A computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more hardware processors, cause performance of operations comprising: identifying a particular time period during which a first operation is to be executed, wherein the first operation is to be periodically executed; identifying a plurality of candidate start times within the particular time period for executing the first operation, wherein the plurality of candidate start times comprises a first candidate start time and a second candidate start time; determining one or more scheduled start times (304a, 304b) scheduled for execution of one or more other operations, wherein the one or more scheduled start times (304a, 304b) comprise a respective scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of each respective operation of said one or more other operations; characterized by: determining a first cost for the first candidate start time based at least on a first time difference between the first candidate start time and a particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of a second operation of said one or more other operations, wherein the first cost increases with proximity between the first candidate start time and the particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of the second operation; determining a second cost for the second candidate start time based at least on a second time difference between the second candidate start time and the particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of the second operation, wherein the second cost increases with proximity between the second candidate start time and the particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of the second operation; and responsive at least to determining that the first cost is lower than the second cost, selecting the first candidate start time for executing the first operation. identifying a particular time period during which a first operation is to be executed, wherein the first operation is to be periodically executed; identifying a plurality of candidate start times within the particular time period for executing the first operation, wherein the plurality of candidate start times comprises a first candidate start time and a second candidate start time; determining one or more scheduled start times (304a, 304b) scheduled for execution of one or more other operations, wherein the one or more scheduled start times (304a, 304b) comprise a respective scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of each respective operation of said one or more other operations; characterized by: determining a first cost for the first candidate start time based at least on a first time difference between the first candidate start time and a particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of a second operation of said one or more other operations, wherein the first cost increases with proximity between the first candidate start time and the particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of the second operation; determining a second cost for the second candidate start time based at least on a second time difference between the second candidate start time and the particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of the second operation, wherein the second cost increases with proximity between the second candidate start time and the particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of the second operation; and responsive at least to determining that the first cost is lower than the second cost, selecting the first candidate start time for executing the first operation. determining a first cost for the first candidate start time based at least on a first time difference between the first candidate start time and a particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of a second operation of said one or more other operations, wherein the first cost increases with proximity between the first candidate start time and the particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of the second operation; determining a second cost for the second candidate start time based at least on a second time difference between the second candidate start time and the particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of the second operation, wherein the second cost increases with proximity between the second candidate start time and the particular scheduled start time (304a, 304b) of the second operation; and responsive at least to determining that the first cost is lower than the second cost, selecting the first candidate start time for executing the first operation.