A method and apparatus is provided for automatically performing an operation for one or more resources of a computing cluster when a conditional dependency is satisfied. The conditional dependency may be based on the operating state, load, performance metric, or performance statistic of one or more other resources. A resource profile for a resource stores a conditional dependency that, when satisfied, causes a centralized policy engine to send a command to the resource or an agent for the resource. The policy engine receives notifications of operating state changes from agents that manage resources in the cluster. The policy engine determines that one or more conditional dependencies is satisfied when one or more resources change state to satisfy conditions specified by the conditional dependencies. The policy engine responds to detecting that a conditional dependency is satisfied by sending a command that causes the dependent resource to change its operating state.