A database contains available cloud environments to which a virtual image workload may be deployed. The database includes ratings for each available cloud option, such as cost, distance, reliability, which workloads that environment may handle. A table of attributes and weights is used to create a rating of the requested deployment. This rating determines where the image is deployed. The invention discloses techniques for gathering additional information from the user about the virtual image workload to be deployed. A mapping algorithm applies the attributes and weights to the gathered information to create a rating for the deployment. An algorithm is then used to determine to which available cloud environment the workload will be deployed.