Hybrid cloud is about flexibility. It's about having access to the extra capacity you need, when you need it. It's about paying only for what you use. And it's about being able to quickly extend your IT capabilities so you can address new opportunities as they arise.

Hybrid cloud is also about saving money. And to lock in the best rates, you'll need to sign a commitment with a cloud provider. The question is, how do you know how much capacity to sign up for?

In "Right-sizing Your Hybrid Cloud", managed cloud provider Netelligent describes a three-stage approach to getting the most for your money: 1) needs assessment, 2) building out a cloud plan, and 3) verifying your plan and right-sizing it.

Deciding how you want to use the cloud can be challenging. You have many service choices and deployment models to choose from from. Many cloud providers can customize your service as well.

Reality is, you are not just buying a service from a cloud provider. You are establishing an ongoing relationship with them. For many organizations, your provider will become a trusted advisor. This means you will count on your provider to help you make decisions, be proactive and keep your company's best interests in mind.

Providers like Netelligent understand that the key aspect of this relationship is trust. There are three levels of trust to look for in a cloud provider:

1) Understanding your needs: Trust takes work. It is only after your provider understands your business needs that it can determine the best course to meet them. To achieve this, many providers have developed professional services teams to work with you to assess your needs and develop a cloud plan designed to meet your business' unique requirements. For providers who don't have such a team, Cisco has a professional services program and can work directly with you and your provider to create a custom plan.

2) Transparency: Promises are nice. Promises backed by verification that these promises have been met are even better. After all, it is much easier to trust a provider who can prove they have delivered as they said they would. It is also easier to trust a provider who can show you that the plan it helped you develop is actually meeting your needs.

3) Accountability: Sometimes estimates are off. And sometimes the plan your provider helped you create has you committed to more resources than you truly need. The true test of trust is how your provider stands behind its work. Does your provider penalize you for adopting the plan it suggested? Or does your provider guarantee your satisfaction by working with you to adjust your plan and make it right.

The world is moving to cloud. As a result, more and more businesses are relying on cloud providers to help them transform their business. Trust is essential to this relationship. It is the key to transforming a provider into your partner.