Patent ID: 8683548

Claim:
A processing apparatus for a virtual machine environment, comprising: an input device; a controller, coupled to the input device, the controller having a memory and at least one processor, coupled to the memory, for processing information stored in the memory, wherein the controller is constructed and arranged to: receive multiple inputs, via the input device, each input specifying a computing action to be performed; classify the computing action specified by each input in one of multiple predetermined categories of computing actions in accordance with a policy of the virtual machine environment; and direct the computing action specified by each input to be performed by a virtual machine configured for performing only the category of computing actions specified by the respective input, including directing computing actions of different categories to different virtual machines, wherein, when constructed and arranged to direct, the controller is further constructed and arranged to instantiate a first virtual machine configured for performing only a first category of computing actions, responsive to receiving an input specifying a computing action of the first category when no virtual machine configured for the first category is already running in the virtual machine environment, wherein the policy of the virtual machine environment includes a set of criteria, the set of criteria including: physical machine criteria pertaining to one or more physical machines on which the virtual machine environment resides; virtual machine criteria pertaining to one or more virtual machines in the virtual machine environment; user criteria related to any of user identity, authentication, and authorization of the virtual machine environment; data transfer criteria related to movement of information between virtual machines of the virtual machine environment; and target criteria related to computing actions that obtain information from outside the virtual machine environment.