An exemplary method of responding to a request for a value of at least one metric associated with at least one process includes a step of determining whether responding to the request requires updating the value of the at least one metric. When responding to the request does not require updating the value of the at least one metric, a response is determined based at least in part on at least one stored value of the at least one metric. When responding to the request does require updating the value of the at least one metric, the value of the at least one metric is updated and a response is determined based at least in part on the at least one updated value of the at least one metric. Updating the value of the at least one metric, at least when responding to the request requires updating the value of the at least one metric, includes steps of determining at least one new value of the at least one metric based at least in part on at least one stored value of the at least one metric and storing the at least one new value of the at least one metric. The method also includes a step of responding to the request with the determined response.