IT Management & Infrastructure Suppliers

AvePoint

Data management, governance and backup for Microsoft 365 and Teams

AvePoint is one of the largest independent providers of data management, governance, and backup solutions for the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. The Confidence Platform includes Cloud Backup, Policies & Insights, Opus (records management), and migration tools. For organisations heavily relying on SharePoint, Teams and OneDrive, AvePoint is often the de facto choice because Microsoft itself does not offer a complete native backup. The pricing model works with per-user or per-GB subscriptions, depending on the product. Contracts usually run for 1 or 3 years and are often tied to Microsoft EA renewals. This means procurement often escalates unnoticed alongside the M365 landscape without a clear moment to review the AvePoint strategy.

VMware (Broadcom)

Virtualization and cloud infrastructure, now part of Broadcom

VMware, since 2023 part of Broadcom, is the market leader in server virtualization and cloud infrastructure. The acquisition by Broadcom has led to drastic changes in the licensing model: perpetual licenses have been abolished, partner ecosystems have shrunk, and customers are forced to switch to expensive subscription bundles. For many organizations, the transition to VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) means a cost increase of 200-600% compared to the old situation. This has led to a massive re-evaluation of the VMware strategy among enterprise customers worldwide.

Veeam is the market leader in backup and recovery solutions for virtual, physical, and cloud environments. The software protects workloads on VMware, Hyper-V, AWS, Azure, and more. Veeam offers both perpetual and subscription licenses, making the switch from one contract type to another complex. After the acquisition by Insight Partners and collaboration with Broadcom/VMware, Veeam's licensing structure has changed further. Customers migrating from VMware to an alternative must also review their Veeam licenses.