You need to be practical in how you address these questions.  If the workloads require real-time performance, you need to  keep those as close to the source of the transactions as possible. However, some workloads can run with less stringent  performance and can be placed in a less expensive cloud  model. Regardless, you never want to risk the reputation of  your company. Part of the risk is selecting a cloud provider  that is here today and gone tomorrow. Workload management  must be viewed as an overall part of your cloud management  strategy. Therefore, planning for managing workloads goes  hand in hand with a strong cloud strategy plan. ✓ How well does your internal organization understand the  various internal and external workloads that need to be  supported? ✓ What’s the reputation of the public cloud provider? Cloud Services For Dummies, IBM Limited Edition  44 These materials are the copyright of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and any  dissemination, distribution, or unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.