Abstract: A service partitioned into service components requiring different resources is assigned to at least one cloud of a set of clouds. With interdependent service components, a service-placement engine is configured to coordinate assignments of individual service components. The service-placement engine receives from a client a definition of each service component and indications of components interdependence. Each cloud that satisfies compliance requirements, capability requirements, and resource requirements of a service component is considered eligible to host the service component. Selection of a specific eligible cloud is based on an overall cloud merit which depends on the service-component definition and the location of the client.