Virtual machine platform operations

Virtual machine platform operations Requirements and security baseline

Baseline alignment. Approved platform baselines, revision tracking, validation results and exceptions. CIS IGs · DISA STIGs · DISA SRGs

• Host and workload inventory: scope, supported systems and accountable owners
• Resource and lifecycle management: approved settings, access and dependencies
• Recovery and dependency validation: acceptance criteria, retention and exceptions

Virtual machine platform operations Deployment and control mapping

• Scope and ownership: Requirements for the virtualization platform, hosts, guest workloads and recovery dependencies; the actual platform and supported features remain to be confirmed.
• Approved rollout and acceptance: Controlled pilot covering host and workload inventory and resource and lifecycle management; acceptance test: trace a representative virtual workload to its dependencies and verify the agreed maintenance and recovery procedure on the selected platform.
• Applicable requirements mapped to configuration, validation evidence and approved exceptions

Virtual machine platform operations Client and user guide

• Using host and workload inventory within the approved service scope
• Recognizing failures and reporting a support request
• User responsibilities, access limits and service acceptance

Virtual machine platform operations Technician training outline

• Host and workload inventory: records, configuration and diagnostic checks
• Resource and lifecycle management: authorized administration and exception handling
• Recovery and dependency validation: validation, evidence and service handoff

Virtual machine platform operations RDA technician workflow

• Identify and assess the requirement; plan the scope, accountable owner and required approvals
• Implement and verify: Trace a representative virtual workload to its dependencies and verify the agreed maintenance and recovery procedure on the selected platform.
• Document the configuration and result; hand off operation, review exceptions and plan lifecycle changes

Virtual machine platform operations Portal and access training

• Named operators, role boundaries and multifactor access where supported
• Service identities, protected credentials and emergency access
• Access approval, periodic review and removal

Virtual machine platform operations Training module template

• Learning objectives and prerequisites: host and workload inventory: records, configuration and diagnostic checks
• Authorized practical exercise: Trace a representative virtual workload to its dependencies and verify the agreed maintenance and recovery procedure on the selected platform.
• Knowledge check, observed result and instructor or responsible-owner sign-off

Virtual machine platform operations Basic installation and acceptance

• Approved platform, owner, permissions and prerequisite checks
• Controlled pilot covering host and workload inventory and resource and lifecycle management
• Acceptance test: Trace a representative virtual workload to its dependencies and verify the agreed maintenance and recovery procedure on the selected platform.

Virtual machine platform operations Advanced deployment and changes

• Extend host and workload inventory to additional approved scope
• Change resource and lifecycle management with impact review and rollback
• Validate recovery and dependency validation after an approved change

Virtual machine platform operations Technical configuration and integrations

• Host and workload inventory: configuration and dependency records
• Resource and lifecycle management: supported interfaces and permission boundaries
• Recovery and dependency validation: diagnostic collection, retention and evidence export

Virtual machine platform operations Operational audit and checklist

• Coverage and operating checks: host and workload inventory: coverage, health and unresolved exceptions
• Evidence sample: selected platform, host and workload dependency inventory; authorized maintenance, restart and backup-restore tests
• Review date and owner; pass or fail, exceptions, corrective action and retest evidence

Virtual machine platform operations Tabletop exercises

• A required dependency or responsible provider becomes unavailable
• An access or configuration change interrupts the service
• Reported success conflicts with the observed business result

Virtual machine platform operations Response playbook

• Assess the affected scope, evidence and business impact
• Authorize corrective action, escalation or rollback
• Verify service recovery, retain evidence and update the baseline

Virtual machine platform operations Operational runbooks

• Validate host and workload inventory against the approved design
• Investigate a failure affecting resource and lifecycle management
• Collect recovery and dependency validation evidence and confirm service acceptance

Virtual machine platform operations Evaluation and lifecycle review

Selection and fit. Compare viable options against the business need, security requirements, existing systems and full operating cost. Record the reasons for the selection, the tradeoffs accepted and the conditions that would prompt a different choice.

Keeping the choice current. Follow supplier notices between scheduled reviews and reassess before renewal or a material change. Check ownership changes, renamed or retired products, subscription and licensing terms, pricing, capabilities and support commitments. Record the effect on security, data handling, integrations and service continuity. Assign an owner to approve adjustments or plan a transition, including data export and removal of access.

• Measured service outcome and practical acceptance results
• Supported scope, access, evidence availability and dependencies
• Licensing or provider terms, maintenance effort and lifecycle cost