A method, computer program product and system for obtaining notification information about the state of an operating system. The method includes the steps of receiving, by a Direct Process Access (DPA) engine, a request for the notification information from a requesting program. The notification information is obtained from a database associated with the DPA engine and the notification information is provided to the requesting program. The DPA engine receives update information indicative of changes in the notification information directly from the operating system and causes the notification information to be updated in the database.