1. A method implemented and residing within a computer-readable storage medium that is executed by a processor of a network to perform the method, comprising: receiving a disk access request, the disk access request originating from within a virtual machine (VM) defined by a virtual image, the disk access request including a principal identifier for a principal that originated the disk access request within the virtual image and the disk access request including a resource identifier for a resource associated with the disk access request; searching an index for the principal identifier and the resource identifier to identify a location for handling the disk access request; and returning to the virtual image completion notification for the disk access request and data to fulfill the disk access request; the method processing external to the processing of the virtual image.