Virtual Instance Provisioning for Secure Cloud Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high initial costs and complexity of deploying enterprise application software using traditional three-tiered architecture make it inaccessible to small and medium businesses, while existing cloud computing solutions lack secure and reliable integration with private data centers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for provisioning and managing computing applications on virtual instances within a public virtualization space, utilizing a hosted service system that provides automated administration, encrypted networking, and secure integration between private and public environments, hiding the underlying virtualization service and network insecurity, and offering secure, reliable, and performant instances comparable to local deployments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional three-tiered architecture is used for enterprise application deployment, then application functionality and reliability are ensured, but initial deployment cost and complexity increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the traditional three-tiered architecture by deploying it as a virtual instance in the cloud. The virtual instance replicates the entire application stack (user interface tier, server tier, database tier) without requiring physical hardware deployment, thereby maintaining application functionality while dramatically reducing deployment complexity and initial costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer as an intermediary between the physical cloud infrastructure and the traditional three-tiered architecture. This virtualization layer abstracts the complexity of cloud resource management and presents a familiar on-premises-like interface, allowing enterprises to migrate applications without redesigning their architecture
2Reliability
If traditional three-tiered architecture is deployed locally, then application security and control are maintained, but hardware and infrastructure costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the traditional three-tiered architecture by deploying it as a virtual instance in the cloud. The virtual instance replicates the entire application stack (user interface tier, server tier, database tier) without requiring physical hardware deployment, thereby maintaining application functionality while dramatically reducing deployment complexity and initial costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal virtualization platform that can host multiple different three-tiered applications on shared physical hardware. The same physical servers, storage, and networking infrastructure can support various enterprise applications simultaneously through virtualization, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware for each application
3Ease of manufacture
If cloud computing is used to host applications, then shared resources and cost structure are improved, but security and reliability concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer as an intermediary between the physical cloud infrastructure and the traditional three-tiered architecture. This virtualization layer abstracts the complexity of cloud resource management and presents a familiar on-premises-like interface, allowing enterprises to migrate applications without redesigning their architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the security-critical components (database tier, server tier) from the public cloud environment and places them in a private virtual network isolated from public-facing services. This extraction maintains the cost benefits of cloud computing while addressing security concerns by separating sensitive data and processing from the shared public infrastructure
4Adaptability or versatility
If virtual instances are deployed in public virtualization space, then scalability and resource sharing are improved, but network security and integration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into isolated virtual subnets that mirror traditional on-premises network topology. Each tier of the three-tiered architecture is placed in its own virtual subnet with controlled access points, allowing scalable cloud deployment while maintaining familiar network security boundaries and reducing integration complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are described for provisioning and managing virtual instances of a computing application running within a public virtualization space (referred to as a hosted service system). A hosted service system may be configured to provide automated administration of the computing application, replacing the administration tasks that would otherwise be performed by the customer when running in an on-premise production deployment and to provide encrypted networking and other services that are specific to the public virtualization environment and are designed to provide a secure integration fabric between a customer's own private data center and virtual instances of the computing application running within an insecure public virtualization service.