PROVDMStandard

PROVDMStandard, short for Provisioning Data Model Standard, is an open specification that defines a uniform data model and set of interoperable workflows for provisioning and managing resources across distributed computing environments. It aims to enable automated onboarding, configuration, and lifecycle management of devices, services, and digital assets by providing a common representation of resource requirements, states, and actions in a vendor-neutral format.

Scope and design principles

The standard covers core resource types, their attributes, states, relationships, and actionable operations. It includes a registry of standard resource kinds, extension mechanisms for vendor-specific data, and profiles to accommodate domain-specific needs while preserving interoperability. A security-oriented approach underpins PROVDMStandard, incorporating authenticated access, authorization controls, and auditability. The specification emphasizes idempotent operations, clear rollback semantics, and versioning to support stable integrations across evolving ecosystems. Data models are expressed in a machine-readable form, designed for use with RESTful APIs and JSON-based schemas, with mappings to existing standards where appropriate to ease adoption.

Technical framework

PROVDMStandard defines three core artifacts: a Resource Description Language for describing provisioning targets, a Provisioning Protocol that governs the exchange of state and commands, and a conformance program that certifies compatible implementations. The framework supports extensibility points for new resource kinds, policy rules, and integration hooks with external orchestration and identity systems. It also outlines guidance for security, privacy, and operational observability.

History and governance

The initiative originated from a collaboration among vendors, system integrators, and open-source contributors, with the first public release of version 1.0 in the early 2020s and ongoing updates through a formal governance body. Adoption spans enterprise IT, IoT, and cloud-native platforms, backed by a conformance program and community-led interoperability events.