1. A system comprising: a computing cloud comprising one or more data storage units and one or more processing units, wherein the computing cloud is configured to provide at least one service and shared hardware and software resources; and a plurality of clients; wherein the computing cloud is configured to provide the at least one service and the shared hardware and software resources for use by the clients; wherein each client is configured to communicate with the computing cloud and at least one industrial automation unit and to transmit information associated with the at least one industrial automation unit to the computing cloud; and wherein at least one of the one or more processing units in the computing cloud is configured to determine a status of the at least one industrial automation unit using the information provided by the clients.