A method for deploying a multi-tier application on a plurality of virtual computing resources (114, 114 1) using a first software application to orchestrate a deployment plan of the multi-tier application comprising: responsive to a request to deploy the multi-tier application, provisioning, using the first software application or a second software application, a virtual computing resource (114, 114 1) based on a template which is certified for use with the second software application, wherein the template comprises a template agent which is configured to communicate with the second software application in order to receive custom properties for customizing the provisioned virtual computing resource (114, 114 1) and does not comprise a software agent which receives and implements the deployment plan from the first software application; after provisioning the virtual computing resource (114, 114 1), receiving by the template agent from the second software application, an application file for installing the software agent or a script indicating a location from which the template agent downloads the software agent; installing the software agent on the provisioned virtual computing resource (114, 114 1) using the received application file or by executing the received script; and executing the software agent to communicate with the first software application to receive and implement the deployment plan to deploy and manage at least a portion of the multi-tier application onto the provisioned virtual computing resource (114, 114 1); wherein the deployment plan includes deployment settings and an execution plan of tasks having a specified order in which the virtual computing resource (114, 114 1) is provisioned and multi-tier application components are installed, configured and started; and wherein the template agent is unable to receive and execute the deployment plan from the first software application. responsive to a request to deploy the multi-tier application, provisioning, using the first software application or a second software application, a virtual computing resource (114, 114 1) based on a template which is certified for use with the second software application, wherein the template comprises a template agent which is configured to communicate with the second software application in order to receive custom properties for customizing the provisioned virtual computing resource (114, 114 1) and does not comprise a software agent which receives and implements the deployment plan from the first software application; after provisioning the virtual computing resource (114, 114 1), receiving by the template agent from the second software application, an application file for installing the software agent or a script indicating a location from which the template agent downloads the software agent; installing the software agent on the provisioned virtual computing resource (114, 114 1) using the received application file or by executing the received script; and executing the software agent to communicate with the first software application to receive and implement the deployment plan to deploy and manage at least a portion of the multi-tier application onto the provisioned virtual computing resource (114, 114 1); wherein the deployment plan includes deployment settings and an execution plan of tasks having a specified order in which the virtual computing resource (114, 114 1) is provisioned and multi-tier application components are installed, configured and started; and wherein the template agent is unable to receive and execute the deployment plan from the first software application.