What is VMware NSX?
Gain Network Speed, Agility and Security
Enable your virtual cloud network with full-stack network and security virtualization. Connect and protect applications across your data center, multi-cloud and container infrastructure. NSX reproduces the entire network model in software, so you can create and provision any network topology in seconds and deliver critical apps and services faster and easier.
Agility Through Automation
Bring one-click provisioning to your network by running a complete L2-L7 stack in software with automated provisioning. Access powerful flexibility and scale.
Consistent Multi-Cloud Operations
Manage consistent networking and security policies across private and public clouds from a single pane of glass, regardless of where your applications run—VM, container or bare metal.
Intrinsic Security
Deliver granular protection with network segmentation and micro-segmentation to the individual workload. Create context-aware security policies and leverage IDS/IPS to defend against lateral threats.
Lower CapEx and OpEx
Save up to 35% by consolidating networking and security functions on a single platform. Slash OpEx through simplified operations and optimized traffic flows.
Use Cases
Zero-Trust Security
Lock down critical apps, create a logical DMZ in software, and reduce the attack surface of a virtual desktop environment using the segmentation capabilities in NSX. Zero-trust security is now attainable and efficient in private and public cloud environments.
Accelerate Application Delivery
Speed app delivery with blueprints to automate the provisioning and management of networking and security services—consistently across all sites and clouds. You can also deliver infrastructure as code.
Extend Networking Across Clouds
Enable multi-cloud use cases ranging from seamless data center extension, to multi-DC pooling, to rapid workload mobility. Streamline your multi-cloud operations with consistent networking and security.
Manage Containers Like VMs
Provide integrated, full-stack networking and security for your containerized apps and microservices, just like your VMs. Leverage native container networking for Kubernetes, micro-segmentation and end-to-end observability for microservices.
Modernize with Advanced Load Balancing
Update your data centers with SDN automation and software load balancers, while enjoying TCO savings of over 50%. Transform your legacy load balancers from F5 or Citrix to 100% software solutions.
Our customers trust us with their data and applications. We use VMware technologies to ensure we’re meeting their requirements.
- David Hewett, Director of Infrastructure Services, Grant Street Group
With technologies like NSX, we’re able to now extend our security footprint all the way out through a single management plane.
- Andrew Hrycaj, Associate Director of Network Engineering, IHS Markit
Related Resources
Network Virtualization for Dummies
Learn the basics of a new approach to networking for cloud-hosted, distributed apps.
Multi-Cloud Networking with Project Northstar
Learn about our upcoming SaaS-based networking and security offering.
Forrester: Total Economic Impact
To understand the benefits and costs of investing in network virtualization, Forrester interviewed five customers using NSX.
Related Products
VMware Aria Operations for Networks
App-centric network visibility
NSX Distributed IDS/IPS
Software-based IDS/IPS solution
NSX Intelligence
Distributed analytics engine native to NSX
NSX Service-Defined Firewall
Layer 7 internal firewall
Frequently Asked Questions
VMware NSX is a network virtualization and security platform that enables the virtual cloud network, a software-defined approach to networking that extends across data centers, clouds and application frameworks.
How is VMware NSX licensed?
VMware NSX is available for licensing in multiple editions: Standard, Professional, Advanced, Enterprise Plus, and Remote Office/Branch Office. It's available as a single download image with license keys required to enable specific functionality for each edition. For more information, see the datasheet or download a free trial.
How does VMware NSX work?
VMware NSX reproduces the entire network model in software, enabling any network topology—from simple to complex multitier networks—to be created and provisioned in seconds, independent of underlying hardware. It brings networking and security closer to the application wherever it’s running.
What are the use cases for VMware NSX?
Use cases for VMware NSX include:
- Zero-trust security
- Multi-cloud networking
- Network automation
- Container networking
- Advanced load balancing
- Container ingress
Why use VMware NSX?
VMware NSX delivers a complete L2-L7 networking and security virtualization platform, allowing you to manage your entire network as a single entity from a single pane of glass, enforce consistent networking and security policies, and automate and tailor the network to your needs.
Why VMware for Network Virtualization?
Deliver a complete L2-L7 networking and security virtualization platform with the industry leader in virtualization.