Typically, when Schumacher is deciding whether an application should go in the cloud, "cloud wins because we can get it up and running faster than on-premise," Menefee says. "Additionally, the SLAs and quarterly updates from vendors keep us ahead of the curve on innovation, features and functions."

The Morris School District in Morristown, N.J., also applies business cases to its cloud decisions. The district is using a cloud service from AppRiver to manage its e-mail security, including . It's in the process of implementing another cloud service for its main student information system, which is used for tasks such as grading, taking attendance, scheduling, managing health records and coordinating buses.

The school district has opted to keep some portions of its IT infrastructure and applications, such as the budget, personnel and payroll systems, out of the cloud, says Tim McDade, the school district's director of technology. Part of what's holding him back is lack of staff, McDade says.

"We are in the process of launching our new cloud-based student-management system, and to do additional [critical] systems at the same time is too much to undertake at once," he says. "There is the training of many users involved, and the student information system is a major system, in reality the most important system we run."

What factors did the district consider when deciding what to put in the cloud and when? "Money, time available to technically implement [the services], and time needed for training of end users," McDade says.