VMware Avi is designed to help CSPs improve profitability and scale operations by aligning load balancing with core cloud principles like elasticity, multi-tenancy, automation, and integrated security.

Based on customer results and IDC research cited in the material, CSPs have seen:

• ~90% faster deployment through API-driven automation and centralized provisioning, replacing manual, box-by-box configuration.
• ~43% lower operational cost (OpEx) by simplifying Day-0 to Day-N operations, including automated certificate management, IPAM, and upgrades.
• Up to 40% lower TCO when replacing legacy appliance-based load balancers with Avi’s software-defined architecture.
• Fewer support tickets thanks to real-time telemetry, health scoring, and analytics-based troubleshooting.

At scale, Avi has been proven to support:

• 40K VMs load balanced
• 17K VIPs and 9K GSLB services
• 2.5K WAF-protected apps
• Up to 7 Tbps throughput and 10M SSL TPS per controller cluster

For CSPs, this means you can:

• Standardize on a single, software-defined platform for both VCF and hybrid cloud workloads.
• Reduce the number of managed devices by up to 20x, cutting hardware footprint and operational complexity.
• Offer differentiated LBaaS tiers (standard, premium, and managed services) to create new revenue streams.

In practice, one North American CSP reported ~40% TCO savings, support for hundreds of tenants via built-in multi-tenancy, and troubleshooting times reduced from hours to minutes.

VMware Avi reimagines load balancing for CSPs by using a software-defined, decoupled control and data plane architecture that is built for multi-tenant, cloud-scale environments.

Key capabilities that simplify operations include:

• Elastic auto-scaling and self-healing: Service engines scale in and out based on real-time demand and can auto-heal, improving resiliency without manual intervention.
• N-way active-active high availability: High availability is built into the architecture, helping you maintain consistent performance across distributed environments.
• Centralized orchestration: A controller cluster manages configuration, policy, and lifecycle, avoiding box-by-box management.
• Integrated analytics: Real-time application telemetry, health scores, and latency analytics are built in, so you don’t need separate tools for basic visibility and troubleshooting.
• Full automation: Automated certificate management, IPAM, and software upgrades reduce manual tasks and operational risk.
• Multi-tenancy options: Support for both shared and dedicated delivery models allows you to align infrastructure usage and isolation with tenant requirements.
• Kubernetes-native support: Ingress and hybrid workload support for platforms like AKS, OpenShift, and Tanzu helps you serve containerized and cloud-native applications.

Integration with VMware platforms further streamlines operations:

• VMware Cloud Director (VCD): Enables self-service onboarding and catalog-driven consumption of LBaaS by tenants.
• VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF): Provides a plug-and-play experience for VCF-based environments.

All Day-0 to Day-N workflows—from productizing LBaaS to tenant onboarding and troubleshooting—are integrated via VCD and VCF, helping you run LBaaS as a consistent, repeatable service rather than a collection of one-off configurations.

VMware Avi gives CSPs a flexible foundation to reshape LBaaS into a differentiated, revenue-generating service rather than a basic bundled feature.

Common monetization approaches include:

1. Shared and dedicated multi-tenancy

• Shared multi-tenancy: Multiple tenants share infrastructure, improving utilization and lowering cost per tenant.
• Dedicated models: High-value or regulated customers can be offered dedicated resources for stronger isolation and performance guarantees.

2. Tiered service packaging

• Standard tier: Core load balancing services for typical applications.
• Premium tier: Adds advanced capabilities such as detailed analytics, higher availability options, and security features like WAF.

3. Plus (managed) services

• Add-on services such as GSLB and DDoS protection can be sold on top of standard or premium tiers.
• Fully managed LBaaS, where your team handles configuration, optimization, and ongoing operations, can command higher recurring revenue.

Because Avi is consumed as code and as self-service, you can align pricing with:

• Usage metrics (e.g., VIPs, throughput, WAF-protected apps).
• Service levels (e.g., HA options, response SLAs, managed vs. self-service).
• Security and compliance needs (e.g., WAF, DDoS, Common Criteria-certified environments).

VMware also offers a structured engagement model for CSPs, including tailored onboarding, monetization workshops, and sales enablement, to help you design and operationalize these LBaaS offerings in a way that fits your specific market and customer base.