSX and considering a migration, Zero Networks provides a smooth and efficient transition path. Our solutions are designed to operate seamlessly with existing Oracle virtualization environments, ensuring that the migration process is as painless and efficient as possible.
Customer Success Stories
Several customers who have transitioned from VMware NSX to Zero Networks have reported significant improvements in security, cost savings, and overall satisfaction. See what Chris Turek, CIO of Evercore had to say:
Partnering for Success
Zero Networks is committed to fostering strong partnerships with resellers and channel partners. We are a 100% channel organization, growing significantly to help the needs of our customers and partners (check out our 5-star partner program rating from CRN). If you’re interested in becoming a channel partner, reach out to Zero Networks to discover why and how we are different.
Valerio Capodavqua, Founder and CTO of IDC SpA, had this to say about his experience partnering with Zero Networks to best serve his customers:
“Zero Networks is a fire-and-forget product, with an unmatchable level of prevention and risk reduction. It really works for the customer rather than the other way around, and it does so in a simple way with low operational effort and high ROI.”
Conclusion
The Broadcom acquisition of VMware has undeniably disrupted the market and hurt NSX users, forcing businesses to reevaluate their network security and virtualization strategies in the face of extreme costs. In this shifting landscape, Zero Networks stands out as the premier alternative to VMware NSX, offering comprehensive security, simplified implementation, transparent pricing, and seamless integration with Oracle's virtualization platform.
For Oracle customers seeking to enhance their network security while maintaining flexibility and cost-effectiveness, Zero Networks provides the ideal solution. By choosing Zero Networks, businesses can ensure robust protection for their entire virtualization environment, streamline their security operations, and achieve significant cost savings.
To learn more about how Zero Networks can transform your virtualization security and to start your journey towards a more secure and efficient network, reach out to your Oracle representative or speak with one of our migration specialists. Join the growing number of enterprises that have made the switch to Zero Networks and experience the difference for yourself.