Broadcom launches VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 for cost-effective private cloud

Broadcom has announced the availability of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0, a next-generation platform designed to simplify private cloud deployment while supporting modern, legacy, and AI-driven applications. VCF 9.0 combines on-premises control with cloud-like scalability, aiming to help enterprises manage infrastructure more efficiently across data centers, edge environments, and managed services.

With this release, Broadcom is offering a unified platform that brings together governance, automation, and cost transparency in a single interface. The platform enables IT teams and developers to work in tandem, speeding up deployment cycles and reducing the manual overhead of infrastructure management. VCF 9.0 is positioned as a solution that balances flexibility with security—two elements that are increasingly critical as organizations scale their use of AI, containers, and hybrid cloud setups.

One of the core features of VCF 9.0 is a central interface for cloud administrators, offering tools for identity management, compliance policy enforcement, and cost tracking. The new Quick Start App shortens setup times, while advanced analytics support smarter decision-making on workload performance and security posture. Administrators can manage updates across multiple clusters more easily, and developers get access to self-service infrastructure capabilities for faster application rollouts.

The platform treats VMs and containers equally, thanks to an embedded Kubernetes service. This means businesses no longer have to maintain separate stacks for legacy and cloud-native apps. Instead, VCF 9.0 provides a single control layer to deploy and manage both, with support for AI workloads and traditional enterprise software. Enhanced cost modeling features also help teams predict and optimize infrastructure investments with clear showback and chargeback data.

Security and compliance remain central to the platform. VCF 9.0 includes new SecOps dashboards, policy automation, and support for confidential computing technologies from AMD and Intel. These features aim to give enterprises control over data residency, risk management, and regulatory compliance, even in complex hybrid cloud deployments.

New advanced services enhance the VCF portfolio further. The VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA supports isolated AI deployments, GPU-as-a-service, and efficient model inference. VMware Live Recovery extends backup and disaster recovery capabilities with up to 200 immutable snapshots per VM. vDefend introduces micro-segmentation and threat response, while Data Services Manager (DSM) now supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, and a tech preview of Microsoft SQL Server with database-as-a-service integration.

Hardware partners are also expanding support for VCF 9.0. Companies like Dell, HPE, Lenovo, AMD, Intel, Microsoft, and Google Cloud are integrating the platform with their infrastructure to offer customers hybrid cloud solutions that support scalable private cloud operations, AI enablement, and enhanced security.

With VCF 9.0, Broadcom is aiming to bring cloud-native features into the private cloud space, offering the agility and ease of public cloud services without sacrificing the control and compliance benefits of on-premises deployments. For organizations managing diverse workloads and regulatory obligations, the platform may offer a path forward that avoids the lock-in and unpredictability often associated with public cloud-only strategies.