NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) announced that its ONTAP solutions have been tested and validated to support VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.1. The validation enables mutual customers to deploy a modern private cloud infrastructure with integrated enterprise-grade data management and security features.

The partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of VCF 9.1 innovations, allowing enterprises to run both traditional and modern workloads on a unified platform. By combining VCF 9.1 with NetApp’s data infrastructure, customers can lower costs and expedite the deployment of AI software into production environments.

Key Capabilities

NetApp’s first-party cloud storage services are the only external enterprise storage certified to support VCF environments across major hyperscale clouds. This certification allows customers to leverage VCF license portability, deploying the platform in certified hyperscaler environments without refactoring VMware workloads.

Key benefits of the integration include:

• Cost-Effective Scaling: VCF 9.1 improves density for VM and containerized AI workloads while reducing operational complexity. NetApp ONTAP serves as primary storage for VCF management and workload domains, helping maximize existing infrastructure investments.
• Cyber Resilience: New capabilities include NetApp Console Backup and Recovery and NetApp Console Data Services, which strengthen data protection against ransomware attacks through rapid recovery options.
• Operational Consistency: NetApp’s support for VMware vSphere Kubernetes Service (VKS) is validated for VCF 9.1. This allows customers to deploy containerized workloads using existing VMware tools, converging VM and container management on a single platform.

Strategic Context

Alvaro Celis, Chief Partner and Ecosystem Officer at NetApp, emphasized the importance of flexibility in moving workloads to optimal environments. He noted that the collaboration with Broadcom ensures VCF customers can operate consistently across cloud environments, safeguarding existing operational investments while unlocking future capabilities.

Paul Turner, Chief Product Officer of the VMware Cloud Foundation Division at Broadcom, stated that VCF 9.1 delivers an AI- and Kubernetes-native private cloud platform. He highlighted that NetApp’s validated solutions provide a proven data infrastructure foundation for mutual customers adopting these innovations.

What the Numbers Show

While no financial figures were disclosed in this announcement, the strategic alignment indicates a focus on retaining enterprise customers within the VMware ecosystem post-acquisition by Broadcom. The validation of ONTAP for VCF 9.1 suggests that NetApp is positioning itself as a critical infrastructure partner for enterprises seeking to modernize private clouds without migrating away from VMware technologies.

Additional Resources

NetApp will showcase these capabilities at booth #109 during VMware Explore 2026, held from August 31 to September 3 at The Venetian in Las Vegas.

NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) raised its fiscal 2027 GAAP earnings per share (EPS) guidance, lifting the range from $6.51-$6.81 to $7.35-$7.65. This update places the new outlook above the analyst estimate of $7.27.

The company simultaneously maintained its previously announced upward revision for adjusted EPS and sales, reinforcing confidence in its near-term growth trajectory.

The updated full-year financial targets are as follows:

What the Numbers Show

The midpoint of the new GAAP EPS guidance ($7.50) exceeds the analyst estimate of $7.27, indicating a beat on non-GAAP adjusted metrics as well. The adjusted EPS midpoint ($9.88) represents an approximately 11.6% increase over the prior midpoint ($8.85). Similarly, the new sales guidance midpoint ($8.1 billion) is roughly 8.7% higher than the previous midpoint ($7.45 billion).

Both GAAP and adjusted metrics now surpass respective analyst estimates, suggesting robust demand visibility for the remainder of the fiscal year.