In one embodiment, a method comprises (i) identifying a group associated with an executable that is using a resource of a computer system, (ii) decrementing a group utilization limit for the resource when the group utilization limit is greater than zero, (iii) decrementing a utilization reserve for the group when the group utilization limit for the resource equals zero, wherein operations (i)-(iii) are performed by a software routine responsive to system interrupts, and (iv) scheduling another executable to use the resource, wherein the scheduling verifies that (a) the another executable belongs to a group that has a non-zero group utilization limit for the resource or (b) the another executable belongs to a group that has a non-zero utilization reserve.