Patent ID: 7822982

Claim:
A method for automatic, secure, and confidential distribution of a symmetric key security credential in a utility computing environment comprising: establishing a symmetric key at a management server, said symmetric key automatically associated with a logical device identifier of a provisionable resource; establishing an isolated virtual network between the management server and the provisionable resource by changing the configuration of a switch coupled with said provisionable resource such that said provisionable resource to which said symmetric key will be provided is temporarily rewired into a separate virtual local area network (VLAN) such that said provisionable resource does not have any other interface on another VLAN, thereby setting up a temporary secure environment for credential distribution; providing the symmetric key to the provisionable resource over said temporary VLAN secure environment; and dissolving the isolated VLAN between the management server and the provisionable resource after the symmetric key is provided to said provisionable resource.