> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.guardianservice.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.guardianservice.app/technical-information/open-source-guardian-architecture.md).

# Open-Source Guardian Architecture

The idea for the Managed Guardian Service (MGS) was born out of Envision Blockchain’s work with the [open-source version](https://github.com/hashgraph/guardian) of the Guardian. Envision partnered with Hedera almost two years ago with the goal to build and maintain an open-source platform that allows for the creation and tracking of digital environmental assets.

Envision Blockchain noticed an opportunity to take their experience as builders and maintainers of the open-source Guardian to create a hosted offering for the ESG industry. The goal is simple: provide a SaaS which allows application builders to focus on building their applications and policies instead of spending time configuring and managing the Guardian. Users of MGS won’t notice a difference with regard to the MGS offering and the open-source version, because almost all of the core open-source Guardian components will always be the same