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 . <EOS>