Some of the most significant changes in information technology are those that have given the individual user greater power to choose. The first of these changes was the development of the personal computer. The PC liberated the individual user from the limitations of the mainframe and minicomputers and from the rules and regulations of centralized system management. Individual users could install PCs on college and university campuses without obtaining the approval of the central IT organization. Subsequent waves of change--the World Wide Web, mobile devices, Web 2.0 functionality, and virtualization--continued to benefit users as interlinked PCs and other personal devices delivered information and innovative new applications to individuals connected via global networks. Today "cloud services"--such as Wikipedia, Hotmail, and YouTube--were available before the phrase "cloud service" was even coined. Colleges and universities around the world are discussing, planning for, and using cloud computing and cloud services. The rate of adoption varies from country to country, but the need for awareness and preparation is universal. This article examines cloud issues by looking at examples from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom which illustrate both the opportunities and the risks involved in adopting cloud computing and cloud services. (Contains 11 notes.)