Patent Publication Number: US-9900322-B2

Title: Method and system for providing permissions management

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of Lietz, et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/266,107 (INTU148310), filed on Apr. 30, 2014, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety as if it were fully set forth herein. This application is also a continuation-in-part of Bonney, et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/289,817 (INTU148034), filed on May 29, 2014, entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING DATA SECURITY POLICIES USING DATABASE CLASSIFICATION,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety as if it were fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     As various forms of distributed computing, such as cloud computing, have come to dominate the computing landscape, security has become a bottleneck issue that currently prevents the complete migration of various capabilities and systems associated with sensitive data, such as financial data, to cloud-based infrastructures, and/or other distributive computing models. 
     Historically, in an effort to control access provided to entities charged with taking part in the development, and/or deployment, and/or operation of an application, the security industry has employed role-based access and permission control and management systems to try and ensure that only authorized entities, such as individual persons, can access specific systems, applications, and resources within traditional data centers. While role-based access and permission control and management was arguably effective when used in traditional data center hardware defined environments, within a software defined environment, such as a cloud computing environment, role-based access and permission control and management systems create a great deal of complexity and inefficiency. This is due in part to the fact that, using traditional role-based access and permission control and management, each stage of each individual application&#39;s development, deployment, and operation requires numerous, largely customized, roles to be defined for each entity, each with a set of permissions further customized to that entity, and customized with respect to each stage of development of each individual application. To make matters worse, this process must typically be repeated for each application and/or service. 
     The situation described above represents a significant issue that must be resolved before highly sensitive data, such as financial data, can be safely and efficiently processed in a cloud computing environment. 
     What is needed is a permissions management system centered on reference architecture patterns, e.g., blueprints, cookbooks, and templates, for various types, or classes of applications. Then these reference architecture pattern-based permission management systems can be used for multiple applications of the same reference architecture pattern type and the permissions for a given entity can be automatically assigned and provided based on the reference architecture pattern in use, and the tier or account associated with the reference architecture pattern being utilized/accessed, and the role assigned to the entity within the reference architecture pattern. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a method and system for providing permissions management includes defining one or more reference architecture patterns for the development, and/or deployment, and/or operation of an application, or application type. 
     In one embodiment, one or more reference architecture pattern roles to be associated with entities taking part in the development, and/or deployment, and/or operation of an application using a reference architecture pattern are identified. In one embodiment, reference architecture pattern role data representing the identified reference architecture pattern roles is generated. 
     In one embodiment, for each reference architecture pattern, reference architecture pattern tiers used to create, and/or deploy, and/or operate an application using the reference architecture pattern are identified. In one embodiment, reference architecture pattern tier data representing the reference architecture pattern tiers is generated. 
     In one embodiment, for each reference architecture pattern, and for each reference architecture pattern role represented by the reference architecture pattern role data, at least one access and/or operational permission is associated with each reference architecture pattern tier represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data. 
     In one embodiment, for each reference architecture pattern, at least one entity is assigned one of the reference architecture pattern roles represented by the reference architecture pattern role data and, for each reference architecture pattern tier represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data, the at least one entity is automatically provided the at least one access and/or operational permission associated with the reference architecture pattern role assigned to the entity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a high level functional block diagram of an exemplary reference architecture pattern in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative example of a relational diagram for a two tier reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative example of a relational diagram for a three tier reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative example of a relational diagram for a four tier reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram showing the interaction of various components for implementing one embodiment; and 
         FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    together (collectively referred to herein as  FIG. 6 ) are a flow chart depicting a process for providing permissions management in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart depicting a process for providing permissions management in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and the detailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the above figures are examples and that other architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation and elements/functions can be provided and implemented without departing from the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth in the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures, which depict one or more exemplary embodiments. Embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein, shown in the figures, and/or described below. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided to allow a complete disclosure that conveys the principles of the invention, as set forth in the claims, to those of skill in the art. 
     In one embodiment, permissions provided to a given entity, such as a person, taking part in the various stages of the development, deployment, and operation of an application are determined based on a role assigned to the entity, and the reference architecture pattern associated with the application, and the tier, e.g., the cloud computing infrastructure provider account, of the reference architecture pattern currently being accessed or used by the entity. Consequently, using the methods and systems for providing permissions management discussed herein, a single role assigned to an entity correlates to different access, operational, and functional permissions depending on the reference architecture pattern and the tier of the reference architecture pattern being accessed. 
     In one embodiment, multiple reference architecture pattern-based permission management plans for various types, or classes, of applications are defined. Then these reference architecture pattern-based permission management plans are used for multiple applications of the same reference architecture pattern type and the permissions for a given entity can be automatically assigned and provided based on the reference architecture pattern in use, the tier or account associated with the reference architecture pattern being utilized/accessed, and the role assigned to the entity within the reference architecture pattern. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a method and system for providing permissions management includes a process for providing permissions management used to implement an application, at least in part, in a production environment. 
     Herein, the term “production environment” includes the various components, or assets, used to deploy, implement, access, and use, a given application as that application is intended to be used. In various embodiments, production environments include multiple assets that are combined; communicatively coupled; virtually and/or physically connected; and/or associated with one another, to provide the production environment implementing the application. 
     As specific illustrative examples, the assets making up a given production environment can include, but are not limited to, one or more computing environments used to implement the application in the production environment such as a data center, a cloud computing environment, and/or one or more other computing environments in which one or more assets used by the application in the production environment are implemented, one or more computing systems or computing entities used to implement the application in the production environment, one or more virtual assets used to implement the application in the production environment, one or more supervisory or control systems, such as hypervisors or other systems used to monitor and control assets and/or components of the production environment, one or more communications channels for sending and receiving data used to implement the application in the production environment, one or more access control systems for limiting access to various components of the production environment, such as firewalls and gateways; one or more traffic and/or routing systems used to direct, control, and/or buffer, data traffic to components of the production environment, such as routers and switches, one or more communications endpoint proxy systems used to buffer, process, and/or direct data traffic, such as load balancers or buffers, one or more secure communication protocols and/or endpoints used to encrypt/decrypt data, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocols, used to implement the application in the production environment, one or more databases used to store or buffer data, one or more internal or external services used to implement the application in the production environment, one or more backend systems, such as backend servers or other hardware used to process data and implement the application in the production environment, one or more software systems used to implement the application in the production environment, and/or any other assets/components making up an actual production environment in which an application is deployed, implemented, accessed, and run, e.g., operated, as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing. 
     As used herein, the terms “computing system” and “computing entity” include, but are not limited to, a virtual asset, a server computing system, a workstation, a desktop computing system, a mobile computing system, including, but not limited to, smart phones, portable devices, and/or devices worn or carried by a user, a database system or storage cluster, a switching system, a router, any hardware system, any communications system, any form of proxy system, a gateway system, a firewall system, a load balancing system, or any device, subsystem, or mechanism that includes components that can execute all, or part, of any one of the processes and/or operations as described herein. 
     In addition, as used herein, the terms computing system and computing entity, can denote, but are not limited to, systems made up of multiple virtual assets, server computing systems, workstations, desktop computing systems, mobile computing systems, database systems or storage clusters, switching systems, routers, hardware systems, communications systems, proxy systems, gateway systems, firewall systems, load balancing systems, or any devices that can be used to perform the processes and/or operations as described herein. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a method and system for providing permissions management includes a process for providing permissions management used to create, and/or deploy, and/or operate an application using one or more assets and/or virtual assets in one or more computing environments, including, in one embodiment, a cloud computing environment. 
     As used herein, the term “computing environment” includes, but is not limited to, a logical or physical grouping of connected or networked computing systems and/or virtual assets using the same infrastructure and systems such as, but not limited to, hardware systems, software systems, and networking/communications systems. Typically, computing environments are either known environments, e.g., “trusted” environments, or unknown, e.g., “untrusted” environments. Typically trusted computing environments are those where the assets, infrastructure, communication and networking systems, and security systems associated with the computing systems and/or virtual assets making up the trusted computing environment, are either under the control of, or known to, a party. In contrast, unknown, or untrusted computing environments are environments and systems where the assets, components, infrastructure, communication and networking systems, and security systems implemented and associated with the computing systems and/or virtual assets making up the untrusted computing environment, are not under the control of, and/or are not known by, a party, and/or are dynamically configured with new elements capable of being added that are unknown to the party. 
     In various embodiments, each computing environment includes allocated assets and virtual assets associated with, and controlled or used to create, and/or deploy, and/or operate an application. 
     Examples of trusted computing environments include the assets and components making up data centers associated with, and/or controlled by, an application and/or any computing systems and/or virtual assets, and/or networks of computing systems and/or virtual assets, associated with, known by, and/or controlled by, an application. Examples of untrusted computing environments include, but are not limited to, public networks, such as the Internet, various cloud-based computing environments, and various other forms of distributed computing systems. 
     It is often the case that to create, and/or deploy, and/or operate an application, data must be transferred to, and/or from, a first computing environment that is an untrusted computing environment and a trusted computing environment. However, in other situations a party may wish to transfer data between two trusted computing environments, and/or two untrusted computing environments. 
     In various embodiments, one or more cloud computing environments are used to create, and/or deploy, and/or operate an application that can be any form of cloud computing environment, such as, but not limited to, a public cloud; a private cloud; a virtual private network (VPN); a subnet; a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC); a sub-net or any security/communications grouping; or any other cloud-based infrastructure, sub-structure, or architecture, as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing. 
     In many cases, a given application or service may utilize, and interface with, multiple cloud computing environments, such as multiple VPCs, in the course of being created, and/or deployed, and/or operated. 
     As used herein, the term “virtual asset” includes any virtualized entity or resource, and/or part of an actual, or “bare metal” entity. In various embodiments, the virtual assets can be, but are not limited to, virtual machines, virtual servers, and instances implemented in a cloud computing environment; databases associated with a cloud computing environment, and/or implemented in a cloud computing environment; services associated with, and/or delivered through, a cloud computing environment; communications systems used with, part of, or provided through, a cloud computing environment; and/or any other virtualized assets and/or sub-systems of “bare metal” physical devices such as mobile devices, remote sensors, laptops, desktops, point-of-sale devices, ATMs, electronic voting machines, etc., located within a data center, within a cloud computing environment, and/or any other physical or logical location, as discussed herein, and/or as known/available in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed/made available after the time of filing. 
     In various embodiments, any, or all, of the assets making up a given production environment discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing, can be implemented as virtual assets. 
     Typically, virtual assets are created, or instantiated, using steps, instructions, processes, code, or “recipes” referred to herein as “virtual asset creation templates.” Typically, virtual assets that have the same, or similar, operational parameters are created using the same or similar “virtual asset creation templates.” 
     Examples of virtual asset creation templates include, but are not limited to, any tool and/or system for creating and managing a collection of related, or similar, cloud resources. Illustrative examples of such a virtual asset creation template are any of the cloud formation templates/tools provided by Amazon Web Service (AWS), Rack Space, Joyent, and/or any other of the numerous cloud based infrastructure providers. 
     Other examples of virtual asset creation templates include, but are not limited to, any configuration management tool associated with, and/or used to create, virtual assets. One specific illustrative example of such a virtual asset creation template is a cookbook or recipe tool such as a Chef Recipe or any other organization of fundamental elements, or sets of elements, used to override the default settings on a node within an infrastructure or architecture. 
     Other examples of virtual asset creation templates include, but are not limited to, any virtual appliance used to instantiate virtual assets. One specific illustrative example of such a virtual asset creation template is an Amazon Machine Image (AMI), and/or similar functionality provided by Amazon Web Service (AWS), Rack Space, Joyent, and/or any other of the numerous cloud based infrastructure providers. 
     Other examples of virtual asset creation templates include, but are not limited to, any appliance, or tool, or system, or framework, used to instantiate virtual assets as discussed herein, and/or as known/available in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed/made available after the time of filing. 
     Herein, virtual assets that have the same or similar operational parameters and are created by the same or similar virtual asset creation template are generically referred to as virtual assets of the same “class.” Examples of virtual asset classes include, but are not limited to, virtual machine classes; virtual server classes; virtual database or data store classes; specific types of instances instantiated in a cloud environment; application development process classes; and application classes. 
