Although some businesses think the more agility a cloud solution provides, the more it will cost, Bernard Golden writes on Network World that cost and flexibility are not mutually exclusive, and both can be had within the cloud.

"The attempt to downplay the importance of cost regarding cloud computing is misguided. However, there is a greater mistake in branding cost and agility as conflicting choices, with the implication that choosing one means forfeiting the other," Golden writes. "The fact is that low cost and agility both depend upon the underlying foundation of cloud computing: automation. It is automation that supports both lower costs and agility, and both of them equally reflect its nature."

He said smart CIOs need to find a cloud solution that allows them to be both flexible while still getting a good deal on what they are using.

Because cloud solutions can vary in size and scope, companies need to make sure they conduct sufficient research before making a move into the cloud. Businesses that understand the ins and outs of their operations prior to adopting a cloud computing service will likely be able to best determine their respective needs and the vendor that can provide them.