A method for providing reference architecture pattern-based permissions management comprising: identifying 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; generating reference architecture pattern role data representing the identified reference architecture pattern roles; identifying two or more reference architecture pattern tiers used to create, and/or deploy, and/or operate an application using the reference architecture pattern, wherein the reference architecture pattern is defined by the specific number of the two or more reference architecture pattern tiers and the specific types of the two or more reference architecture pattern tiers; generating reference architecture pattern tier data representing the reference architecture pattern tiers; for each reference architecture pattern role represented by the reference architecture pattern role data, associating at least one access and/or operational permission with each reference architecture pattern tier represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data; assigning at least one entity 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, automatically providing the at least one entity the at least one access and/or operational permission associated with the reference architecture pattern role assigned to the entity, wherein the reference architecture pattern role assigned to the entity has different access and/or operational permissions dependent on the reference architecture pattern and the reference architecture pattern tier. identifying 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; generating reference architecture pattern role data representing the identified reference architecture pattern roles; identifying two or more reference architecture pattern tiers used to create, and/or deploy, and/or operate an application using the reference architecture pattern, wherein the reference architecture pattern is defined by the specific number of the two or more reference architecture pattern tiers and the specific types of the two or more reference architecture pattern tiers; generating reference architecture pattern tier data representing the reference architecture pattern tiers; for each reference architecture pattern role represented by the reference architecture pattern role data, associating at least one access and/or operational permission with each reference architecture pattern tier represented in the reference architecture pattern tier data; assigning at least one entity 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, automatically providing the at least one entity the at least one access and/or operational permission associated with the reference architecture pattern role assigned to the entity, wherein the reference architecture pattern role assigned to the entity has different access and/or operational permissions dependent on the reference architecture pattern and the reference architecture pattern tier.