Architecture Overview

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Architecture Overview
Layer-7 Governance Topology

Layer-7 is inserted into the execution pathway of a unified AI system. It is the structural layer where policy, authority, risk, and traceability become system primitives—enforced before actions run.

Layer-7 Governance Engine Deployment Models Security Model
Governance sits in-path Default deny if ungovernable Ledger-backed enforcement
Architectural contract: governance is not a report. It is a gate. If evaluation, authorization, or ledger write cannot complete, execution must not proceed.

Where Layer-7 Sits

In a unified AI system, capabilities produce outputs and plans. Agents and orchestration turn those into actions. Layer-7 governs those actions before execution.

Inputs: user requests • agent plans • tool calls • workflow triggers ↓ Execution Stack: models → orchestration → agents → tools/services ↓ Layer-7 Governance (in-path) evaluate → score → authority → ledger → enforce ↓ Action Outcome: allow • deny • escalate • queue • require multi-sig
Layer-7 is positioned above compute/models and beneath execution gateways. Enforcement belongs at the gateway—policy belongs inside Layer-7.

Core Modules

The system is intentionally modular. Each module has a single job and produces outputs that become inputs to the next. This prevents “policy drift” and keeps governance auditable.

1) Evaluation Engine

Normalizes proposed actions into a decision object with intent, scope, target, context, and constraints.

Decision object →

2) Risk Scoring

Scores actions pre-execution using thresholds, context flags, environment, and action class.

Risk model →

3) Authority Router

Maps a risk result to required approvals: roles, levels, multi-signature rules, escalation routes.

Authority model →

4) Policy Loader

Loads enforceable policy bundles by version (environment-specific) and attaches policy gates to decisions.

Contract: policy is versioned and immutable once used

5) Decision Ledger

Writes evaluation inputs, scores, approvals, policy gates, transitions, and outcomes to an audit-grade record.

Ledger design →

6) Enforcement Gateway

Hard allow/deny point. Executes only when decision is authorized and ledger write is confirmed.

Gateway placement →
The only correct architecture is one where the enforcement gateway is downstream of a successful ledger write. If the ledger fails, the gateway must deny.

Trust Boundaries (Non-Optional)

Layer-7 becomes valuable when boundaries are explicit. These boundaries are where security, integrity, and audit guarantees are enforced.

Boundary A — Input Normalization

  • Threat: prompt injection → tool abuse
  • Control: normalize intent + constrain actions to allowed classes
  • Output: decision object (no execution side effects)

Boundary B — Authorization Integrity

  • Threat: bypass approvals / forged overrides
  • Control: signed approvals, role verification, multi-sig requirements
  • Output: authorization state attached to decision

Boundary C — Ledger Finality

  • Threat: unlogged execution / tampered history
  • Control: append-only writes + integrity checks (hash chaining optional)
  • Output: immutable decision record

Boundary D — Gateway Enforcement

  • Threat: direct tool execution bypassing governance
  • Control: gateway denies unless decision is authorized + logged
  • Output: allow/deny at the only execution choke point
Power move posture: execution can be distributed; governance must be centralized enough to remain coherent and auditable.

Deployment Patterns

Layer-7 supports multiple placements, but the invariant is the same: decisions are made and logged before execution.

Pattern 1 — Local Gateway

Governance logic runs near the tool boundary; best for edge deployments and strict environment isolation.

Pros: tight control • Cons: duplicated policy distribution

Pattern 2 — Central Control Plane

Governance engine is centralized; gateways query for decisions; best for enterprise consistency.

Pros: coherent policy • Cons: requires resilient connectivity

Pattern 3 — Hybrid

Local deny-by-default with cached policies; central authority for high-risk escalations.

Pros: resilient • Cons: more complex operational model
Pattern choice is operational. Governance contract is structural: authorize + ledger + enforce, always.
Deployment Models API Reference Back: Getting Started
Corevexa Docs — Layer-7 Governance Infrastructure
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