Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach to allow a user to link multiple cloud instances (e.g., virtual machines) together such that an action on one (cloud) instance is triggered when a second instance's state changes thereby invoking a predefined set of rules. Specifically, instances can be linked to one another via a graphical user interface (GUI or the like), and associated with a set of rules. The set of rules indicates a behavior/reaction of one instance when an action is performed with respect to another instance linked thereto. These embodiments could be implemented external to or within a cloud operating environment.