Multi-Cloud Policy Management With Controller-Based Instance Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Different cloud computing environments use different languages, data sources, and protocols, leading to issues like overlapping subnets and IP addresses, making it challenging to apply consistent policies across multiple cloud computing environments.
Innovation Solution
A system with a user interface, collectors, a controller, a configurator, testers, and an enforcer that retrieves information, determines and applies policies, inspects operations, and responds to violations by reapplying policies or shutting down instances to ensure consistency across cloud environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different cloud computing environments use their own languages, data sources, commands, and protocols independently, then each environment can operate autonomously with its own characteristics, but policy consistency and network integrity deteriorate across multiple environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central controller as an intermediary that mediates between multiple cloud computing environments. The controller receives policies from a configurator, translates them into environment-specific configurations using collectors that understand each environment's language and protocols, and enforces them across all instances. This mediator resolves the contradiction by maintaining policy consistency while preserving environmental autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller implements a universal policy management system that handles multiple cloud environments through a single interface. The configurator accepts high-level policy definitions that are then translated into environment-specific implementations. This universal approach allows consistent policy enforcement across diverse environments without requiring each environment to be customized independently.
2Productivity
If each cloud computing provider uses different methods to allocate subnets and IP addresses, then each provider can optimize resource allocation for their own environment, but network conflicts and overlapping addresses increase across environments
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements feedback mechanisms where collectors continuously monitor network configurations and resource allocation across all cloud environments. When potential conflicts or overlaps are detected, the controller receives feedback and adjusts allocations to resolve conflicts. This closed-loop system maintains efficient resource allocation while preventing network conflicts through continuous monitoring and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-planning and coordinating resource allocation across environments before conflicts occur. The controller proactively manages IP address and subnet allocation by receiving configuration settings upfront and translating them into environment-specific allocations that are guaranteed to be conflict-free. This preventive approach avoids network conflicts rather than reacting to them after they occur.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different instructions are required for applying policies to instances in each cloud environment, then each environment can be configured according to its specific requirements, but system complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the policy management system into distinct functional components: a configurator that handles high-level policy definitions, collectors that translate policies into environment-specific instructions, and an enforcer that applies them. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability to different environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that shields users from environment-specific complexities. Users interact with a unified configurator interface that abstracts away the differences between cloud environments. The controller then handles the complexity of translating high-level policies into environment-specific instructions, isolating users from the underlying complexity while preserving environment-specific capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing policy-controlled communication between a plurality of different cloud computing environments includes a user interface that receives configuration settings to be applied to a plurality of first instances and a plurality of second instances. A plurality of collectors of the system that retrieve information from a first cloud computing environment and a second cloud computing environment, and a controller determines policies for the plurality of first instances and the plurality of second instances. A configurator of the system applies the policies to the plurality of first instances and the plurality of second instances, a first tester that inspects operations of the plurality of first instances and detects violations of the policies, and an enforcer responds to the detected violations. The controller instructs the configurator to apply the first policy to the first instance again, shut down the first instance or cut off communications with the first instance.