diff --git a/services/lib/src/GlobalTools.h b/services/lib/src/GlobalTools.h
--- a/services/lib/src/GlobalTools.h
+++ b/services/lib/src/GlobalTools.h
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 
 bool hasEnvFlag(const std::string &flag);
 
+size_t getNumberOfCores();
+
 std::string decorateTableName(const std::string &baseName);
 
 bool isSandbox();
diff --git a/services/lib/src/GlobalTools.cpp b/services/lib/src/GlobalTools.cpp
--- a/services/lib/src/GlobalTools.cpp
+++ b/services/lib/src/GlobalTools.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 #include <iomanip>
 #include <regex>
 #include <string>
+#include <thread>
+#include <algorithm>
 
 namespace comm {
 namespace network {
@@ -28,6 +30,10 @@
   return std::string(std::getenv(flag.c_str())) == "1";
 }
 
+size_t getNumberOfCores() {
+  return (size_t)std::max((unsigned int)1, std::thread::hardware_concurrency());
+}
+
 std::string decorateTableName(const std::string &baseName) {
   std::string suffix = "";
   if (hasEnvFlag("COMM_TEST_SERVICES")) {