Operational Lifecycle

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An Operational Lifecycle is a specialization of Lifecycle that applies to an operational subject.

The Lifecycle identifies the states, events, transitions, and transition conditions through which the operational subject progresses over time.

The operational subject may include:

• An Infrastructure Environment
• An Infrastructure Configuration
• An Infrastructure Blueprint
• A Machine Image
• A deployed service
• A software component
• A controlled Artifact

An Operational Lifecycle may include states associated with:

• Definition
• Creation
• Configuration
• Validation
• Approval
• Provisioning
• Infrastructure Deployment
• Activation
• Operation
• Maintenance
• Modification
• Recovery
• Replacement
• Retirement
• Decommissioning
• Archiving

Events cause or request transitions between lifecycle states. Applicable controls and transition conditions determine whether a transition may occur.

An Operational Lifecycle differs from a workflow:

• An Operational Lifecycle describes the states, events, transitions, and transition conditions associated with an operational subject over time
• A workflow coordinates activities performed to achieve a bounded result

An Operational Lifecycle may contain or reference multiple workflows.

lifecycle through which an operational subject progresses from introduction through retirement or decommissioning

Dido Solutions, Inc. and Jackrabbit Consulting, Inc.

The beginning and end of an Operational Lifecycle depend on the operational subject.

For an Infrastructure Environment, the Operational Lifecycle may begin with definition of the desired state and continue through provisioning, deployment, operation, modification, and decommissioning.

For an Artifact, the Operational Lifecycle may begin with creation and continue through revision, use, preservation, retirement, and archival disposition.

An Operational Lifecycle does not require every subject to pass through the same states or transitions.

The applicable architecture, policies, and requirements determine:

• Permitted lifecycle states
• Applicable events
• Permitted transitions
• Transition conditions
• Responsible actors
• Required records

The term does not prescribe a particular process model, workflow engine, deployment method, platform, or implementation technology.

The Operational Lifecycle of an Infrastructure Environment progresses from definition to provisioning, deployment, operation, modification, and decommissioning. A deployment event initiates the transition from a prepared state to a deployed state when the applicable transition conditions are satisfied.