Cloud computing is here to stay. The agility and scalability of the cloud model – as well as its ability to transform up-front capital expenditures into flexible operating expenditures – are too compelling to ignore. For CIOs in organizations of all sizes, the question is no longer whether to take advantage of the cloud … but how. Unfortunately, that question isn’t as easy to answer as it might sound. Not all cloud providers are created equal. Different vendors offer different features, terms and service levels. And once you engage with one vendor, it can be difficult to change your mind down the road – even if that vendor’s offering doesn’t fully mesh with your existing IT practices and policies.