Embodiments of the present invention provide for optimizing workload placement in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). Specifically, a workload placement technique is applied to determine an optimal platform for handling an identified workload. The workload placement technique comprises one or more of the following: a shadow placement technique; a simultaneous placement technique; and/or a single platform placement technique. Once an optimal platform is identified, a workload timing method may be applied to determine when the workload should be placed thereon. The workload timing method can comprise one or more of the following: a time-based method whereby the workload is placed on the optimal platform at a predetermined time or time interval; and/or an event-based method whereby the workload is placed on the optimal platform based on an occurrence of one or more events external to the workload itself.