Sensible Cloud's Sense is Java-based software that enterprises deploy in their data centers. It lets administrators and business managers set parameters that spur automatic changes in their data centers, resulting in more efficient use of the infrastructure, according to Cloud Sense. The software can be used to manage both private and public clouds.

For instance, a manager can set a daily, monthly or project cap on the cost of using compute power or the number of machines used on a public cloud. Users can determine what happens when a cap is reached. They can shift an internal workload to a public cloud, for instance, or deprovision resources from another application in order to access additional capacity.

The software is designed to help users take advantage of one of the main benefits of cloud computing. "These environments are elastic, but what we're finding is that people are not actually using them particularly elastically," said Eddie Budgen, vice president of product strategy and marketing for Sensible Cloud.

In addition to the Sense software for enterprises, Sensible Cloud plans to offer a hosted version aimed at smaller businesses. The beta offering of the controlmycloud.com service is available Tuesday, with commercial availability scheduled for the end of October.

While the Sense software is highly customizable, the service features a few templates that smaller businesses are most likely to appreciate. The templates include bill control and infrastructure optimization so users can set thresholds and choose from a set of actions when those thresholds are met.