1. A service registry and repository data processing system configured for automated policy-driven transitioning of governed objects in a service registry, the system comprising: a host server computing system comprising memory and a processor, the memory comprising program code that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to execute a service registry in the memory; the processor further coupling a policy selection configuration table to the service registry; and, an auto transition module coupled to the service registry, the module comprising program code that when executed by the processor, responds to a request in the service registry to persist a governed object of a service registry by identifying a policy in the configuration table to be applied to the governed object, to apply the policy to the governed object and to determine whether or not the application of the policy has been successful, and to trigger a transition of the governed object from a contemporaneous state to a new state in the service registry if the application of the policy has been successful.