Java Independence is now a board-level priority - Driving cost savings, cloud efficiency and strategic agility
Chances are every time you stream content, buy something online or check your bank balance, you're interacting with Java-based systems. Java powers mission-critical systems across industries. Netflix runs its entire streaming infrastructure on Java-based microservices, processing millions of concurrent viewers. Global payment networks validate credit card transactions in milliseconds across hundreds of countries using Java applications. While the Java community has expanded to over 10 million developers worldwide, enterprises face mounting cost pressures from multiple directions.
For the enterprises powering these essential services, 2025 represents a critical decision point: continue paying escalating costs for Oracle Java, potentially impacting profit margins or customer pricing as well as the potential for future price hikes, or seek alternatives. Java independence gives businesses control, choice, and confidence in how they build and run Java applications. Azul's recent 2025 State of Java Survey & Report reveals an enterprise Java ecosystem in transition, driven by mounting cost concerns, market preference for open-source solutions, and ongoing uncertainty around Oracle's licensing policies.
This watershed moment stems from Oracle's shift to employee-based pricing in January 2023, which fundamentally disrupted enterprise Java strategy. Oracle's licensing practices have significantly increased Java-related expenditures, with the company generating billions annually from Java licensing and support. This shift isn't just about cost savings, it's about mitigating risk and enhancing agility. Java independence has become a board-level priority in an era where digital transformation drives market leadership.
The oracle Java challenge
The new Oracle pricing model detaches Java costs from actual usage, creating an unsustainable scenario: a 10,000-employee company running a handful of Java applications pays the same as a similarly sized organisation running thousands of Java-based services. For global businesses, this represents both a financial challenge and a strategic imperative to maintain competitive advantage.
Our research reveals that two-thirds of organisations found Oracle's licensing model more expensive than alternatives, and an overwhelming majority reported successful migrations away from Oracle Java. With 25% of companies citing audit risk as a key migration driver, the urgency to transition has become a business priority rather than just an IT concern.
The OpenJDK success story
The success of OpenJDK adoption has shattered Oracle Java migration concerns. The data tells a compelling story: 84% of companies found the transition easier than expected or as planned, with three-quarters completing migrations within 12 months. This rapid timeline reflects both the maturity of available solutions and the robust support ecosystem around OpenJDK migrations.
OpenJDK distributions have emerged as preferred alternatives to Oracle Java. These enterprise-ready solutions match Oracle Java SE's core capabilities while offering enhanced support and performance options.
Successful migration hinges on three key components:
- Organisational momentum - Technical expertise, discovery & inventory tools and project planning assistance from a commercial OpenJDK provider can significantly help secure and maintain executive support, ultimately impacting a successful transition.
- Comprehensive Java mapping - Identifying all Java deployments across an organisation is essential. With 83% of organisations requiring commercially supported Java in production, this mapping phase is critical.
- Governance and compliance - Maintaining independence from Oracle Java licensing requires robust governance. Success means partnering with OpenJDK providers offering comprehensive protection, from IP safeguards to indemnification.
The immediate financial benefits are substantial — most organisations report a 50-70% reduction in Oracle Java-related costs. Perhaps even more compelling, additional value lies in regaining control over Java technology strategy.
Cloud cost optimisation
Organisations are grappling with rapidly escalating cloud infrastructure costs, as annual global cloud spending is nearing a trillion dollars and continues to grow at double-digit rates. Our research reveals that 71% of organisations overpay for cloud compute capacity, highlighting an opportunity to reduce costs while improving application performance.
Companies that select non-Oracle optimised Java platforms can save 20%+ on cloud computing costs. This is because high-performance Java runtimes deliver more stable Java applications and infrastructure while consuming fewer computing resources, creating compelling advantages beyond just licensing considerations.
Powering AI innovation with Java
Emerging technology demands amplify the need for change, particularly in AI and cloud computing. Half of the surveyed companies from our State of Java report already build AI functionality using Java — from financial institutions developing fraud detection systems to retailers leveraging machine learning for customer personalisation and inventory management.
As computational demands grow, organisations require Java platforms that can deliver both performance and efficiency. These advanced workloads highlight the need for solutions that provide more scalable and stable applications while consuming fewer computing resources, enabling AI initiatives to be deployed successfully without excessive infrastructure investments.
Oracle Java independence is not just a technical evolution — it's a strategic imperative that gives organisations the freedom to innovate, control costs, and build their technology future on their own terms.
