Managed Runtime + Modern DevOps. Reinvented for the agentic era.
Forge Deployment Topologies
Four Topologies. One Governance Posture.
Forge runs in SaaS, Dedicated Cloud, Customer Cloud, or Air-Gapped. The same audit-grade controls apply across every pillar (Governed Tooling Layer, Forge AI Substrate, FSAI), so your topology choice is determined by data sovereignty and auditor acceptance, not by feature trade-offs.
Operating mission-critical regulated environments for enterprises across banking, capital markets, life sciences, semiconductor, and defense in North America and Europe.
How topology relates to the components
Deployment topology is a cross-cutting concern at iTmethods.
Whether you are buying the Governed Tooling Layer, the Forge AI Substrate, or FSAI, the four topologies are uniform and the governance posture is identical. SaaS for fast onboarding. Dedicated Cloud for single-tenant isolation under iTmethods operation. Customer Cloud for workloads that must remain inside your AWS, Azure, or GCP account. Air-Gapped for environments with no external network egress. The control plane, audit trail, and policy enforcement do not change. Only the boundary changes.
Choose Your Deployment Model
Each option is fully supported with enterprise SLAs, security certifications, and 24/7 expert support.
SaaS
Fastest Path to Value
Vendor-hosted cloud versions of your tools, configured and operated by iTmethods. The fastest path to value when there is no strict data residency. A common starting point for FSAI Assess engagements.
Best For
- Mid-market and growth-stage enterprises without strict data residency
- Common starting point for FSAI Assess engagements
- Rapid onboarding with minimal setup
Key Features
Considerations
- Vendor pricing applies
- Less customization flexibility
Dedicated Cloud
Single-Tenant Forge Operated by iTmethods
Single-tenant Forge inside an isolated account, operated by iTmethods on a governed AWS foundation. The default for regulated SaaS vendors, healthcare ISVs, and growth-stage fintechs.
Best For
- Regulated SaaS vendors
- Healthcare ISVs
- Growth-stage fintechs
Key Features
Considerations
- Data hosted in iTmethods infrastructure
- Network connectivity to iTmethods cloud
Customer Cloud
Forge Inside Your AWS, Azure, or GCP
Forge deployed inside the customer's own AWS, Azure, or GCP account. Operated by iTmethods. The standard topology for Tier 1 banks, insurance carriers, and federal civilian agencies.
Best For
- Tier 1 banks
- Insurance carriers
- Federal civilian agencies
Key Features
Considerations
- Requires cloud account access
- Cloud infrastructure costs separate
Air-Gapped
No External Network Egress
Forge deployed inside environments with no external network egress. Defense, intelligence, sovereign-cloud regulators, and BioCompute customers operating Reign LS with intoDNA STRIDE under classified or export-controlled regimes.
Best For
- Defense and intelligence
- Sovereign-cloud regulators
- BioCompute customers operating Reign LS with intoDNA STRIDE under classified or export-controlled regimes
Key Features
Considerations
- Requires infrastructure team
- Hardware & hosting responsibility
Compare Deployment Options
Side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right model
| Feature | SaaS | Dedicated Cloud | Customer Cloud | Air-Gapped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | Hours | Days | 1-2 Weeks | 2-4 Weeks |
| Operational Overhead | None | None | Minimal | Moderate |
| Data Location | Vendor Cloud | iTmethods Cloud | Your Cloud | Your Data Center |
| Updates | Automatic | Automatic | Managed | Coordinated |
| Customization | Limited | Standard | High | Full |
| Security Control | Vendor | Shared | Shared | Full |
| Compliance | Vendor Certs | SOC 2, ISO, HIPAA | SOC 2, ISO, HIPAA | All + Custom |
| Support Model | Vendor + iTmethods | 24/7 Full | 24/7 Full | 24/7 + On-site |
Which is Right for You?
Answer these questions to find your ideal deployment model
Choose SaaS If...
- You want native vendor experience
- Always-latest features matter
- Minimal setup is priority
- Vendor compliance is sufficient
Choose Dedicated Cloud If...
- You want zero operational burden
- Speed to value is critical
- Single-tenant isolation needed
- You prefer predictable costs
Choose Customer Cloud If...
- You have cloud commitments
- Data must stay in your account
- You need custom networking
- Integration with cloud services
Choose Air-Gapped If...
- Regulatory requirements demand it
- You have data center capacity
- Full infrastructure control needed
- Custom security configurations