An apparatus in one embodiment comprises a processing platform that includes a plurality of processing devices each comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The processing platform is configured to implement virtual resources for use by client applications. The processing platform is further configured with a multi-layered architecture including at least a client applications layer, a distributed resource scheduling layer, a resource abstraction layer and a resource layer comprising the virtual resources. The distributed resource scheduling layer registers as a framework with the resource abstraction layer, and the client applications register as respective processing tasks with the distributed resource scheduling layer. The distributed resource scheduling layer controls allocation of the virtual resources of the resource layer to the client applications. The virtual resources illustratively comprise respective containers, respective virtual machines, or combinations thereof.