Abstract: Technologies are disclosed for improving the deployment of a cloud-hosted service. Before being deployed to a particular environment, a cloud-hosted service must be configured for that environment. Configuring a deployment includes determining which components to deploy, determining how to connect with external components, identifying onboarding procedures, etc. A dependency data model defines a hierarchy of components utilized by the cloud-hosted service. For each component in the hierarchy, configuration parameters define how to deploy that component. A list of configuration parameters that do not yet have values for a target environment may be generated and provided to a user. Values for these parameters may then be received. A configuration for the target environment is then generated based on the dependency data model and the received values. The dependency data model may inherit dependencies and configuration properties from ancestors in a hierarchy of dependency data models.

Abstract: Technologies are disclosed for improving the deployment of a cloud-hosted service. Before being deployed to a particular environment, a cloud-hosted service must be configured for that environment. Configuring a deployment includes determining which components to deploy, determining how to connect with external components, identifying onboarding procedures, etc. A dependency data model defines a hierarchy of components utilized by the cloud-hosted service. For each component in the hierarchy, configuration parameters define how to deploy that component. A list of configuration parameters that do not yet have values for a target environment may be generated and provided to a user. Values for these parameters may then be received. A configuration for the target environment is then generated based on the dependency data model and the received values. The dependency data model may inherit dependencies and configuration properties from ancestors in a hierarchy of dependency data models.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for improving security via a trusted advisor. The disclosed embodiments recognize that some computer users may benefit from oversight by another individual, who may have more computer expertise and be better equipped to evaluate whether security implicating changes to a computer are appropriate. To that end, the disclosed embodiments provide for a notification to a trusted advisor in the event that particular events on the computer meet a criterion. For example, an attempt to launch or install a program having particular characteristics may benefit from a review by a trusted advisor.