1. A method performed by a management unit that receives and manages a plurality of data requests for data stored in at least one database hosted by a content provider, the management unit being communicatively coupled between the content provider and a consumer of the data via a network, the method comprising: determining a characterization of a response performance associated with responding to the plurality of data requests; sending a resource request associated with the characterization of the response performance to the content provider; and receiving a response from the content provider that identifies one or more locations of one or more additional resources that are allocated by the content provider responsive to the resource request.