A trust-based approach for authorizing computing resources in a networked computing environment is provided. Specifically, in a typical embodiment, a candidate computing resource (e.g., a virtual machine) will submit a request to join a network computing environment (“environment”). Based on the request, a message will be communicated to previously authorized/joined computing resources to poll/solicit their votes as to whether the candidate computing resource should be trusted/authorized in the environment. Based on the responses submitted by the polled computing resources, the candidate computing resource may be authorized or denied membership in the environment. If authorized, a permission level may be set (e.g., as recommended by the polled computing resources).