A method includes identifying a first value of a lock word corresponding to a data structure, by a process in a plurality of processes that each have access to the data structure. The method also includes copying the data structure to a corresponding shadow record. The method additionally includes modifying the shadow record with a desired update for the data structure, and atomically updating the data structure and the lock word, by the process, using a hardware built-in function. The updating includes identifying a second value of the lock word and determining whether the first value of the lock word and the second value of the lock word are equivalent. The method additionally includes, in response to determining that the first value of the lock word and the second value of the lock word are equivalent, replacing the data structure with the shadow record and incrementing the lock word.