A method for the managing access to a software resource is disclosed. The method may include receiving, from a particular consumer, a request for a number of permits corresponding to units of a software resource. The numbers of permits may be compared to a total number of available permits. In response to determining that the number of permits is greater than the total number of available permits, rejecting the request in response to determining the number of permits requested is within a threshold value of permits requested by another consumer who has requested the largest number of permits in a preceding time period.