Automated enablement of performance data collection

A computer-implemented method for dynamically and automatically enabling performance data capture in a computing environment, comprising using a processor a computer for:

• iteratively monitoring current run-time characteristics of the computing environment and comparing the current run-time characteristics to previously-recorded information describing characteristics of the computing environment when operating in a healthy state;
• responsive to detecting, from the comparing, that the computing environment is not operating in the healthy state, determining whether the processor is already capturing performance data pertaining to ongoing current run-time characteristics of the computing environment;
• responsive to determining that the processor is not already capturing the performance data, programmatically causing the processor to begin capturing the performance data;
• and
• responsive to determining that the processor is already capturing the performance data, determining whether a further level of detail is available for the capturing, and responsive to determining that the further level of detail is available, then programmatically causing the processor to begin capturing the performance data at the further level of detail.