In the last few years there has been an increasing hype regarding cloud-based offerings, from outsourcing the office file or mail server to powering entire complex web sites, collaboration and outsourcing of voice over IP, CRM, and even  providing off-site backup services.  The term cloud has come to mean just about anything not on your local network.  The broadening definition combined with the reduction of reliability, security and accountability is a troubling trend, to say the least.