     In one embodiment, two or more assets, such as computing systems and/or virtual assets, and/or two or more computing environments, are connected by one or more communications channels including but not limited to, Secure Sockets Layer communications channels and various other secure communications channels, and/or distributed computing system networks, such as, but not limited to: a public cloud, a private cloud, a virtual private network, a subnet, any general network, communications network, or general network/communications network system, a combination of different network types, a public network, a private network, a satellite network, a cable network, or any other network capable of allowing communication between two or more assets, computing systems, and/or virtual assets, as discussed herein, and/or available or known at the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing. 
     As used herein, the term “network” includes, but is not limited to, any network or network system such as, but not limited to, a peer-to-peer network, a hybrid peer-to-peer network, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a public network, such as the Internet, a private network, a cellular network, any general network, communications network, or general network/communications network system, a wireless network, a wired network, a wireless and wired combination network, a satellite network, a cable network, any combination of different network types, or any other system capable of allowing communication between two or more assets, virtual assets, and/or computing systems, whether available or known at the time of filing or as later developed. 
     In one embodiment, one or more reference architecture patterns to be used in connection with the development, and/or deployment, and/or operation of an application or application type are defined. 
     In one embodiment, the reference architecture patterns represent the “blueprints” or “recipes” indicating the usage and interconnection of steps, stages, and/or tiers used to develop, deploy, and/or operate an associated class, or type, of application associated with each of the reference architecture patterns. 
     In various embodiments, each of the different types of reference architecture patterns is associated with a type, or class, of applications where the same number of tiers, and types of tiers, are utilized and interconnected to develop, deploy, and/or operate the applications. 
     As a specific illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with two tier applications where the two tiers used to develop, deploy, and/or operate the applications are a development tier and a production tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with three tier applications where the three tiers include a development tier, a pre-production tier, and a production tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with three-tier applications where the three tiers include a development tier, a production tier, and a web tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with four tier applications where the four tiers include a development tier, a pre-production tier, a production tier, and a staging tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with four tier applications where the four tiers include a development tier, a production tier, an integration tier, and a security tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with five tier applications where the five tiers include a development tier, a pre-production tier, a production tier, a staging tier, and an integration tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with five tier applications where the five tiers include a development tier, a pre-production tier, a production tier, a staging tier, and an external user tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with five tier applications where the five tiers include a development tier, a pre-production tier, a production tier, a staging tier, and security tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with six tier applications where the six tiers include a development tier, a pre-production tier, a production tier, a staging tier, an integration tier, and a security tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with seven tier applications where the seven tiers include a development tier, a pre-production tier, a production tier, a staging tier, an integration tier, a security tier, and an external tier. 
     As can be seen from the specific illustrative examples above, in various embodiments, the reference architecture patterns can be defined and associated with application types, or classes, that are developed, deployed, and operated, utilizing any number of tiers, with each of the tiers being any one of numerous tier types. In various embodiments, a given reference architecture pattern is defined by the specific number of tiers, and the specific type of tiers, used to develop, deploy, and operate the type, or class, of applications associated with the reference architecture pattern. Consequently, in various embodiments, multiple reference architecture patterns associated with multiple classes, or types, of applications are defined. 
     In various embodiments, the reference architecture pattern tiers associated with the reference architecture patterns represent various stages or functionality used to develop, deploy, and/or operate the applications. In various embodiments, the tiers associated with the reference architecture patterns include, but are not limited to, one or more of a development tier, a pre-production tier, a production tier, a staging tier, an integration tier, an external tier, a security tier, and/or any other tier representing a stage or functional operability associated with the development, deployment, or operation of an application, and/or class of applications. 
     In various embodiments, and particularly those where the applications are to be deployed and operated in a cloud computing infrastructure, each of the reference architecture pattern tiers is, or is associated with, a separate cloud computing infrastructure account provided through a cloud computing infrastructure provider. Consequently, in various embodiments, the reference architecture pattern tiers associated with the reference architecture patterns include, but are not limited to, one or more of a development account, a pre-production account, a production account, a staging account, an integration account, an external account, a security account, and/or any other cloud computing infrastructure account associated with a stage or functional operability in the development, deployment, or operation of an application, and/or class of applications. 
     In various embodiments, each of the reference architecture pattern tiers or cloud computing infrastructure accounts has associated resources allocated to it that are used to implement the functionality associated with each of the reference architecture pattern tiers or cloud computing infrastructure accounts. In various embodiments, the resources allocated to the reference architecture pattern tiers include, but are not limited to, any of the assets, virtual assets, and/or other production environment components discussed herein and/or defined above, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing. 
       FIG. 1  is a high level functional block diagram of an exemplary reference architecture pattern N in accordance with one embodiment. As seen in  FIG. 1 , exemplary reference architecture pattern N includes four reference architecture pattern tiers or cloud computing infrastructure accounts including pattern N tier  1  or account PN 1 ; pattern N tier  2  or account PN 2 ; pattern N tier  3  or account PN 3 ; and pattern N tier  4  or account PN 4 . 
     Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that, as stated above, in various embodiments, the reference architecture patterns can be defined and associated with application types or classes that are developed, deployed, and operated, utilizing any number of reference architecture pattern tiers or cloud computing infrastructure accounts, with each of the tiers/accounts being any one of numerous tier/account types. 
     Consequently, the specific illustrative example of  FIG. 1 , and reference architecture pattern N, is not limiting and, in various embodiments, a given reference architecture pattern is defined by the specific number of tiers/accounts, and the specific type of tiers/accounts, used to develop, deploy, and operate the type, or class, of applications associated with the reference architecture pattern. Consequently, in various embodiments, multiple reference architecture patterns associated with multiple classes, or types, of applications are defined, including those distinct from the specific illustrative example of  FIG. 1 . 
     As also seen in  FIG. 1 , each of the four tiers or accounts, i.e., pattern N tier  1 , or account PN 1 ; pattern N tier  2 , or account PN 2 ; pattern N tier  3 , or account PN 3 ; and pattern N tier  4 , or account PN 4 , of exemplary reference architecture pattern N includes allocated resources, shown as representative assets and representative virtual assets in  FIG. 1 . Specifically, pattern N tier  1 , or account PN 1 , includes allocated resources shown as representative pattern N tier  1  asset  11  and representative pattern N tier  1  virtual asset  12 . Likewise, pattern N tier  2 , or account PN 2 , includes allocated resources shown as representative pattern N tier  2  asset  21  and representative pattern N tier  2  virtual asset  22 . Similarly, pattern N tier  3 , or account PN 3 , includes allocated resources shown as representative pattern N tier  3  asset  31  and representative pattern N tier  3  virtual asset  32 . Likewise, pattern N tier  4 , or account PN 4 , includes allocated resources shown as representative pattern N tier  4  asset  41  and representative pattern N tier  4  virtual asset  42 . 
     Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that while single representative assets, i.e., representative pattern N tier  1  asset  11 , representative pattern N tier  2  asset  21 , representative pattern N tier  3  asset  31 , and representative pattern N tier  4  asset  41  are shown in  FIG. 1 , each of representative pattern N tier  1  asset  11 , representative pattern N tier  2  asset  21 , representative pattern N tier  3  asset  31 , and representative pattern N tier  4  asset  41  can represent two or more assets. 
     Likewise, those of skill in the art will readily recognize that while single representative virtual assets, i.e., representative pattern N tier  1  virtual asset  12 , representative pattern N tier  2  virtual asset  22 , representative pattern N tier  3  virtual asset  32 , and representative pattern N tier  4  virtual asset  42  are shown in  FIG. 1 , each of representative pattern N tier  1  virtual asset  12 , representative pattern N tier  2  virtual asset  22 , representative pattern N tier  3  virtual asset  32 , and representative pattern N tier  4  virtual asset  42  can represent two or more virtual assets. 
     As discussed in more detail below, for each of the four reference architecture pattern tiers or cloud computing infrastructure accounts, i.e., pattern N tier  1 , or account PN 1 ; pattern N tier  2 , or account PN 2 ; pattern N tier  3 , or account PN 3 ; and pattern N tier  4 , or account PN 4 , of exemplary reference architecture pattern N, access permissions are required to access the allocated resources, i.e., to access representative pattern N tier  1  asset  11 , representative pattern N tier  2  asset  21 , representative pattern N tier  3  asset  31 , representative pattern N tier  4  asset  41 , representative pattern N tier  1  virtual asset  12 , representative pattern N tier  2  virtual asset  22 , representative pattern N tier  3  virtual asset  32 , and representative pattern N tier  4  virtual asset  42 . 
     In addition, as also discussed in more detail below, the access permissions required to access the allocated resources are assigned to entities, such as individual persons, based on a role assigned to the entity and which of the four reference architecture pattern tiers or could infrastructure accounts is being utilized within exemplary reference architecture pattern N. 
     Consequently, as seen in  FIG. 1 , and as discussed in more detail below, pattern N tier  1 , or account PN 1 , includes pattern N tier  1  permissions by pattern N role  10  required to access representative pattern N tier  1  asset  11  and/or representative pattern N tier  1  virtual asset  12 . 
     Likewise, as seen in  FIG. 1 , and as discussed in more detail below, pattern N tier  2 , or account PN 2 , includes pattern N tier  2  permissions by pattern N role  20  required to access representative pattern N tier  2  asset  21  and/or representative pattern N tier  2  virtual asset  22 . 
     Similarly, as seen in  FIG. 1 , and as discussed in more detail below, pattern N tier  3 , or account PN 3 , includes pattern N tier  3  permissions by pattern N role  30  required to access representative pattern N tier  3  asset  31  and/or representative pattern N tier  3  virtual asset  32 . 
     Likewise, as seen in  FIG. 1 , and as discussed in more detail below, pattern N tier  4 , or account PN 4 , includes pattern N tier  4  permissions by pattern N role  40  required to access representative pattern N tier  4  asset  41  and/or representative pattern N tier  4  virtual asset  42 . 
     In one embodiment, once one or more reference architecture patterns are defined, for each reference architecture pattern, reference architecture pattern tier data representing the reference architecture pattern tiers associated with that reference architecture pattern is generated and logically arranged in a reference architecture pattern-based management plan based on, and/or associated with, that reference architecture pattern. 
       FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  are illustrative examples of relational diagrams for two, three, and four, tier reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans, respectively, in accordance with one embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  shows one illustrative example of a two-tier reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  200 , referred to in  FIG. 2  as reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  includes a first reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, shown in  FIG. 2  as pattern  1  tier  1 , or account P 11 , and a second reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, shown in  FIG. 2  as pattern  1  tier  2 , or account P 12 . 
       FIG. 3  shows one illustrative example of a three-tier reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  300 , referred to in  FIG. 3  as reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2  includes a first reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, shown in  FIG. 3  as pattern  2  tier  1 , or account P 21 , a second reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, shown in  FIG. 3  as pattern  2  tier  2 , or account P 22 , and a third reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, shown in  FIG. 3  as pattern  2  tier  3 , or account P 23 . 
       FIG. 4  shows one illustrative example of a four-tier reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  400 , referred to in  FIG. 4  as reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3  includes a first reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, shown in  FIG. 4  as pattern  3  tier  1 , or account P 31 , a second reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, shown in  FIG. 4  as pattern  3  tier  2 , or account P 32 , a third reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, shown in  FIG. 4  as pattern  3  tier  3 , or account P 33 , and a fourth reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, shown in  FIG. 4  as pattern  3  tier  4 , or account P 34 . 
     Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that, as stated above, in various embodiments, the reference architecture patterns can be defined and associated with application types, or classes, that are developed, deployed, and operated, utilizing any number of reference architecture tiers or computing infrastructure accounts, with each of the reference architecture tiers/computing infrastructure accounts being any one of numerous reference architecture tier/computing infrastructure account types. 
     Consequently, the specific illustrative examples of reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  are not limiting and, in various embodiments, a given reference architecture pattern, and resulting reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan, is defined by the specific number of tiers/accounts, and the specific type of tiers/accounts, used to develop, deploy, and operate the type or class of applications associated with the reference architecture pattern. Consequently, in various embodiments, multiple reference architecture patterns associated with multiple classes, or types, of applications are defined, including those distinct from the specific illustrative examples of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 . 
