Abstract: Allocating computing resources comprises allocating an amount of a resource to an application program based on an established service level requirement for utilization of the resource by the application program, determining whether the application program's utilization of the resource exceeds a utilization threshold, and changing the allocated amount of the resource in response to a determination that the application program's utilization of the resource exceeds the utilization threshold. The utilization threshold is based on the established service level requirement and is different than the established service level requirement. Changing the allocation of the resource based on the utilization threshold allows allocating sufficient resources to the application program prior to a breach of a service level agreement for the application program.