Systems and methods for an associative policy model are provided. One
embodiment of the present invention provides a method for implementing an
associative policy. In this embodiment, the method includes providing a
policy on a policy server, the policy having a service definition that
contains first and second relational components, providing first and
second network entities, operatively coupling the first and second
network entities to the policy server, dynamically associating the first
network entity with the second network entity (wherein such associating
includes binding the first relational component of the service definition
in the policy to the first network entity, and binding the second
relational component of the service definition in the policy to the
second network entity), and enforcing the policy on the first and second
network entities.