Optimizing the deployment of virtual resources and automating post-deployment actions in a cloud environment

A system comprising:

• a CPU, a computer readable memory and a computer readable storage medium associated with a computing device;
• program instructions to monitor user actions that result in modifications made to deployed virtual machines (VMs) in a group of deployed VMs having particular characteristics;
• program instructions to determine that a particular modification has been made to more than a threshold number of the deployed VMs in the group of deployed VMs;
• program instructions to determine techniques used to implement the particular modification to the deployed VMs in the group of deployed VMs;
• program instructions to generate a new automated action to modify other deployed VMs having the particular characteristics in response to the determining that the particular modification has been made to more than the threshold number of the deployed VMs in the group of deployed VMs, wherein the new automated action includes the determined techniques used to implement the particular modification;
• program instructions to store the new automated action in a catalog of automated actions, wherein automated actions in the catalog of automated actions, including the new automated action, are each selectable to implement automated tasks by one of the other deployed VMs having the particular characteristics;
• and
• program instructions to test the new automated action to ensure that implementing the automated action results in a desired outcome,
• wherein the particular modification comprises creation of a user ID.

A system comprising:

• a CPU, a computer readable memory and a computer readable storage medium associated with a computing device;
• program instructions to monitor user actions that result in modifications made to deployed virtual machines (VMs) in a group of deployed VMs having particular characteristics;
• program instructions to determine that a particular modification has been made to more than a threshold number of the deployed VMs in the group of deployed VMs;
• program instructions to determine techniques used to implement the particular modification to the deployed VMs in the group of deployed VMs;
• program instructions to generate a new automated action to modify other deployed VMs having the particular characteristics in response to the determining that the particular modification has been made to more than the threshold number of the deployed VMs in the group of deployed VMs, wherein the new automated action includes the determined techniques used to implement the particular modification;
• program instructions to store the new automated action in a catalog of automated actions, wherein automated actions in the catalog of automated actions, including the new automated action, are each selectable to implement automated tasks by one of the other deployed VMs having the particular characteristics;
• and
• program instructions to test the new automated action to ensure that implementing the automated action results in a desired outcome,
• wherein the particular modification comprises removal of a user ID.