     In one embodiment, once one or more reference architecture patterns are defined, and for each reference architecture pattern, reference architecture pattern tier data representing the reference architecture pattern tiers associated with that reference architecture pattern is generated and logically arranged in a reference architecture pattern-based management plan based on, and/or associated with, that reference architecture pattern, one or more reference architecture pattern roles to be associated with entities, e.g. individual persons, taking part in the development, and/or deployment, and/or operation of applications associated with the reference architecture patterns are defined. 
     In one embodiment, the one or more reference architecture pattern roles are defined once and then the same reference architecture pattern roles are utilized with each reference architecture pattern, and the resulting reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan. 
     In other embodiments, the one or more reference architecture pattern roles are separately defined each reference architecture pattern, and the resulting reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan. 
     In various embodiments, the one or more reference architecture pattern roles correlate to roles assigned by an organization, such as a company, associated with a reference architecture pattern-based permissions plan to individual entities, such as individual employees charged with developing, deploying, and/or operating one or more applications provided by, and/or through, the organization. 
     Typically, in order to provide greater data security, control, and separation of duties, each reference architecture pattern role, and therefore the entities assigned each reference architecture pattern role, is provided a different set of permissions and operational access that is deemed necessary to perform the duties assigned to that role. In addition, as discussed below, the permissions and operational access associated with each role is ideally further tailored to the permissions and operational access needed by that role in a specific reference architecture pattern tier, and/or computing infrastructure account. In the prior art, this three way tailoring of permissions and operational access based on the reference architecture pattern, and the role assigned within the reference architecture pattern, and the reference architecture pattern tier being utilized, was not available, at least not in any reasonably efficient and consistent way. 
     In various embodiments, the one or more reference architecture pattern roles include, but are not limited to, one or more of a supervisory administrator, or SuperAdmin, role; an administrator, or Admin, role; a security role; an operator role; a developer role; a third-party role; a user role; read-only role; and/or any other role, or combination of roles, to be assigned to individual entities, as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed/made available after the time of filing. 
     As noted above, in one embodiment, a given entity is assigned one of the reference architecture pattern roles. In one embodiment, the entity maintains the assigned reference architecture pattern role, regardless of which reference architecture pattern, and associated reference architecture pattern-based permission management plan, is being implemented and regardless of which reference architecture pattern tier, and/or cloud computing infrastructure account, is being accessed or utilized by the entity. However, the permissions granted to the entity are variable and assigned based on the reference architecture pattern role assigned to the entity, and the reference architecture pattern being applied, and the reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, being utilized. 
     In one embodiment, once one or more reference architecture pattern roles are defined for each reference architecture pattern, and resulting architecture pattern-based management plan, reference architecture pattern role data representing the defined or identified reference architecture pattern roles is generated and logically included in the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan based-on, and/or associated with each reference architecture pattern. 
     As noted above,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  are illustrative examples of relational diagrams for two, three, and four, tier reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans, respectively, in accordance with one embodiment. 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  includes reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  roles (P 1 ) SuperAdmin; (P 1 ) Security; (P 1 ) Admin; (P 1 ) Operator; (P 1 ) Developer; (P 1 ) 3 rd  Party; (P 1 ) User; and (P 1 ) Read-Only. In this particular illustrative example, the “(P 1 )” qualifier in front of each of the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  roles indicates that role could be specifically defined for reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1 . However, in the specific illustrative examples shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , each of the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans uses the same reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan roles. 
     As seen in  FIG. 3 , reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2  includes reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2  roles (P 2 ) SuperAdmin; (P 2 ) Security; (P 2 ) Admin; (P 2 ) Operator; (P 2 ) Developer; (P 2 ) 3 rd  Party; (P 2 ) User; and (P 2 ) Read-Only. As noted above, in this particular illustrative example, the “(P 2 )” qualifier in front of each of the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2  roles indicates that role could be specifically defined for reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2 , but that is not the case in this specific illustrative example. 
     As seen in  FIG. 4 , reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3  includes reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3  roles (P 3 ) SuperAdmin; (P 3 ) Security; (P 3 ) Admin; (P 3 ) Operator; (P 3 ) Developer; (P 3 ) 3 rd  Party; (P 3 ) User; and (P 3 ) Read-Only. As noted above, in this particular illustrative example, the “(P 3 )” qualifier in front of each of the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3  roles indicates that role could be specifically defined for reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3 , but that is not the case in this specific illustrative example. 
     Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that more or fewer reference architecture pattern roles, and/or numerous other reference architecture pattern roles, other than those shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , can be defined in various embodiments. 
     In one embodiment, for each reference architecture pattern, and associated reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan, and for each reference architecture pattern role represented by the reference architecture pattern role data in the associated reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan, at least one access and/or operational permission is associated with each reference architecture pattern tier represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data of the associated reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan. 
     In various embodiments, one or more of the at least one access and/or operational permissions are actually permissions sets including one or more individual permissions and/or operational access, and/or functionality, to resources associated with the reference architecture pattern tiers and reference architecture pattern roles of the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan. 
     As specific illustrative examples, the at least one access and/or operational permissions, and/or permissions and/or operational access sets, include but are not limited to, one or more of, a super broad permissions set providing broad supervisory permissions, and/or operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a broad permissions set providing a relatively broad set of permissions, and/or relatively broad operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a moderate permissions set providing a relatively moderate set of permissions, and/or relatively moderate operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a narrow permissions set providing a relatively narrow set of permissions, and/or relatively narrow operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier. 
     As specific illustrative examples, the at least one access and/or operational permissions, and/or permissions and/or operational access sets, include but are not limited to, one or more of, a forensic permissions set providing forensic level permissions, and/or forensic level operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a broad forensic permissions set providing a relatively broad forensic level of permissions, and/or relatively broad forensic level operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a moderate forensic permissions set providing a relatively moderate forensic level of permissions, and/or relatively moderate forensic level operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a narrow forensic permissions set providing a relatively narrow forensic level of permissions, and/or relatively narrow forensic level operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier. 
     As specific illustrative examples, the at least one access and/or operational permissions, and/or permissions and/or operational access sets, include but are not limited to, one or more of, an administrator permissions set providing an administrator level of permissions, and/or administrator operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a broad administrator permissions set providing a relatively broad set of administrator permissions, and/or relatively broad administrator operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a moderate administrator permissions set providing a relatively moderate set of administrator permissions, and/or relatively moderate administrator operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a narrow administrator permissions set providing a relatively narrow set of administrator permissions, and/or relatively narrow administrator operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier. 
     As specific illustrative examples, the at least one access and/or operational permissions, and/or permissions and/or operational access sets, include but are not limited to, one or more of, an integrator permissions set providing integrator level of permissions, and/or integrator operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a broad integrator permissions set providing a relatively broad set of integrator permissions, and/or relatively broad integrator operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a moderate integrator permissions set providing a relatively moderate set of integrator permissions, and/or relatively moderate integrator operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a narrow integrator permissions set providing a relatively narrow set of integrator permissions, and/or relatively narrow integrator operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier. 
     As specific illustrative examples, the at least one access and/or operational permissions, and/or permissions and/or operational access sets, include but are not limited to, one or more of, an end-user permissions set providing end-user level of permissions, and/or end-user operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a broad end-user permissions set providing a relatively broad set of end-user permissions, and/or relatively broad end-user operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a moderate end-user permissions set providing a relatively moderate set of end-user permissions, and/or relatively moderate end-user operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a narrow end-user permissions set providing a relatively narrow set of end-user permissions, and/or relatively narrow end-user operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier. 
     As specific illustrative examples, the at least one access and/or operational permissions, and/or permissions and/or operational access sets, include but are not limited to, one or more of, a read-only permissions set providing read-only permissions, and/or read-only operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a broad read-only permissions set providing a relatively broad set of read-only permissions, and/or relatively broad read-only operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a moderate read-only permissions set providing a relatively moderate set of read-only permissions, and/or relatively moderate read-only operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier; a narrow read-only permissions set providing a relatively narrow set of read-only permissions, and/or relatively narrow read-only operational access, to the resources allocated to the applicable reference architecture pattern tier. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  includes the permissions and/or operational access sets super-broad permissions, broad permissions, moderate permissions, narrow permissions, forensic permissions, admin permissions, integrator permissions, broad end-user permissions, end-user permissions, narrow end-user permissions, read-only permissions, and narrow read-only permissions, associated with specific reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  roles and specific reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  tiers, and/or accounts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2  includes the permissions and/or operational access sets super-broad permissions, broad permissions, moderate permissions, narrow permissions, forensic permissions, admin permissions, integrator permissions, broad end-user permissions, narrow end-user permissions, broad read-only permissions, moderate read-only permissions, narrow read-only permissions, operator permissions, and application permissions associated with specific reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2  roles and specific reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2  tiers, and/or accounts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3  includes the permissions and/or operational access sets super-broad permissions, broad permissions, moderate permissions, narrow permissions, forensic permissions, admin permissions, broad admin permissions, integrator permissions, broad end-user permissions, end-user permissions, narrow end-user permissions, read-only permissions, broad read-only permissions, moderate read-only permissions, narrow read-only permissions, narrow operator permissions, and moderate operator permissions, associated with specific reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3  roles and specific reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3  tiers, and/or accounts. 
     Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that numerous individual permissions and operational access data, and/or sets of permissions and/or operational access data can be defined in various embodiments. Consequently, the specific illustrative examples of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  are not limiting and that any permissions and/or operational access data, or combination of permissions and/or operational access data, as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as made known after the time of filing, can be defined and provided. 
     In addition, in various embodiments, the individual permissions and operator access included in each set of permissions are different and assigned/defined by one or more entities creating the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan and/or developing, deploying, and/or operating the application. 
     In one embodiment, for each reference architecture pattern, and associated reference architecture pattern-based permissions plan, at least one entity is assigned one of the reference architecture pattern roles represented by the reference architecture pattern role data. 
     In one embodiment, for each reference architecture pattern, each reference architecture pattern-based permissions plan is used to automatically assign the appropriate permissions and operational access to each reference architecture pattern role represented by the reference architecture pattern role data in the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan based on the specific reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data. 
