Globalization 2.0 | Malaysia Government Department Achieves VMware-to-ZStack Migration + Legacy Centralized Storage Reuse

Faced with high virtualization costs, legacy storage compatibility issues, complex operations & maintenance, and vendor lock-in, a Malaysian government department introduced ZStack ZSphere. By adopting permanent licensing, they eased budget pressure; through native SAN integration, they revitalized existing assets; with a unified management portal, they simplified operations; and now critical services run stably on a self-controlled platform.  

In recent years, as digitalization accelerated, the Malaysian government department’s demands on its IT infrastructure have continued to increase. Especially in terms of data security, system controllability, and long-term operational costs, traditional virtualization architectures were no longer able to meet current and future needs. To address this, the department decided to launch a new-generation virtualization platform project with the goal of building a foundational architecture that could support existing business needs while offering strong scalability for future digital transformation.  

At the start of the project, the client faced several real-world challenges.  

Rising costs: VMware’s subscription-based licensing model meant IT budgets increased year after year, with little long-term cost control.

Compatibility issues: The department had already deployed a large-scale SAN storage system, and the new platform needed to integrate seamlessly to avoid wasting resources.

Operational complexity: Multiple platforms running in parallel led to complicated management workflows, dispersed tools, and higher manpower costs.

Strategic autonomy: The department wanted to maintain control at the strategic level, avoiding dependency on a single vendor to ensure long-term flexibility and platform sovereignty.

To address these challenges:  

Flexible licensing models: ZStack ZSphere offers diversified licensing options—per CPU core, per physical server, or subscription-based—giving enterprises greater convenience and controllable costs.

Seamless SAN integration: Through its SharedBlock technology, ZStack ZSphere integrated flawlessly with the existing SAN storage system, protecting previous investments and ensuring smooth business migration.

Unified management and automation: The platform’s single interface and automation capabilities significantly reduced operational difficulty and boosted management efficiency.

Scalability for the future: The architecture supports smooth upgrades of computing and storage resources, meeting ongoing business growth needs.

After several months of deployment and optimization, the project delivered remarkable results:  

Significant reduction in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) with more predictable budget control.

Reuse of existing SAN storage, avoiding unnecessary reinvestment.

Over 40% improvement in operational efficiency, allowing the IT team to focus more on business innovation rather than routine maintenance.

Verified stability and reliability, providing continuous and consistent support for mission-critical services.

This case represents not only a technical upgrade but also a broader trend in government IT infrastructure development. Clients are no longer focused solely on features and performance—they place greater emphasis on long-term controllability, cost optimization, and operational simplicity.  

Through this project, ZStack has further validated its capability to execute in overseas markets, offering a tangible blueprint for other governments and public sector organizations. Looking ahead, ZStack will continue advancing its Globalization 2.0 strategy, helping more customers build secure, autonomous, and sustainable IT infrastructures.