NetApp Enhances VMware Cloud Migrations with Amazon FSx for ONTAP Integration on AWS
NetApp, a leader in intelligent data infrastructure, has announced a significant advancement in cloud storage capabilities. Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP is now officially supported as an external storage option for Amazon Elastic VMware Service (Amazon EVS) on Amazon Web Services (AWS). This integration marks a pivotal step forward for organizations seeking to migrate and manage VMware workloads on AWS while maintaining the robust data management features they rely on.
Amazon EVS, which recently became generally available, is a groundbreaking service from AWS that enables users to run VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) directly within their Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (Amazon VPC). This allows businesses to seamlessly extend their VMware environments into the cloud without disrupting existing workflows or applications. By combining the scalability and resilience of AWS with NetApp’s advanced data management solutions, customers can simplify their migration processes and accelerate digital transformation initiatives.
Unlocking Business Agility Through Seamless Integration
Migrating mission-critical workloads to the cloud offers numerous benefits, including eliminating outdated infrastructure, reducing operational costs, and meeting critical business timelines. However, achieving these goals requires a well-planned data strategy to avoid common pitfalls such as unexpected expenses, fragmented IT environments, and inconsistent services. As the only enterprise storage provider offering a first-party data storage service natively integrated with AWS, NetApp stands out as a trusted partner for organizations navigating this transition.
Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP provides a powerful solution for managing VMware environments in the cloud. Customers leveraging this service have reported up to a 50% reduction in costs compared to traditional methods. The platform’s built-in data management capabilities streamline migration planning, reduce total cost of ownership, and enhance cyber resiliency—all while ensuring seamless continuity for existing operations.
“By integrating Amazon EVS with FSx for ONTAP, customers can enjoy the same level of data efficiency, protection, and automation they’ve come to trust in their on-premises environments,” said Pravjit Tiwana, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cloud Storage at NetApp. “Our collaboration with AWS makes it easier than ever to move critical workloads to the cloud and manage them at scale.”
Key Features Supporting Advanced Workloads
To further empower customers managing complex workloads in the cloud, NetApp has introduced several innovative capabilities:
- FSx for ONTAP Support for Amazon EVS:
With Amazon EVS now generally available, FSx for NetApp ONTAP serves as a fully supported external storage option. This integration simplifies deployments by automating setup processes and providing a ready-to-use VCF environment on AWS. VMware administrators can migrate virtual machines to AWS using familiar tools and software, minimizing disruption. Leveraging FSx for ONTAP as external storage reduces overhead by delivering advanced data management and protection functionalities, ultimately lowering total cost of ownership and bolstering cyber resilience. - Migration Advisor for Amazon EVS Workloads:
NetApp’s BlueXP Workload Factory now includes a migration advisor feature specifically designed for Amazon EVS workloads. This tool automates the discovery of on-premises virtual machines, provisions FSx for ONTAP, and places datastores within Amazon EVS environments. These streamlined processes significantly speed up migrations, allowing businesses to focus on innovation rather than logistical challenges. - Expanded Disaster Recovery Support in BlueXP:
BlueXP disaster recovery for VMware now integrates with Amazon EVS, utilizing FSx for ONTAP as a reliable disaster recovery target. Supported datastore options include NFS (file-based) and VMFS (block-based) via the iSCSI protocol, offering versatile and efficient disaster recovery solutions tailored to diverse customer needs. - Enhanced Ransomware Protection:
In today’s threat landscape, safeguarding against ransomware attacks is paramount. NetApp ONTAP Autonomous Ransomware Protection (ARP) for FSx for ONTAP detects and responds to ransomware events in real time. Additionally, the BlueXP ransomware protection service supports FSx for ONTAP, enabling comprehensive orchestration of defenses across hybrid cloud environments. These features proactively protect customer data and minimize downtime by detecting ransomware at the storage layer.
Partner Perspectives: Empowering Customer Success
Industry partners like Xtravirt, a NetApp Preferred Partner and AWS collaborator, view these advancements as game-changing for businesses migrating VMware workloads to the public cloud. “Supporting FSx for ONTAP on Amazon EVS gives customers more granular control over their most critical workloads,” noted Robin Gardner, Chief Commercial Officer at Xtravirt. “With access to NetApp’s advanced data management functionality, customers can reduce the complexity of managing virtual environments and achieve greater efficiency and security in hybrid deployments.”
While no ransomware detection or prevention system can offer absolute immunity, NetApp’s technology serves as a vital additional layer of defense. Its proactive approach helps mitigate risks and ensures that businesses remain resilient in the face of evolving threats.
A Strategic Step Toward Cloud Transformation
The integration of Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP with Amazon EVS represents a strategic leap forward for organizations looking to modernize their IT infrastructure. By combining NetApp’s proven data management expertise with AWS’s unparalleled cloud capabilities, businesses can confidently migrate VMware workloads, optimize costs, and drive innovation. Whether through enhanced disaster recovery, simplified migration processes, or fortified ransomware protection, NetApp continues to deliver value that empowers customers to thrive in the cloud era.
As enterprises increasingly embrace hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, solutions like Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP are poised to play a central role in shaping the future of intelligent data infrastructure. For organizations ready to embark on their cloud journey, NetApp and AWS provide the tools and support needed to succeed.
About NetApp
NetApp is the intelligent data infrastructure company, combining unified data storage, integrated data, operational and workload services to turn a world of disruption into opportunity for every customer. NetApp creates silo-free infrastructure, harnessing observability and AI to enable the industry’s best data management. As the only enterprise-grade storage service natively embedded in the world’s biggest clouds, our data storage delivers seamless flexibility. In addition, our data services create a data advantage through superior cyber resilience, governance, and application agility. Our operational and workload services provide continuous optimization of performance and efficiency for infrastructure and workloads through observability and AI. No matter the data type, workload, or environment, with NetApp you can transform your data infrastructure to realize your business possibilities. Learn more at www.netapp.com or follow us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