     Consequently, in one embodiment, an individual entity is assigned a specific reference architecture pattern role. Then, using the appropriate reference architecture pattern-based permissions plan, the appropriate permissions and operational access is automatically provided to that entity based on the specific reference architecture pattern role assigned to that entity, and the reference architecture pattern associated with the reference architecture pattern-based permissions plan, and the specific reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, of the reference architecture pattern that the entity is attempting to access and/or utilize. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1 , an entity assigned the role of (P 1 ) SuperAdmin is automatically provided broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  1 /account P 11  and Super-broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  2 /account P 12 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1 , an entity assigned the role of (P 1 ) Security is automatically provided forensic permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  1 /account P 11  and forensic permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  2 /account P 12 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1 , an entity assigned the role of (P 1 ) Admin is automatically provided broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  1 /account P 11  and moderate permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  2 /account P 12 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1 , an entity assigned the role of (P 1 ) Operator is automatically provided narrow permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  1 /account P 11  and moderate permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  2 /account P 12 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1 , an entity assigned the role of (P 1 ) Developer is automatically provided admin permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  1 /account P 11  and integrator permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  2 /account P 12 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1 , an entity assigned the role of (P 1 ) 3 rd  Party is automatically provided integrator permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  1 /account P 11  and broad end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  2 /account P 12 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1 , an entity assigned the role of (P 1 ) User is automatically provided end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  1 /account P 11  and narrow end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  2 /account P 12 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1 , an entity assigned the role of (P 1 ) Read-Only is automatically provided read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  1 /account P 11  and narrow read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  1  tier  2 /account P 12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2 , an entity assigned the role of (P 2 ) SuperAdmin is automatically provided super broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  1 /account P 21 , broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  2 /account P 22 , and moderate permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  3 /account P 23 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2 , an entity assigned the role of (P 2 ) Security is automatically provided forensic permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  1 /account P 21 , broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  2 /account P 22 , and moderate permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  3 /account P 23 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2 , an entity assigned the role of (P 2 ) Admin is automatically provided broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  1 /account P 21 , moderate permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  2 /account P 22 , and operator permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  3 /account P 23 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2 , an entity assigned the role of (P 2 ) Operator is automatically provided narrow permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  1 /account P 21 , moderate permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  2 /account P 22 , and operator permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  3 /account P 23 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2 , an entity assigned the role of (P 2 ) Developer is automatically provided admin permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  1 /account P 21 , integrator permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  2 /account P 22 , and narrow permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  3 /account P 23 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2 , an entity assigned the role of (P 2 ) 3 rd  party is automatically provided integrator permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  1 /account P 21 , broad end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  2 /account P 22 , and application permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  3 /account P 23 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2 , an entity assigned the role of (P 2 ) User is automatically provided broad end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  1 /account P 21 , narrow end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  2 /account P 22 , and narrow read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  3 /account P 23 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2 , an entity assigned the role of (P 2 ) Read-Only is automatically provided broad read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  1 /account P 21 , moderate read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  2 /account P 22 , and narrow read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  2  tier  3 /account P 23 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3 , an entity assigned the role of (P 3 ) SuperAdmin is automatically provided broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  1 /account P 31 , super-broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  2 /account P 32 , admin permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  3 /account P 33 , and narrow permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  4 /account P 34 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3 , an entity assigned the role of (P 3 ) Security is automatically provided forensic permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  1 /account P 31 , forensic permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  2 /account P 32 , broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  3 /account P 33 , and admin permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  4 /account P 34 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3 , an entity assigned the role of (P 3 ) Admin is automatically provided broad admin permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  1 /account P 31 , narrow permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  2 /account P 32 , moderate permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  3 /account P 33 , and read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  4 /account P 34 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3 , an entity assigned the role of (P 3 ) Operator is automatically provided narrow operator permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  1 /account P 31 , narrow permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  2 /account P 32 , moderate operator permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  3 /account P 33 , and end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  4 /account P 34 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3 , an entity assigned the role of (P 3 ) Developer is automatically provided super broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  1 /account P 31 , broad permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  2 /account P 32 , admin permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  3 /account P 33 , and end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  4 /account P 34 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3 , an entity assigned the role of (P 3 ) 3 rd  party is automatically provided integrator permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  1 /account P 31 , end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  2 /account P 32 , integrator permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  3 /account P 33 , and end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  4 /account P 34 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3 , an entity assigned the role of (P 3 ) User is automatically provided narrow read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  1 /account P 31 , read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  2 /account P 32 , narrow end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  3 /account P 33 , and broad end-user permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  4 /account P 34 . 
     Similarly, using reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3 , an entity assigned the role of (P 3 ) Read-Only is automatically provided narrow read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  1 /account P 31 , moderate read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  2 /account P 32 , read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  3 /account P 33 , and broad read-only permissions when utilizing or accessing pattern  3  tier  4 /account P 34 . 
     In one embodiment, once the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans associated with each desired reference architecture pattern are created, for each reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan, pattern-based permissions management plan data is generated representing the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan. In one embodiment, the pattern-based permissions management plan data is then stored in a memory, database, or other data storage mechanism. As discussed below, in one embodiment, the pattern-based permissions management plan data is then provided to one or more processors, processing systems, and/or computing systems which then implement the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans represented by the pattern-based permissions management plan data. 
       FIG. 5  is a functional diagram of the interaction of various elements associated with one embodiment of the methods and systems for providing permissions management discussed herein. Of particular note, the various elements in  FIG. 5  are shown for illustrative purposes as being associated with specific computing systems and/or environments, such as entity access system  501  and reference architecture pattern-based permissions management system  500 . However, the exemplary placement of the various elements within these environments and systems in  FIG. 5  is made for illustrative purposes only and, in various embodiments, any individual element shown in  FIG. 5 , or combination of elements shown in  FIG. 5 , can be implemented and/or deployed on any of one or more various computing environments or systems, and/or architectural or infrastructure components, such as one or more hardware systems, one or more software systems, one or more data centers, more or more clouds or cloud types, one or more third party service capabilities, or any other computing environments, architectural, and/or infrastructure components as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed/made available after the time of filing. 
     In addition, the elements shown in  FIG. 5 , and/or the computing environments, systems, and architectural and/or infrastructure components, deploying the elements shown in  FIG. 5 , can be under the control of, or otherwise associated with, various parties or entities, or multiple parties or entities, such as, but not limited to, the owner of a data center, a party and/or entity providing all, or a portion, of a cloud-based computing environment, the owner or a provider of a service, the owner or provider of one or more resources, and/or any other party and/or entity providing one or more functions, and/or any other party and/or entity as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as made known after the time of filing. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , in one illustrative example of one embodiment, an entity, such as a person charged with the development, deployment, and/or operation of an application or service, attempts to use an entity access system, such as entity access system  501  in  FIG. 5 , to perform one or more tasks. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, application/pattern data  503  is included in entity access system  501  and includes data indicating the specific reference architecture pattern, and associated reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan, that is associated with an application of service the entity is attempting to access and/or interact with. As also seen in  FIG. 5 , in this specific illustrative example, application/pattern data  503  includes data indicating that pattern  1 , and associated reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  of  FIG. 2 , is applicable. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, role data  505  is included in entity access system  501  and includes data representing the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan role assigned to the entity. As seen in  FIG. 5 , in this particular illustrative example, role data  505  indicates that the entity associated with entity access system  501  has been assigned the role of (P 1 ) Operator, i.e., the role Operator in reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  of  FIG. 2 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , entity access system  501  includes tier data  507 . In one embodiment, tier data  507  includes data indicating the specific reference architecture pattern tier, and/or cloud computing infrastructure account, the entity associated with entity access system  501  is currently trying to access and/or utilize. As seen in  FIG. 5 , in this specific illustrative example, tier data  507  indicates that the entity associated with entity access system  501  is attempting to utilize or access pattern  1  tier  1 , e.g., account  11 , of reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  of  FIG. 2 . 
     As discussed above, in order for the entity associated with entity access system  501  to access the various resources associated with the desired reference architecture pattern tier/cloud computing infrastructure account, various permissions will have to be provided. In one embodiment, the permissions to be provided are determined based on analysis and processing performed by reference architecture pattern-based permissions management system  500 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, application/pattern data  503  is provided to pattern selection module  508  of reference architecture pattern-based permissions management system  500 . In one embodiment, pattern selection module  508  is used to determine which reference architecture pattern, and associated architecture pattern-based permissions management plan, is applicable to the application the entity associated with entity access system  501  is attempting to access. 
     In one embodiment, pattern-based permissions management data representing the various architecture pattern-based permissions management plans is stored in pattern database  509 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , pattern database  509 , in this specific illustrative example, includes pattern-based permissions management plan  1  data  511  representing architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  of  FIG. 2 , pattern-based permissions management plan  2  data  513  representing architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  2  of  FIG. 3 , and pattern-based permissions management plan  3  data  515  representing architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  3  of  FIG. 4 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 5 , as noted above, in this specific illustrative example, application/pattern data  503  indicates that architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  of  FIG. 2  is the applicable architecture pattern-based permissions management plan. Consequently, in this specific illustrative example, pattern selection module  508  selects pattern-based permissions management plan  1  data  511  from pattern database  509 . 
     In one embodiment, once pattern selection module  508  receives application/pattern data  503  and selects the appropriate pattern-based permissions management plan data from pattern database  509 , the selected appropriate pattern-based permissions management plan data is provided to permissions matching engine  521 . In one embodiment, role data  505  and tier data  507  are also provided as inputs to permissions matching engine  521 . 
     As noted above, in this specific illustrative example, pattern selection module  508  receives application/pattern data  503  indicating the appropriate pattern-based permissions management plan data is pattern-based permissions management plan  1  data  511 . Consequently, pattern-based permissions management plan  1  data  511  is provided as one input to permissions matching engine  521 . In addition, role data  505  indicating the role assigned to the entity of entity access system  501  is the role (P 1 ) Operator, and tier data  507  indicating the reference architecture pattern  1  tier  1 , e.g., cloud computing infrastructure account P 11 , are also provided as input to permissions matching engine  521 . 
     In one embodiment, at permissions matching engine  521  role data  505  and tier data  507  are used within the context of the selected pattern-based permissions management plan  1  data  511  representing architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  of  FIG. 2  to determine what permissions, functionality, and operational access are to be provided to the entity associated with entity access system  501 . Permissions results data  523  is then generated by permissions matching engine  521  identifying the determined permissions, functionality, and operational access sets to be provided to the entity associated with entity access system  501 . 
     As noted above, in this specific illustrative example, the appropriate pattern-based permissions management plan data is pattern-based permissions management plan  1  data  511 , role data  505  indicates the role assigned to the entity of entity access system  501  is the role (P 1 ) Operator, and tier data  507  indicates the reference architecture pattern  1  tier  1 , e.g., cloud computing infrastructure account P 11 . Consequently, referring to  FIG. 2  and architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1 , it can be seen that the permission set associated with role (P 1 ) Operator and reference architecture pattern  1  tier  1 , within the context of architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  is the permission set “narrow permissions.” Consequently, in this specific illustrative example, permissions results data  523  includes data indicating that the permission set to be provided to the entity associated with entity access system  501  is the permission set narrow permissions. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, permissions database  525  is provided. In one embodiment, permissions database  525  includes data representing the various permissions, functionality, and operational access data associated with the defined reference architecture pattern roles, and reference architecture pattern tiers, and reference architecture patterns set forth in the pattern-based permissions management plan data of pattern database  509  representing the various architecture pattern-based permissions management plans. 
     In the specific illustrative example of  FIG. 5 , permissions database includes forensic permissions data  531 , broad permissions data  532 , narrow permissions data  533 , admin permissions data  534 , integrator permissions data  535 ; end-user permissions data  536 , and read-only permissions data  537 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, once permissions matching engine  521  generates permissions results data  523 , permissions results data  523  is used to select data representing the permissions included in the permissions set indicated in permissions results data  523  from permissions database  525 . In this specific illustrative example, the data representing the permissions included in the permissions set indicated in permissions results data  523  from permissions database  525  is represented by mapped permissions data  540 . 
     As noted above, in this specific illustrative example, permissions results data  523  includes data indicating that the permission set to be provided to the entity associated with entity access system  501  is the permission set “narrow permissions.” Consequently, in this specific illustrative example, permissions results data  523  is used to obtain narrow permissions data  533  from permissions database  525  and generate mapped permissions data  540  including narrow permissions data  533 . 
     In one embodiment, once mapped permissions data  540  is generated including the appropriate permissions data representing the permissions and/or operational access included in the permission set indicated by permissions results data  523 , mapped permissions data  540  is provided to entity access system  501 ; thereby providing the entity associated with entity access system  501  the permissions deemed necessary and appropriate in accordance with the reference architecture pattern role assigned to the entity, and the reference architecture pattern tier for which axis is desired, and within the context of the reference architecture pattern associated with the application currently being developed, deployed, and/or operated by the entity associated with entity access system  501 . 
     As noted above, in this specific illustrative example, permissions results data  523  includes data indicating that the permission set to be provided to the entity associated with entity access system  501  is the permission set “narrow permissions.” Consequently, in this specific illustrative example, permissions results data  523  is used to obtain narrow permissions data  533  from permissions database  525  and generate mapped permissions data  540  including narrow permissions data  533 . Then, mapped permissions data  540  is provided to entity access system  501 , thereby providing the entity associated with entity access system  501  the narrow permissions associated with the entities reference architecture pattern role of (P 1 ) Operator and the referenced pattern architecture tier, pattern  1  tier  1  and within the context of architecture pattern-based permissions management plan  1  associated with the application being developed, deployed, and/or operated by the entity associated with entity access system  501 . 
