Migrating on-premises VMware workloads to Microsoft Azure can have varying costs, depending on factors like the scale of migration, resources required, and the pricing models chosen. Here's how businesses in India can manage and optimize migration costs.

1. Understanding Azure Pricing Models

Azure offers multiple pricing models for businesses, including pay-as-you-go, reserved instances, and spot instances. Indian businesses need to evaluate their specific needs to choose the best pricing option that aligns with their budget.

2. Costs of Data Transfer

Migrating large volumes of data from on-premises VMware to Azure can incur significant transfer costs. To reduce costs, businesses can use Azure ExpressRoute, which provides a dedicated private connection to Azure, minimizing data transfer fees.

3. Resource Optimization

Post-migration, businesses can optimize their Azure resources to manage costs. Azure’s Cost Management and Billing tools allow organizations to monitor usage and adjust resources to avoid unnecessary costs.

4. Using Azure Hybrid Benefit

Indian businesses with existing Microsoft licenses can leverage Azure Hybrid Benefit to reduce migration costs. This allows them to apply their on-premises licenses to Azure, saving on licensing fees.

While VMware to Azure migration comes with costs, businesses can optimize their expenditure by choosing the right pricing models, utilizing cost management tools, and leveraging available discounts like Azure Hybrid Benefit.