Manchester Met reduces up to 50% of its network footprint with Azure VMware Solution | Microsoft Customer Stories
Organizations are under pressure to modernize without overhauling their entire IT infrastructure. This customer story highlights how Manchester Metropolitan University uses Azure VMware Solution to simplify hybrid operations and achieve a 50% reduction in network footprint. It shows how Azure VMware Solution helps customers modernize applications faster, reduce operational complexity, and achieve greater agility — all while maintaining control and compliance. Read the story and contact Brightside IT to discuss how Azure VMware Solution can support your modernization goals.
What prompted Manchester Met to move to Azure VMware Solution?
The university faced the imminent end of support for its on-premises VMware infrastructure. Given its existing licensing, the Azure VMware Solution offered significant cost benefits and value-added services, making it a suitable choice for their needs.
What were the results of the migration to Azure VMware Solution?
Within eight months, Manchester Met moved 80% of its servers to Azure VMware Solution, consolidating its datacenter from 25 to 7 comms racks. This led to a 43% reduction in essential servers and a cut of up to 50% in its on-premises footprint, while also improving performance across migrated applications and databases.
How has the migration affected Manchester Met's approach to technology?
The migration has encouraged a shift towards prioritizing Azure-native solutions and a cloud-first mentality. IT staff have embraced cloud concepts, leading to improved performance and a more proactive approach to technology management, as they now consider cloud options before on-premises solutions.

Manchester Met reduces up to 50% of its network footprint with Azure VMware Solution | Microsoft Customer Stories
published by Brightside IT
At Brightside IT, we combine the power of technology with personalized human interaction to provide effective and personable solutions. Our range of services includes IT support to minimize downtime, hardware upgrades for optimal performance, server migrations to the cloud, security reviews, IT hardware provision, and application development. With a goal to help small and medium businesses succeed, we ensure reliable IT procurement, infrastructure, networks, and security solutions, empowering clients to thrive in today's digital landscape.