     Using the methods and systems for providing permissions management discussed herein, a given entity, such as a person, taking part in the various stages of the development, deployment, and operation of an application is provided permission, functionality, and operational access based on a role assigned to the entity, and the reference architecture pattern associated with the application, and the tier, e.g., the cloud computing infrastructure provider account, of the reference architecture pattern currently being accessed or used by the entity. Consequently, using the methods and systems for providing permissions management discussed herein, a single role assigned to an entity correlates to different permissions, functionality, and operational access depending on the reference architecture pattern and tier of the reference architecture pattern being accessed. 
     In addition, using the methods and systems for providing permissions management discussed herein, multiple reference architecture pattern-based permission management plans for various types, or classes, of applications are defined. Then these reference architecture pattern-based permission management plans are used for multiple applications of the same reference architecture pattern type and the permissions for a given entity can be automatically assigned and provided based on the reference architecture pattern in use, and the tier or account associated with the reference architecture pattern being utilized/accessed, and the role assigned to the entity within the reference architecture pattern. 
     Consequently, using the methods and systems for providing permissions management discussed herein, a permissions management system centered on reference architecture patterns, e.g., blueprints, cookbooks, and templates, for various types, or classes of applications is provided. Then these reference architecture pattern-based permission management systems are used for multiple applications of the same reference architecture pattern type and the permissions for a given entity can be automatically assigned and provided based on the reference architecture pattern in use, and the tier or account associated with the reference architecture pattern being utilized/accessed, and the role assigned to the entity within the reference architecture pattern. 
     Process 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a process for providing permissions management includes defining one or more reference architecture patterns for the development, and/or deployment, and/or operation of an application, or application type. 
     In one embodiment, one or more reference architecture pattern roles to be associated with entities taking part in the development, and/or deployment, and/or operation of an application using a reference architecture pattern are identified. In one embodiment, reference architecture pattern role data representing the identified reference architecture pattern roles is generated. 
     In one embodiment, for each reference architecture pattern, reference architecture pattern tiers used to create, and/or deploy, and/or operate an application using the reference architecture pattern are identified. In one embodiment, reference architecture pattern tier data representing the reference architecture pattern tiers is generated. 
     In one embodiment, for each reference architecture pattern, and for each reference architecture pattern role represented by the reference architecture pattern role data, at least one access and/or operational permission is associated with each reference architecture pattern tier represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data. 
     In one embodiment, for each reference architecture pattern, at least one entity is assigned one of the reference architecture pattern roles represented by the reference architecture pattern role data and, for each reference architecture pattern tier represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data, the at least one entity is automatically provided the at least one access and/or operational permission associated with the reference architecture pattern role assigned to the entity. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a process  600  for providing permissions management in accordance with one embodiment. 
     In one embodiment, process  600  for providing permissions management begins at ENTER OPERATION  601  of  FIG. 6  and process flow proceeds to DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603 . 
     In one embodiment, at DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603  one or more reference architecture patterns to be used in connection with the development, and/or deployment, and/or operation of an application or application type are identified and/or defined. 
     In one embodiment, the reference architecture patterns of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603  represent the “blueprints” or “recipes” indicating the usage and interconnection of steps, stages, accounts, and/or tiers used to develop, deploy, and/or operate a class, or type, of application associated with each of the reference architecture patterns. 
     In various embodiments, each of the different types of reference architecture patterns of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603  is associated with a type, or class, of applications where the same number of tiers, and types of tiers, are utilized and interconnected to develop, deploy, and/or operate the applications. 
     As a specific illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with two tier applications where the two tiers used to develop, deploy, and/or operate the applications are a development tier and a production tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with three tier applications where the three tiers include a development tier, a pre-production tier, and a production tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with three-tier applications where the three tiers include a development tier, a production tier, and a web tier. 
     As another illustrative example, in one embodiment, a specific reference architecture pattern may be defined and associated with four tier applications where the four tiers include a development tier, a pre-production tier, a production tier, and a staging tier. 
     As can be seen from the specific illustrative examples above, in various embodiments, the reference architecture patterns of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603  can be defined and associated with application types, or classes, that are developed, deployed, and operated, utilizing any number of tiers, with each of the tiers being any one of numerous tier types. 
     Consequently, in various embodiments, multiple reference architecture patterns associated with multiple classes, or types, of applications are identified and/or defined at DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603 . 
     In one embodiment, once one or more reference architecture patterns to be used in connection with the development, and/or deployment, and/or operation of an application or application type are identified and/or defined at DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603 , process flow proceeds to FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605 . 
     In one embodiment, at FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605  reference architecture pattern tiers associated with each of the reference architecture patterns of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603  are identified and/or defined. 
     In various embodiments, the reference architecture pattern tiers associated with the reference architecture patterns of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605  represent various stages or functionality used to develop, deploy, and/or operate the applications. 
     In various embodiments, the tiers associated with the reference architecture patterns of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605  include, but are not limited to, one or more of a development tier, a pre-production tier, a production tier, a staging tier, an integration tier, an external tier, a security tier, and/or any other tier representing a stage or functional operability associated with the development, deployment, or operation of an application, and/or class of applications. 
     In various embodiments, and particularly those where the applications are to be deployed and operated in a cloud computing infrastructure, each of the reference architecture pattern tiers of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605  is, or is associated with, a separate cloud computing infrastructure account provided through the cloud computing infrastructure provider. Consequently, in various embodiments, the reference architecture pattern tiers associated with the reference architecture patterns of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605  include, but are not limited to, one or more of a development account, a pre-production account, a production account, a staging account, an integration account, an external account, a security account, and/or any other cloud computing infrastructure account associated with a stage or functional operability in the development, deployment, or operation of an application, and/or class of applications. 
     In various embodiments, each of the reference architecture pattern tiers or cloud computing infrastructure accounts of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605  has associated resources allocated to it that are used to implement the functionality associated with each of the reference architecture pattern tiers or cloud computing infrastructure accounts of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605 . 
     In various embodiments, the resources allocated to the reference architecture pattern tiers of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605  include, but are not limited to, any of the assets, virtual assets, and/or other production environment components discussed herein, and/or defined above, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing. 
     In one embodiment, once reference architecture pattern tiers associated with each of the reference architecture patterns of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603  are identified and/or defined at FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605 , process flow proceeds to GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS OPERATION  607 . 
     In one embodiment, at GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS OPERATION  607  reference architecture pattern tier data representing the reference architecture pattern tiers of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605  associated with each reference architecture pattern of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603  is generated. 
     As discussed below, in one embodiment the reference architecture pattern tier data of GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS OPERATION  607  is to be logically arranged in reference architecture pattern-based management plans based on, and/or associated with, the reference architecture patterns. 
     In one embodiment, once reference architecture pattern tier data representing the reference architecture pattern tiers associated with each reference architecture pattern is generated at GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS OPERATION  607 , process flow proceeds to FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF AN APPLICATION USING THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  609 . 
     In one embodiment, at FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF AN APPLICATION USING THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  609  one or more reference architecture pattern roles to be associated with entities, e.g. individual persons, taking part in the development, and/or deployment, and/or operation of applications associated with each of the reference architecture patterns of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603  are defined. 
     In one embodiment, the one or more reference architecture pattern roles are defined once at FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF AN APPLICATION USING THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  609  and then the same reference architecture pattern roles are utilized with each reference architecture pattern of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603 , and the resulting reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans discussed below. 
     In other embodiments, the one or more reference architecture pattern roles are separately defined at FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF AN APPLICATION USING THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  609  for each reference architecture pattern of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603  and the resulting reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans discussed below. 
     In various embodiments, the one or more reference architecture pattern roles of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF AN APPLICATION USING THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  609  correlate to roles assigned by an organization, such as a company, associated with a reference architecture pattern-based permissions plan to individual entities, such as individual employees, charged with developing, deploying, and/or operating one or more applications provided by, and/or through, the organization. 
     Typically, in order to provide greater data security, control, and separation of duties, each reference architecture pattern role of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF AN APPLICATION USING THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  609 , and therefore the entities assigned each reference architecture pattern role, is provided a different set of permissions and operational access that is deemed necessary to perform the duties assigned to that role. In addition, as discussed below, the permissions and operational access associated with each reference architecture pattern role is ideally further tailored to the permissions and operational access needed by that reference architecture pattern role in a specific reference architecture pattern tier, and/or computing infrastructure account. In the prior art, this three way tailoring of permissions and operational access based on the reference architecture pattern, the role assigned within the reference architecture pattern, and the reference architecture pattern tier being utilized, was not available, at least not in any reasonably efficient and consistent way. 
     In various embodiments, the one or more reference architecture pattern roles of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF AN APPLICATION USING THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  609  include, but are not limited to, one or more of a supervisory administrator or SuperAdmin role; an administrator or Admin role; a security role; an operator role; a developer role; a third-party role; a user role; read-only role; and/or any other role, or combination of roles, to be assigned to individual entities, as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed/made available after the time of filing. 
     As discussed below, in one embodiment, a given entity is assigned one of the reference architecture pattern roles of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF AN APPLICATION USING THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  609 . In one embodiment, the entity maintains the assigned reference architecture pattern role, regardless of which reference architecture pattern, and associated reference architecture pattern-based permission management plan, is being implemented and regardless of which reference architecture pattern tier, and/or cloud computing infrastructure account, is being accessed or utilized by the entity. However, the permissions granted to the entity are variable and assigned based on the reference architecture pattern role assigned to the entity, and the reference architecture pattern being applied, and the reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, being utilized. 
     In one embodiment, once one or more reference architecture pattern roles to be associated with entities, e.g. individual persons, taking part in the development, and/or deployment, and/or operation of applications associated with each of the reference architecture patterns are defined at FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF AN APPLICATION USING THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  609 , process flow proceeds to GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA REPRESENTING THE IDENTIFIED REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES OPERATION  611 . 
     In one embodiment, at GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA REPRESENTING THE IDENTIFIED REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES OPERATION  611  reference architecture pattern role data representing the defined or identified reference architecture pattern roles of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF AN APPLICATION USING THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  609  is generated. 
     As discussed below, in one embodiment, the reference architecture pattern role data of GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA REPRESENTING THE IDENTIFIED REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES OPERATION  611  will be logically included in the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans based-on, and/or associated with, each reference architecture patterns of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603 . 
     In one embodiment, once reference architecture pattern role data representing the defined or identified reference architecture pattern roles is generated at GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA REPRESENTING THE IDENTIFIED REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES OPERATION  611 , process flow proceeds to FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN AND FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA FOR THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, ASSOCIATE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  613 . 
     In one embodiment, at FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN AND FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA FOR THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, ASSOCIATE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  613  for each reference architecture pattern of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603 , and for each reference architecture pattern role represented by the reference architecture pattern role data of GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA REPRESENTING THE IDENTIFIED REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES OPERATION  611 , at least one access and/or operational permission is associated with each reference architecture pattern tier represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data of GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS OPERATION  607 . 
     In various embodiments, the at least one access and/or operational permissions of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN AND FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA FOR THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, ASSOCIATE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  613  are actually permissions sets including one or more individual permissions and/or operational access to resources associated with the reference architecture pattern tiers and reference architecture pattern roles of the reference architecture patterns. 
     As specific illustrative examples, the at least one access and/or operational permissions, and/or permissions and/or operational access sets, of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN AND FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA FOR THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, ASSOCIATE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  613  include but are not limited to, any of the at least one access and/or operational permissions, and/or permissions and/or operational access sets discussed herein, and/or as known at the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing. 
     In addition, in various embodiments, the individual permissions and operator access included in each set of permissions of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN AND FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA FOR THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, ASSOCIATE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  613  are different and assigned/defined by one or more entities creating the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan and/or developing, deploying, and/or operating the application. 
     In one embodiment, once for each reference architecture pattern, and associated reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan, and for each reference architecture pattern role represented by the reference architecture pattern role data in the associated reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan, at least one access and/or operational permission is associated with each reference architecture pattern tier represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data of the associated reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan at FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN AND FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA FOR THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, ASSOCIATE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  613 , process flow proceeds to FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN CREATE A REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN INDICATING THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  615 . 
