A method for managing computing resources in a system, comprising: by a cloud-based computing system: performing scheduled maintenance operations across a plurality of connectors (104 1 -104 M) in an availability set for a computing resources location, wherein each connector (104 1 -104 M) serves as a channel for communications between the cloud-based computing system and the computing resources location, and further providing administration and control of the computing resources location by the cloud-based computing system, the cloud-based computing system conducting at a given time a maintenance operation on only one connector of the plurality of connectors (104 1 -104 M) in the availability set; providing with the plurality of connectors (104 1 -104 M) access to the computing resources location by a plurality of cloud-hosted service computing systems (CSCSs) (122 1 -122 N); receiving a lease request originating from at least one CSCS of the plurality of CSCSs (122 1 -122 N), the lease request specifying at least one connector of the plurality of connectors (104 1 -104 M) for performing specified software operations and a lease duration, where the lease duration denotes a time during which the at least one CSCS seeks to utilize the at least one connector of the plurality of connectors (104 1 -104 M); determining, while performing the scheduled maintenance operations, whether at least one connector has scheduled pending maintenance operations; determining whether any of the connectors in the availability set is currently performing respective ones of the scheduled maintenance operations; selectively granting the lease request by generating at least one electronic message directed to the CSCS which originated the lease request, based on a determination that the at least one connector does not have scheduled pending maintenance operations and a determination that none of the connectors is currently performing respective ones of the maintenance operations; and characterized in that after the lease request has been granted, by the maintenance service, updating the lease end-time for the leased connector and returning to the CSCS the connector which was leased so that the connector can carry out the requested operations, such that the CSCS which originated the lease request can be assured that no maintenance operations will execute on the connector during the lease period. performing scheduled maintenance operations across a plurality of connectors (104 1 -104 M) in an availability set for a computing resources location, wherein each connector (104 1 -104 M) serves as a channel for communications between the cloud-based computing system and the computing resources location, and further providing administration and control of the computing resources location by the cloud-based computing system, the cloud-based computing system conducting at a given time a maintenance operation on only one connector of the plurality of connectors (104 1 -104 M) in the availability set; providing with the plurality of connectors (104 1 -104 M) access to the computing resources location by a plurality of cloud-hosted service computing systems (CSCSs) (122 1 -122 N); receiving a lease request originating from at least one CSCS of the plurality of CSCSs (122 1 -122 N), the lease request specifying at least one connector of the plurality of connectors (104 1 -104 M) for performing specified software operations and a lease duration, where the lease duration denotes a time during which the at least one CSCS seeks to utilize the at least one connector of the plurality of connectors (104 1 -104 M); determining, while performing the scheduled maintenance operations, whether at least one connector has scheduled pending maintenance operations; determining whether any of the connectors in the availability set is currently performing respective ones of the scheduled maintenance operations; selectively granting the lease request by generating at least one electronic message directed to the CSCS which originated the lease request, based on a determination that the at least one connector does not have scheduled pending maintenance operations and a determination that none of the connectors is currently performing respective ones of the maintenance operations; and characterized in that after the lease request has been granted, by the maintenance service, updating the lease end-time for the leased connector and returning to the CSCS the connector which was leased so that the connector can carry out the requested operations, such that the CSCS which originated the lease request can be assured that no maintenance operations will execute on the connector during the lease period.