Plugin architecture for extending polices

An architecture for extending policies comprising:

• a computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for implementing:
• a policy component program for evaluating and enforcing polices;
• and
• a plurality of plugin modules for allowing a user to customize said polices;
• wherein said policy component program is operable to present interfaces to said user for customizing said polices and is further operable to integrate customized polices into a framework of said policy component program in response to user input based on said interfaces.

A computer implemented method for allowing policy customization, comprising:

• a) providing an interface for defining customized policies in a policy program, in response to a request for said interface;
• b) receiving a user supplied policy definition that is compliant with said interface;
• and
• c) integrating said user supplied policy definition into said policy program.

A computer readable medium having stored therein instructions which when executed on a processor implement a method of allowing policy extension, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) instantiating a policy program for executing a plurality of pre-defined policies;
• b) providing an interface for extending a first policy of said plurality of pre-defined policies;
• c) receiving an extension to said first policy, said extension based on said interface;
• and
• d) integrating said extension to said first policy into said policy program.