     In one embodiment, at FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN CREATE A REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN INDICATING THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  615  the reference architecture pattern tier data representing the reference architecture pattern tiers of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS USED TO CREATE, AND/OR DEPLOY, AND/OR OPERATE AN APPLICATION USING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  605  associated with each reference architecture pattern of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603  of GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS OPERATION  607 ; the reference architecture pattern role data representing the defined or identified reference architecture pattern roles of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF AN APPLICATION USING THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  609  of GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA REPRESENTING THE IDENTIFIED REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES OPERATION  611 ; and data representing the at least one access and/or operational permissions of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN AND FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA FOR THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, ASSOCIATE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  613  is used to create a reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan for each of the reference architecture patterns of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603 . 
     As discussed in detail above with respect to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5 , the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans created at FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN CREATE A REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN INDICATING THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  615  correlate each reference architecture pattern role with a different set of permissions and operational access that is deemed necessary to perform the duties assigned to that role. In addition, in each the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan, the permissions and operational access associated with each reference architecture pattern role is further tailored to the permissions and operational access needed by that reference architecture pattern role in a specific reference architecture pattern tier, and/or computing infrastructure account. In the prior art, this three way tailoring of permissions and operational access based on the reference architecture pattern, and the role assigned within the reference architecture pattern, and the reference architecture pattern tier being utilized, was not available, at least not in any reasonably efficient and consistent way. 
     In one embodiment, once the reference architecture pattern tier data representing the reference architecture pattern tiers associated with each reference architecture pattern; the reference architecture pattern role data representing the defined or identified reference architecture pattern roles; and data representing the at least one access and/or operational permissions is used to create a reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan for each of the reference architecture patterns at FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN CREATE A REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN INDICATING THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  615 , process flow proceeds to GENERATE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN OPERATION  617 . 
     In one embodiment, at GENERATE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN OPERATION  617  pattern-based permissions management plan data representing each of the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN CREATE A REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN INDICATING THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  615  is generated. 
     In one embodiment, once the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans associated with each desired reference architecture pattern are created for each reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan, pattern-based permissions management plan data is generated at GENERATE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN OPERATION  617  representing the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plan. 
     In one embodiment, the pattern-based permissions management plan data of GENERATE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN OPERATION  617  is then stored in a memory, database, or other data storage mechanism. In one embodiment, the pattern-based permissions management plan data of GENERATE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN OPERATION  617  is then provided to one or more processors, processing systems, and/or computing systems which then implement the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans represented by the pattern-based permissions management plan data of GENERATE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN OPERATION  617 . 
     In one embodiment, once pattern-based permissions management plan data representing each of the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN CREATE A REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN INDICATING THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  615  is generated at GENERATE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN OPERATION  617 , process flow proceeds to ASSIGN AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY ONE OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA OPERATION  619 . 
     In one embodiment, at ASSIGN AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY ONE OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA OPERATION  619  for each reference architecture pattern of DEFINE AND/OR IDENTIFY ONE OR MORE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, AND/OR DEPLOYMENT, AND/OR OPERATION OF APPLICATIONS OPERATION  603 , and associated reference architecture pattern-based permissions plan of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN CREATE A REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN INDICATING THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE FOR REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  615 , at least one entity is assigned one of the reference architecture pattern roles represented by the reference architecture pattern role data of GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA REPRESENTING THE IDENTIFIED REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES OPERATION  611  and included in the pattern-based permissions management plan data representing each of the reference architecture pattern-based permissions management plans of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN CREATE A REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN INDICATING THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN OPERATION  615 . 
     In one embodiment, once for each reference architecture pattern, and associated reference architecture pattern-based permissions plan, at least one entity is assigned one of the reference architecture pattern roles represented by the reference architecture pattern role data at ASSIGN AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY ONE OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA OPERATION  619 , process flow proceeds to USE THE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA TO AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDE THE AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE ASSIGNED TO THE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY FOR EACH TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  621 . 
     In one embodiment, at USE THE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA TO AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDE THE AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE ASSIGNED TO THE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY FOR EACH TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  621 , for each reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data of GENERATE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA REPRESENTING THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIERS OPERATION  607 , the at least one entity is automatically provided the at least one access and/or operational permission of FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN AND FOR EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA FOR THAT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN, ASSOCIATE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION WITH EACH REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  613  associated with the reference architecture pattern role assigned to the entity at ASSIGN AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY ONE OF THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLES REPRESENTED BY THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE DATA OPERATION  619 . 
     In one embodiment, once, for each reference architecture pattern tier, or cloud computing infrastructure account, represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data, the at least one entity is automatically provided the at least one access and/or operational permission associated with the reference architecture pattern role assigned to the entity at USE THE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA TO AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDE THE AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE ASSIGNED TO THE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY FOR EACH TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  621 , process flow proceeds to RECEIVE A TASK REQUEST INCLUDING A REQUEST TO PERFORM A COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  623 . 
     In one embodiment, at RECEIVE A TASK REQUEST INCLUDING A REQUEST TO PERFORM A COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  623 , a task request is received from an individual or entity, the task request being a request for a computing system to perform a computing task. The task request may originate as a request through user input of an individual needing a particular computing task performed, or may originate from an entity initiating process operations on behalf of itself or an individual or other entity or computing system. Thus, the task request may originate from a process, an external computing system, a virtual asset, a resource, or any other source of a request for a computing related task now known or later developed. 
     In one embodiment, the received task request includes a request for a computing related task to be performed. Computing tasks are typically performed as a series of process operations executed by a computing processor. Such computing tasks may include any computing related task, the performance of which may be restricted to particular entities or individuals having permissions meeting or exceeding a defined required permission. Such computing tasks may include, but are not limited to, any use of a computing resource, such as the use of a printer, a database update or search, the instantiation of a virtual asset, the destruction of a virtual asset, or any other computing task discussed herein, and/or known in the art at the time of filing, and/or which becomes known after the time of filing, Further, different computing tasks might have different permissions associated with them, based on characteristics associated with those computing tasks. 
     For example, if a task request of RECEIVE A TASK REQUEST INCLUDING A REQUEST TO PERFORM A COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  623  is a request from an individual to update six records of a database, that computing task to update six records of a database might require that an individual requesting that task have at least lower level permissions that are typically assigned to everyday registered users of an application or system. Alternatively, if a task request of RECEIVE A TASK REQUEST INCLUDING A REQUEST TO PERFORM A COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  623  is a task request from an individual to update fifty records of a database, that computing task to update fifty records of a database might require that an individual requesting that task at least have higher level permissions such as those permissions that are typically associated with an administrator of the database. 
     In one embodiment, following a task request being received for the performance of a computing related task at RECEIVE A TASK REQUEST INCLUDING A REQUEST TO PERFORM A COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  623 , process flow proceeds to DETERMINE A RISK LEVEL ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENTIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK, THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL BEING AT LEAST PARTLY BASED ON OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  625 . 
     In one embodiment, at DETERMINE A RISK LEVEL ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENTIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK, THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL BEING AT LEAST PARTLY BASED ON OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  625 , operating characteristics associated with the requested computing task are analyzed to determine a risk level associated with a potential performance of the computing task specified in the received request of RECEIVE A TASK REQUEST INCLUDING A REQUEST TO PERFORM A COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  623 . 
     In one embodiment, at DETERMINE A RISK LEVEL ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENTIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK, THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL BEING AT LEAST PARTLY BASED ON OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  625 , in order to determine a risk level associated with a potential performance of the requested computing task, a determination is made as to whether one or more of the operating characteristics are normal, or are instead abnormal. The operating characteristics may be considered individually or in one or more groups. 
     In one embodiment, operating characteristics associated with the requested computing task include, but are not limited to, one or more of an operating characteristic associated with the individual initiating the request, such as one or more of a length of employment, behavior related characteristics such as one or more of a number of times the individual initiating the request has logged in to a particular computing system within a given time period, and the individual filing a tax return at a given time; an operating characteristic associated with a computing system used to originate the request, such as an internet protocol(IP) address of the computing system, a length of time the computing system has been operational since it was last rebooted, and a length of time since the computing system has last been scanned for viruses or malware; a type of computing system used to originate the request, such as a desktop computing system, virtual asset, and a smartphone; a configuration of a computing system used to originate the request, such as whether the computing system has a firewall, whether the computing system has virus software protection, and which operating system the computing system is running; an operating characteristic associated with a computing system used to perform a computing task associated with the request, such as an internet protocol(IP) address of the computing system, a length of time the computing system has been operational since it was last rebooted, and a length of time since the computing system has last been scanned for viruses or malware; an operating characteristic associated with a location of the computing system used to originate the request; a time of the request; a day of the request; a current computing load associated with a computing system expected to perform the computing task associated with the request; and/or any operating characteristic known in the art at the time of filing, or developed after the time of filing. 
     In one embodiment, one or more operating characteristics associated with the requested computing task are compared with historical operating characteristics collected or determined over time, where the historical operating characteristics are considered to be normal, or represent ranges within which a particular operating characteristic is considered to be normal. 
     For example, in an embodiment where a time the task request is received is considered to be an operating characteristic associated with a potential performance of the computing task, that time is compared with historical times of previous requests considered to be normal in order to determine whether the time this task request was received is also normal. In one embodiment, the time the task request is received is compared with a range of times considered to be normal. In this example, if the time of the task request is outside a range of times considered to be normal, the risk level is adjusted to reflect a higher risk. If the risk level is represented numerically, adjusting the risk level to reflect a higher risk includes increasing the risk level by adding a suitable numerical increment to the prior risk level. In one embodiment, the suitable increment represents a degree of risk posed by the particular operating characteristic being abnormal. Further in this example, if the time of the task request is within a range of times considered to be normal, the risk level is not adjusted. 
     In one embodiment, one or more of the operating characteristics associated with the received task request are compared with normal operating characteristics defined in advance by an administrator or other manager or individual in operational control of the method for providing permissions management and if one or more of those operating characteristics are considered to abnormal as compared to the respective normal operating characteristics, adjustments are made to increase the risk level associated with the potential performance of the requested computing task. 
     In one embodiment, one or more of the operating characteristics associated with the received task request are compared with optimum historical operating characteristics and if some or all of those one or more operating characteristics are considered to optimum as compared to the respective optimum operating characteristics, adjustments are made to lower the risk level associated with the potential performance of the requested computing task. If the risk level before lowering is normal, the risk level is lowered towards an optimum risk level. 
     In one embodiment, once a risk level is determined at DETERMINE A RISK LEVEL ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENTIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK, THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL BEING AT LEAST PARTLY BASED ON OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  625 , process flow proceeds with DETERMINE ONE OR MORE BASELINE PERMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  627 . 
     In one embodiment, at DETERMINE ONE OR MORE BASELINE PERMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  627 , one or more baseline permissions associated with the performance of the requested computing task are determined. In one embodiment, a baseline permission associated with a requested computing task is a permission that must be either met or exceeded by an entity or individual requesting that the computing task be performed. For example, if the computing task requires access to data within a database, one or more permissions associated with access to the particular data or associated with access to the database are determined. In another example, if the computing task has multiple process operations that are to be performed and two or more of the process operations have different permissions associated with them, those permissions are determined at this time, at DETERMINE ONE OR MORE BASELINE PERMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  627 . 
     Following the determination of one or more permissions associated with the requested computing task at DETERMINE ONE OR MORE BASELINE PERMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  627 , process flow proceeds with ADJUST A BASELINE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK BASED ON THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL OPERATION  629 . 
     In one embodiment, at ADJUST A BASELINE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK BASED ON THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL OPERATION  629 , one or more baseline permissions determined at DETERMINE ONE OR MORE BASELINE PERMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  627  are adjusted, based on the risk level determined at DETERMINE A RISK LEVEL ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENTIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK, THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL BEING AT LEAST PARTLY BASED ON OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  625 . 
