System and method for virtual image security in a cloud environment

A system to provide secure access in a virtual computing environment, the system comprising:

• a processor comprising hardware, the processor configured to:
• assign, by a virtual access control machine of a virtual computing environment, a status to a guest virtual machine supporting a service, wherein the guest virtual machine is accessible to a user through a network,
• receive, at the virtual access control machine, information from the guest virtual machine representative of an attempted use of the guest virtual machine,
• receive, at the virtual access control machine, a request, by the guest virtual machine, for the status of the guest virtual machine,
• determine, at the virtual access control machine, an action to take based on the status, and
• send, from the virtual access control machine, information to the guest virtual machine regarding the (i) status of the guest virtual machine in response to the request, or (ii) the action, or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions thereon, the computer-executable instructions, when executed, causing a processor to:

• assign, by a virtual access control machine of a virtual computing environment, a status to a guest virtual machine supporting a service, wherein the guest virtual machine is accessible to a user through a network;
• receive, at the virtual access control machine, information from the guest virtual machine representative of an attempted use of the guest virtual machine;
• receive, at the virtual access control machine, a request, by the guest virtual machine, for the status of the guest virtual machine;
• determine, at the virtual access control machine, an action to take based on the status;
• and
• send, from the virtual access control machine, information to the guest virtual machine regarding the (i) status of the guest virtual machine in response to the request, or (ii) the action, or (iii) both (i) and (ii).