Described are techniques for controlling I/O response time. It is determined whether a first observed I/O response time for a storage group exceeds I/O performance specified by a service level objective. If so, first processing may be performed to decrease I/O performance for the storage group. The first processing may include: for each I/O directed to the storage group that is received within a first subsequent time period, determining a first response time denoting an amount of time taken to service each I/O prior to returning a response for each I/O; determining whether the first response time for each I/O is less than a response time delay threshold; and if the first response time for each I/O is less than the response time delay threshold, applying a response time delay to each I/O prior to returning a response for each I/O.