     In one embodiment, the risk level determined at DETERMINE A RISK LEVEL ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENTIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK, THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL BEING AT LEAST PARTLY BASED ON OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  625  is above normal, and the one or more baseline permissions determined at DETERMINE ONE OR MORE BASELINE PERMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  627  are adjusted to make the actual required permission levels higher than the baseline permissions. 
     In one embodiment, the risk level determined at DETERMINE A RISK LEVEL ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENTIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK, THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL BEING AT LEAST PARTLY BASED ON OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  625  is below normal, and the one or more baseline permissions determined at DETERMINE ONE OR MORE BASELINE PERMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  627  are adjusted to make the actual required permission levels lower than the baseline permissions. 
     In one embodiment, the adjusted permission levels pertain only to the current request being considered. Thus, although other task requests may share some characteristics with the task request received at RECEIVE A TASK REQUEST INCLUDING A REQUEST TO PERFORM A COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  623 , each task request is, in one embodiment, considered separately from those other task requests. 
     In one embodiment, adjusting baseline permissions due to one or more abnormal characteristics being associated with the task request includes adding additional verification processes, such as adding an additional authentication requirement such as multifactor authentication. In such an embodiment, a user who was normally authenticated using a username/password combination and subsequently issues a task request that is determined to have a higher than normal risk level is asked to further authenticate using a different method, such as identifying themselves through a third party or external device. 
     In one embodiment, the additional verification processes include having a third party approve the task request, such as by an administrator group or individual. 
     Once one or more baseline permissions determined at DETERMINE ONE OR MORE BASELINE PERMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK OPERATION  627  are adjusted, process flow proceeds with DETERMINE WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PERMISSION MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE ADJUSTED BASELINE PERMISSION OPERATION  631 . 
     In one embodiment, at DETERMINE WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PERMISSION MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE ADJUSTED BASELINE PERMISSION OPERATION  631 , a determination is made as to whether the individual or entity from which the task request was received is associated with a permission meeting or exceeding the adjusted baseline permission determined at ADJUST A BASELINE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK BASED ON THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL OPERATION  629 . 
     In one embodiment, the task request is received from an individual or entity that was provided a permission earlier at USE THE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA TO AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDE THE AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE ASSIGNED TO THE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY FOR EACH TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  621 . In that embodiment, the adjusted baseline permission determined at ADJUST A BASELINE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK BASED ON THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL OPERATION  629  is compared with a permission assigned to the individual or entity at USE THE PATTERN-BASED PERMISSIONS MANAGEMENT PLAN DATA TO AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDE THE AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY THE AT LEAST ONE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN ROLE ASSIGNED TO THE INDIVIDUAL ENTITY FOR EACH TIER REPRESENTED IN THE REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN TIER DATA OPERATION  621  to determine whether a permission associated with the individual or entity meets or exceeds the adjusted baseline permission. 
     In one embodiment, a permission associated with the individual or entity meets or exceeds the adjusted baseline permission of ADJUST A BASELINE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK BASED ON THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL OPERATION  629  and process flow proceeds from DETERMINE WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PERMISSION MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE ADJUSTED BASELINE PERMISSION OPERATION  631  to PERFORM, IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PERMISSION MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE ADJUSTED BASELINE PERMISSION, THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TASK REQUEST OPERATION  633  at which time one or more computing tasks associated with the task request are performed. 
     In one embodiment, a permission associated with the individual or entity does not meet or exceed the adjusted baseline permission of ADJUST A BASELINE PERMISSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK BASED ON THE DETERMINED RISK LEVEL OPERATION  629  and process flow proceeds from DETERMINE WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PERMISSION MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE ADJUSTED BASELINE PERMISSION OPERATION  631  to DENY THE TASK REQUEST, IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A PERMISSION MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE ADJUSTED BASELINE PERMISSION OPERATION  635 . 
     Following performance of either PERFORM, IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PERMISSION MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE ADJUSTED BASELINE PERMISSION, THE REQUESTED COMPUTING TASK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TASK REQUEST OPERATION  633  or DENY THE TASK REQUEST, IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A PERMISSION MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE ADJUSTED BASELINE PERMISSION OPERATION  635 , process flow proceeds with EXIT OPERATION  650  where process  600  for providing permissions management is exited to await new data. 
     The process described above adjusts permissions associated with computing tasks according to a risk level associated with the computing tasks. In one embodiment, instead of varying permissions associated with computing tasks and having the individual or entity permissions remain static, the paradigm is inverted. In this inverted paradigm, permissions associated with computing tasks remain static and individual or entity permissions are adjusted higher or lower to reflect a risk level associated with operating characteristics associated with the task request. 
     Using process  600  for providing permissions management, a given entity, such as a person, taking part in the various stages of the development, deployment, and operation of an application is provided permission, functionality, and operational access based on a role assigned to the entity, and the reference architecture pattern associated with the application, and the tier, e.g., the cloud computing infrastructure provider account, of the reference architecture pattern currently being accessed or used by the entity. Further, permissions required to accomplish computing related tasks are adjusted according to a determined risk associated with the performance of the computing tasks. Consequently, using process  600  for providing permissions management, a single role assigned to an entity correlates to different permissions, functionality, and operational access depending on the reference architecture pattern and tier of the reference architecture pattern being accessed. Further security of the system is enhanced by raising permissions required to perform certain computing related tasks, thus providing a dynamic security framework. 
     In addition, using process  600  for providing permissions management, multiple reference architecture pattern-based permission management plans for various types, or classes, of applications are defined. Then these reference architecture pattern-based permission management plans are used for multiple applications of the same reference architecture pattern type and the permissions for a given entity can be automatically assigned and provided based on the reference architecture pattern in use, and the tier or account associated with the reference architecture pattern being utilized/accessed, and the role assigned to the entity within the reference architecture pattern. 
     Consequently, using process  600  for providing permissions management, a permissions management system centered on reference architecture patterns, e.g., blueprints, cookbooks, and templates, for various types, or classes of applications is provided. Then these reference architecture pattern-based permission management systems are used for multiple applications of the same reference architecture pattern type and the permissions for a given entity are automatically assigned and provided based on the reference architecture pattern in use, and the tier or account associated with the reference architecture pattern being utilized/accessed, and the role assigned to the entity within the reference architecture pattern. 
     Below, a process for providing permissions management is described which provides for applying security policies to different kinds of data. By using that process together with process  600  for providing permissions management, access to different types of data will have permissions dynamically adjusted according to characteristics of a task request associated with the access to the data. 
     In one embodiment, a process for providing permissions management includes defining one or more data security policies to be applied to data. In one embodiment, database security policy compliance data is generated that represents instructions for applying one or more database security measures to databases containing data in order to ensure compliance of the databases, and data therein, with the one or more data security policies. In one embodiment, each of the one or more database security measures is associated with a different database security classification. 
     In one embodiment, access to a database is obtained, the database containing data that is potentially of one or more data types, and/or data security classifications. In one embodiment, the data in the database is scanned to determine the types of data, and/or data security classifications of the data, in the database. In one embodiment, based, at least in part, on the determined types of data, and/or data security classifications of the data, in the database, a database security classification to be applied to the entire database is determined. Database security classification data for the database indicating the database security classification to be applied to the database is then generated. In one embodiment, the database security classification data for the database is associated with the database and is then used to select one or more database security measures of the database security policy compliance data to be applied to the database. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart depicting a process  700  for providing permissions management in accordance with one embodiment. In one embodiment, process  700  for providing permissions management begins at ENTER OPERATION  701  of  FIG. 7  and process flow proceeds to DEFINE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES TO BE APPLIED TO DATA OPERATION  703 . 
     In one embodiment, at DEFINE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES TO BE APPLIED TO DATA OPERATION  703  one or more data security policies to be applied to data are defined. 
     In one embodiment, the one or more data security policies are defined at DEFINE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES TO BE APPLIED TO DATA OPERATION  703  by the owners of the data to be stored in the databases. In other embodiments, the one or more data security policies are defined at DEFINE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES TO BE APPLIED TO DATA OPERATION  703  by one or more of, the provider of the production environment, the provider or developer of an application, the provider of a cloud computing infrastructure, and/or any other parties or entities, as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as become known after the time of filing. 
     As specific illustrative examples, in various embodiments, the data security policies of DEFINE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES TO BE APPLIED TO DATA OPERATION  703  include, but are not limited to, one or more data security policies requiring specific encryption, or a defined level of encryption, for data; one or more data security policies requiring the use of tokens or tokenization of data; one or more data security policies requiring hashes, and/or one-way hashes, of data; one or more data security policies requiring log records be kept tracking all modifications to data; one or more data security policies requiring the logging of all access, or attempts to access, the data; one or more data security policies requiring all access to the data be authenticated; one or more data security policies requiring specific identification/authentication procedures, such as mandatory multifactor authentication; one or more data security policies requiring all access to the data be associated with authorized roles; one or more data security policies requiring the logging of various access, or attempts to access, the data; one or more data security policies requiring the logging of various processing, or attempts to process or manipulate, the data; one or more data security policies delineating the protective actions to be applied to the data in the event of a generalized or specific security event; and/or any other data security policies, or combination of security policies, as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as become known in the art after the time of filing. 
     In one embodiment, once one or more data security policies to be applied to data are defined at DEFINE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES TO BE APPLIED TO DATA OPERATION  703 , process flow proceeds to GENERATE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA REPRESENTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO DATABASES CONTAINING DATA TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES OPERATION  705 . 
     In one embodiment, at GENERATE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA REPRESENTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO DATABASES CONTAINING DATA TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES OPERATION  705  database security policy compliance data associated with the security policies of DEFINE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES TO BE APPLIED TO DATA OPERATION  703  is generated. 
     In one embodiment, the database security policy compliance data of GENERATE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA REPRESENTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO DATABASES CONTAINING DATA TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES OPERATION  705  represents, or includes, instructions for applying one or more database security measures to databases containing data in order to ensure compliance of the databases with the one or more data security policies of DEFINE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES TO BE APPLIED TO DATA OPERATION  703  at the database level. In one embodiment, each of the one or more database security measures of GENERATE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA REPRESENTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO DATABASES CONTAINING DATA TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES OPERATION  705  is associated with a different database security classification, calculated as discussed below. 
     Consequently, in one embodiment, the database security policy compliance data of GENERATE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA REPRESENTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO DATABASES CONTAINING DATA TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES OPERATION  705  represents, or includes, instructions for applying one or more database security measures to databases containing data that include, but are not limited to, applying specific encryption, or a defined level of encryption, for the entire databases; the use of tokens or tokenization of data in the databases; applying hashes and/or one-way hashes of data in the databases; logging all modifications to data in the databases; logging all access, or attempts to access, the data in the databases; requiring all access to the data in the databases be authenticated; implementing specific identification/authentication procedures, such as mandatory multifactor authentication; requiring that all access to the databases be associated with authorized roles; logging specific types of access, or attempts to access, the data in the databases; logging various processing, or attempts to process or manipulate, the data in the databases; applying one or more protective actions to the databases in the event of a generalized or specific security event; and/or any other database security policy compliance data deemed necessary to ensure database conformance with the data security policies, as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as become known in the art after the time of filing. 
     In one embodiment, once database security policy compliance data associated with the security policies of DEFINE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES TO BE APPLIED TO DATA OPERATION  703  is generated at GENERATE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA REPRESENTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO DATABASES CONTAINING DATA TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES OPERATION  705 , process flow proceeds to OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707 . 
     In one embodiment, at OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707 , access to a database is obtained. 
     In one embodiment, at OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707 , access to a database is obtained using a data classification discovery agent. In one embodiment, the data classification discovery agent is implemented as code designed to provide access to the databases either via standard communications channels or special database access communication channels. 
     Methods, means, processes, and procedures for obtaining access to database are known in the art. Consequently, a more detailed discussion of the various specific methods, means, processes, and procedures for obtaining access to the database is omitted here to avoid detracting from the invention. 
     In one embodiment, once access to a database is obtained at OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707 , process flow proceeds to SCAN THE DATA IN THE DATABASE TO DETERMINE THE TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE DATA IN THE DATABASE OPERATION  709 . 
