A cloud-based industrial controller is provided and controls devices, processes, and other assets of an industrial automation system via control algorithms that execute on a cloud platform. A cloud-based collection component collects information from the industrial automation system via cloud gateways associated with the industrial automation system or extrinsic data sources. The cloud-based industrial controller can monitor and analyze the information, generate control instructions based on the analysis results, and communicate the control instructions to the devices, processes, and/or other assets of the industrial automation system to control operation of the industrial automation system. The cloud-based industrial controller also can interface with an industrial plant-based industrial controller, wherein the cloud-based industrial controller can determine supplemental control instructions to the industrial plant-based industrial controller, based on the information, including extrinsic information, to assist in controlling the industrial automation system and control decision-making.