An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a process request for processing data, and a controller that, in response to receipt of a process request by the receiving unit, assigns a process to one of a first processing group including a processing unit that processes data, and a second processing group in which one or more processing units can be placed, the processing unit included in the first processing group including a number of processing units less than a predetermined upper limit number. The controller preferentially activates and assigns a process to the processing units included in the first processing group, and if the controller receives a process request that the processing units included in the first processing group are unable to fully process, the controller places a processing unit in the second processing group and assigns a process to the processing unit.