AFORE's CloudLink software solution provides a secure, optimized and managed on-ramp to link an enterprise data center to the cloud computing infrastructure. CloudLink extends enterprise security and manageability into the cloud while optimizing communication between data centers and cloud centers. CloudLink also equips the enterprise with powerful performance monitoring and troubleshooting tools to ensure that the required Service Level Agreement (SLA) levels are achieved. The CloudLink software solution contains three major components: CloudLink Center A management application. CloudLink Gateway A software virtual appliance deployed in the enterprise data center that provides a gateway to the cloud CloudLink vNode A software virtual appliance deployed in the cloud. The vNode creates a secure cloud shield for the VMs and ensures that all communications between VMs in the cloud and in the enterprise data center are encrypted, optimized and managed, as well as all the data stored in the cloud storage layer