1. A system comprising: a computing cloud comprising at least one data storage device and at least one processing device, wherein the computing cloud is configured to provide shared services to a plurality of industrial automation systems; a client configured to communicate with the computing cloud and selectively offload data from a local system to the computing cloud based upon one or more specified criteria, the client also configured to offload processes from the local system to the computing cloud based upon the one or more specified criteria, wherein at least one of the one or more specified criteria is based upon a determination of whether data or processes are required for at least one real-time process, and, in response to determining that the data or processes are required for at least one real-time process, the data or processes are not offloaded to the computing cloud; wherein at least one of the industrial automation systems is configured to use at least one of the shared services of the computing cloud and at least one service from the local system.