Method to set up and tear down cloud environments based on a schedule obtained from one or more hosted calendars

Abstract

Described embodiments automatically and dynamically deploy and undeploy virtual computing environments by using a schedule obtained from a user's personal, work, or shared team calendars. By using data such as out-of-office or auto-reply statuses, calendar items marked as 'Out of Office', and calendar items with specific keywords, the system may dynamically determine when a user is likely to be 'present' (or capable of accessing or likely to access a virtual computing environment) or “absent” (or incapable of accessing or unlikely to access the virtual computing environment). The virtual computing environment may be dynamically deployed or undeployed responsive to and/or in anticipation of a user's presence or absence, providing cost savings and reduced bandwidth, power, and processor consumption, without increasing user frustration or requiring extra tasks.