Cloud computing is really coming into its own. After several years of predictions, we’ve finally seen adoption of some cloud technologies at the consumer level. Cloud storage, for example, has taken the marketplace by storm as companies like Dropbox get into the public cloud provider routine.

Meanwhile, companies continue to explore just how cloud computing solutions can meet their needs. Just because something is billed as a cloud solution, however, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

Here are five principles your company needs to follow if it’s going to have successful cloud computing deployments:

1.