1. A method for configuring and operating a network tool optimizer for cloud-based networks, comprising: allowing configuration of one or more master filters to determine how packets from a cloud network are forwarded to a plurality of virtual ports, each virtual port being associated with a different user of cloud resources within the cloud network; allowing configuration of a plurality of sets of one or more user filters, each set of one or more user filters being associated with a different user of cloud resources within the cloud network and determining how packets from a virtual port associated with that user are forwarded to one or more output ports for the network tool optimizer; generating rules for filter engines based upon the one or more master filters and the plurality of sets of one or more user filters with conflicts between the master filters and user filters being resolved in favor of the master filters; applying the rules to the filter engines within the network tool optimizer; receiving packets from the cloud network at one or more input ports for the network tool optimizer; and forwarding the received packets to one or more output ports for the network tool optimizer using the filter engines so that packet traffic for each user is forwarded based at least in part upon the set of one or more user filters for that user.