Variabilized Cloud Environment Templates for Faster Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cloud deployment and management processes are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to errors due to manual updates and inconsistencies in infrastructure as code configuration files, especially for organizations deploying multiple similar or identical cloud environments with varying configurations and security protocols.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for creating and managing cloud environments using variabilized templates and continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines, allowing operators to input variable data that integrates with pre-existing templates, generating executable files to deploy environments through cloud service providers, and supporting rapid creation and updating of multiple environments with organizational awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual processes are used to create and configure cloud environments, then operators can customize each environment according to organizational requirements, but the deployment process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining cloud environment templates with common configurations, security protocols, and infrastructure settings. These templates are prepared in advance and stored in a repository, allowing operators to quickly instantiate environments by selecting and customizing pre-built templates rather than creating everything from scratch. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining adaptability through template customization while dramatically reducing deployment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating reusable cloud environment templates that can be replicated across multiple deployments. Once a template is created with specific configurations, it can be copied and instantiated multiple times with minimal modification. This resolves the contradiction by enabling rapid replication (reducing time) while allowing customization of each instance (maintaining adaptability).
2Productivity
If executable configuration files are manually copied and updated for different cloud environments, then environments can be replicated, but inconsistencies and errors are introduced between different copies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by creating reusable cloud environment templates that can be replicated across multiple deployments. Once a template is created with specific configurations, it can be copied and instantiated multiple times with minimal modification. This resolves the contradiction by enabling rapid replication (reducing time) while allowing customization of each instance (maintaining adaptability).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through automated verification processes that check configuration consistency across replicated environments. The system monitors and detects deviations from the original template, providing feedback to operators about inconsistencies. This feedback mechanism ensures reliability by alerting operators to configuration drift, allowing them to correct issues before they propagate across the infrastructure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate cloud environments are created for different teams and functions, then organizational requirements are met, but manual updates become increasingly complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a centralized template repository that serves multiple teams, functions, and cloud environments. A single template can be used across different organizational units with minimal customization. This reduces management complexity by providing a universal base configuration that can be adapted to various organizational requirements, eliminating the need to maintain separate configuration processes for each team or function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses segmentation by dividing cloud environment configurations into modular templates that can be independently managed and combined. Complex environments are broken down into reusable template components that can be assembled differently for different teams and functions. This segmentation reduces management complexity by allowing operators to work with smaller, manageable template units rather than monolithic configuration files, while still supporting organizational flexibility through custom combinations.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques described herein relate to creating and managing groups of cloud-based environments. An interface may be provided through which operators can provide environment configuration variables and request creation and deployment of cloud computing environments. The operator may provide configuration variables via the interface for the requested environment, and the configuration variables may be integrated into pre-existing templates for the organization compliant with a cloud provisioning system. Separate project spaces may be created and conditioned to generate different cloud environments, and infrastructure as code (IaC) configuration files or other executable software based on the variabilized templates may be stored in a project space. A continuous integration and deployment pipeline may be executed to invoke the cloud provisioning system to execute the IaC configuration files within the project space, to provision the requested cloud computing environment within a cloud of a cloud service provider.