In a multi-tiered simulation configuration, a combination of predictive models is executed such that each tier in the multi-tiered simulation configuration executes at least one predictive model to produce a corresponding set of predicted events, and a predicted event from a first tier in the configuration forms an input to a next tier in the configuration. Using a subset of a selected set of predicted events outputted from a corresponding selected tier in the multi-tiered simulation configuration, a set of features is extracted, each feature in the set of features having an effect on an outcome of the simulated process. The set of features is used in a demand level prediction model to predict a threshold demand, wherein reaching the threshold demand in an actual utilization of a computing resource is indicative of a likelihood of an unforeseen rise in a demand for the computing resource after a period.