     In one embodiment, at SCAN THE DATA IN THE DATABASE TO DETERMINE THE TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE DATA IN THE DATABASE OPERATION  709 , the data included in the database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707  is scanned to determine the various types of data in the database, and/or the various security classifications and security measures applied to the data in the database. 
     In one embodiment, the scan of the data in the database is performed at SCAN THE DATA IN THE DATABASE TO DETERMINE THE TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE DATA IN THE DATABASE OPERATION  709  using the data classification discovery agent. In one embodiment, at SCAN THE DATA IN THE DATABASE TO DETERMINE THE TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE DATA IN THE DATABASE OPERATION  709  the data classification discovery agent is used to read the various columns and rows of the data schema used within the database to store data. 
     In one embodiment, if during the scan of the data in the database at SCAN THE DATA IN THE DATABASE TO DETERMINE THE TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE DATA IN THE DATABASE OPERATION  709 , a data type, and/or security classification, associated with any portion of the data in the database cannot be determined, a prompt is provided to the owner of the database to provide information indicating the type, and/or data security classification, of that portion of the data in the database. 
     In one embodiment, if a data type, and/or security classification, associated with any portion of the data in the database cannot be determined at SCAN THE DATA IN THE DATABASE TO DETERMINE THE TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE DATA IN THE DATABASE OPERATION  709 , and/or there is no response to the prompt to provide the data type, and/or security classification, associated with a portion of the data, that portion of the data is, as a default, determined to be of the highest sensitivity type, and therefore requiring the highest levels of protection. 
     In one embodiment, once the data included in the database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707  is scanned to determine the various types of data in the database, and/or the various security classifications and security measures applied to the data in the database at SCAN THE DATA IN THE DATABASE TO DETERMINE THE TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE DATA IN THE DATABASE OPERATION  709 , process flow proceeds to DETERMINE A DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  711 . 
     In one embodiment, at DETERMINE A DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  711 , the data type/security classification data associated with the database determined at SCAN THE DATA IN THE DATABASE TO DETERMINE THE TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE DATA IN THE DATABASE OPERATION  709  is used to determine a database security classification to be applied to the entire database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707 . 
     In one embodiment, as a result of the scan at SCAN THE DATA IN THE DATABASE TO DETERMINE THE TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE DATA IN THE DATABASE OPERATION  709  data type/security classification data for each type of data in the database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707  is recorded. In one embodiment, at DETERMINE A DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  711  the data type/security classification data associated with the database is then used to determine a database security classification to be applied to the entire database. In other words, in one embodiment, at DETERMINE A DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  711 , a database security classification to be applied to the entire database is determined based, at least in part, on the determined types of data, and/or data security classifications of the data, in the database. 
     In one embodiment, once the data type/security classification data associated with the database determined at SCAN THE DATA IN THE DATABASE TO DETERMINE THE TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE DATA IN THE DATABASE OPERATION  709  is used to determine a database security classification to be applied to the entire database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707  at DETERMINE A DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  711 , process flow proceeds to GENERATE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE INDICATING THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  713 . 
     In one embodiment, at GENERATE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE INDICATING THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  713 , database security classification data for the database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707  is generated representing, in machine readable form, the determined database security classification to be applied to the entire database of DETERMINE A DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  711 . 
     In one embodiment, once database security classification data for the database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707  is generated representing, in machine readable form, the determined database security classification to be applied to the entire database of DETERMINE A DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  711  at GENERATE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE INDICATING THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  713 , process flow proceeds to ASSOCIATE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE WITH THE DATABASE OPERATION  715 . 
     In one embodiment, at ASSOCIATE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE WITH THE DATABASE OPERATION  715 , the database security classification for the database of GENERATE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE INDICATING THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  713  is associated with the entire database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707 . 
     In one embodiment, the database security classification for the database is associated with the database at ASSOCIATE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE WITH THE DATABASE OPERATION  715  by generating metadata for the database representing the database security classification for the database. 
     In one embodiment, once the database security classification for the database of GENERATE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE INDICATING THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  713  is associated with the entire database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707  at ASSOCIATE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE WITH THE DATABASE OPERATION  715 , process flow proceeds to USE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE TO SELECT ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES OF THE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  717 . 
     In one embodiment, at USE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE TO SELECT ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES OF THE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  717  the database security classification associated with the database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707  at ASSOCIATE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE WITH THE DATABASE OPERATION  715  is used to determine what security measures of the security policy compliance data of GENERATE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA REPRESENTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO DATABASES CONTAINING DATA TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES OPERATION  705  should be applied to the database. 
     As noted above, in one embodiment, the database security policy compliance data of GENERATE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA REPRESENTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO DATABASES CONTAINING DATA TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES OPERATION  705  represents, or includes, instructions for applying one or more database security measures to databases containing data in order to ensure compliance of the databases with the one or more data security policies of DEFINE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES TO BE APPLIED TO DATA OPERATION  703  at the database level. 
     As also noted above, in one embodiment, each of the one or more database security measures of GENERATE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA REPRESENTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO DATABASES CONTAINING DATA TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES OPERATION  705  is associated with a different database security classification of ASSOCIATE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE WITH THE DATABASE OPERATION  715 . 
     Consequently, in one embodiment, at USE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE TO SELECT ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES OF THE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  717  the database security classification associated with the database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707  at ASSOCIATE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE WITH THE DATABASE OPERATION  715  is mapped to the security measures of the security policy compliance data of GENERATE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA REPRESENTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO DATABASES CONTAINING DATA TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES OPERATION  705  corresponding to the database security classification associated with the database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707 . 
     In other words, in one embodiment, the database security classification for the database is used to determine which security measures of the security policy compliance data must be applied to the database in order to ensure compliance with the data security policies. 
     In one embodiment, once the database security classification associated with the database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707  at ASSOCIATE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE WITH THE DATABASE OPERATION  715  is used to determine what security measures of the security policy compliance data of GENERATE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA REPRESENTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO DATABASES CONTAINING DATA TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ONE OR MORE DATA SECURITY POLICIES OPERATION  705  should be applied to the database at USE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE TO SELECT ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES OF THE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  717 , process flow proceeds to APPLY THE SELECTED SECURITY MEASURES TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  719 . 
     In one embodiment, at APPLY THE SELECTED SECURITY MEASURES TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  719 , the security measures of USE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE TO SELECT ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES OF THE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  717  are automatically applied to the database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707 , at the individual database level. 
     In one embodiment, once the security measures of USE THE DATABASE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DATA FOR THE DATABASE TO SELECT ONE OR MORE SECURITY MEASURES OF THE SECURITY POLICY COMPLIANCE DATA TO BE APPLIED TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  717  are automatically applied to the database of OBTAIN ACCESS TO A DATABASE CONTAINING DATA THAT IS POTENTIALLY OF ONE OR MORE DATA TYPES AND/OR DATA SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS OPERATION  707 , at the database level at APPLY THE SELECTED SECURITY MEASURES TO THE DATABASE OPERATION  719 , process flow proceeds to EXIT OPERATION  730 . 
     In one embodiment, at EXIT OPERATION  730  process  700  for providing permissions management is exited to await new data. 
     Using process  700  for providing permissions management, data security policy is implemented at the individual database level. As a result, data security policies can be readily applied to individual databases in a highly flexible and dynamic manner. Permissions associated with an individual as described earlier may be adjusted due to a determined risk level, and the adjusted permissions are then compared with permissions associated with various data in the database in order for a determination to be made that the individual has the proper permission level to access or otherwise use, change, delete or manage the data. 
     Consequently, process  700  for providing permissions management provides the flexibility needed to readily adapt to the dynamic nature of a cloud computing environment, or any computing environment where the type and number of assets, e.g., databases, is capable of rapidly changing. In addition, using process  700  for providing permissions management, the data security policies are implemented locally, at the individual database level, so that a user of the data, such as an application developer, is not aware of the implementation of the security policy, e.g. the data security policy is applied at the individual database level in a symmetrically transparent manner, leaving the user with an experience similar to that of storing all data as plain text data. 
     In the discussion above, certain aspects of one embodiment include process steps and/or operations and/or instructions described herein for illustrative purposes in a particular order and/or grouping. However, the particular order and/or grouping shown and discussed herein are illustrative only and not limiting. Those of skill in the art will recognize that other orders and/or grouping of the process steps and/or operations and/or instructions are possible and, in some embodiments, one or more of the process steps and/or operations and/or instructions discussed above can be combined and/or deleted. In addition, portions of one or more of the process steps and/or operations and/or instructions can be re-grouped as portions of one or more other of the process steps and/or operations and/or instructions discussed herein. Consequently, the particular order and/or grouping of the process steps and/or operations and/or instructions discussed herein do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed below. 
     As discussed in more detail above, using the above embodiments, with little or no modification and/or input, there is considerable flexibility, adaptability, and opportunity for customization to meet the specific needs of various parties under numerous circumstances. 
     The present invention has been described in particular detail with respect to specific possible embodiments. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced in other embodiments. For example, the nomenclature used for components, capitalization of component designations and terms, the attributes, data structures, or any other programming or structural aspect is not significant, mandatory, or limiting, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or its features can have various different names, formats, or protocols. Further, the system or functionality of the invention may be implemented via various combinations of software and hardware, as described, or entirely in hardware elements. Also, particular divisions of functionality between the various components described herein are merely exemplary, and not mandatory or significant. Consequently, functions performed by a single component may, in other embodiments, be performed by multiple components, and functions performed by multiple components may, in other embodiments, be performed by a single component. 
     Some portions of the above description present the features of the present invention in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations, or algorithm-like representations, of operations on information/data. These algorithmic or algorithm-like descriptions and representations are the means used by those of skill in the art to most effectively and efficiently convey the substance of their work to others of skill in the art. These operations, while described functionally or logically, are understood to be implemented by computer programs or computing systems. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient at times to refer to these arrangements of operations as steps or modules or by functional names, without loss of generality. 
     Unless specifically stated otherwise, as would be apparent from the above discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the above description, discussions utilizing terms such as, but not limited to, “activating,” “accessing,” “aggregating,” “alerting,” “applying,” “analyzing,” “associating,” “calculating,” “capturing,” “categorizing,” “classifying,” “comparing,” “creating,” “defining,” “detecting,” “determining,” “distributing,” “encrypting,” “extracting,” “filtering,” “forwarding,” “generating,” “identifying,” “implementing,” “informing,” “monitoring,” “obtaining,” “posting,” “processing,” “providing,” “receiving,” “requesting,” “saving,” “sending,” “storing,” “transferring,” “transforming,” “transmitting,” “using,” etc., refer to the action and process of a computing system or similar electronic device that manipulates and operates on data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computing system memories, resisters, caches or other information storage, transmission or display devices. 
     The present invention also relates to an apparatus or system for performing the operations described herein. This apparatus or system may be specifically constructed for the required purposes, or the apparatus or system can comprise a general purpose system selectively activated or configured/reconfigured by a computer program stored on a computer program product as discussed herein that can be accessed by a computing system or other device. 
     Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that the algorithms and operations presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computing system, computer architecture, computer or industry standard, or any other specific apparatus. Various general purpose systems may also be used with programs in accordance with the teaching herein, or it may prove more convenient/efficient to construct more specialized apparatuses to perform the required operations described herein. The required structure for a variety of these systems will be apparent to those of skill in the art, along with equivalent variations. In addition, the present invention is not described with reference to any particular programming language and it is appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the present invention as described herein, and any references to a specific language or languages are provided for illustrative purposes only. 
     The present invention is well suited to a wide variety of computer network systems operating over numerous topologies. Within this field, the configuration and management of large networks comprise storage devices and computers that are communicatively coupled to similar or dissimilar computers and storage devices over a private network, a LAN, a WAN, a private network, or a public network, such as the Internet. 
     It should also be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability, clarity and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the claims below. 
     In addition, the operations shown in the figures, or as discussed herein, are identified using a particular nomenclature for ease of description and understanding, but other nomenclature is often used in the art to identify equivalent operations. 
     Therefore, numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification or not, may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.