diff --git a/packages/aws-fargate/src/activate.js b/packages/aws-fargate/src/activate.js
index 05b3a785a6..0aa5042be5 100644
--- a/packages/aws-fargate/src/activate.js
+++ b/packages/aws-fargate/src/activate.js
@@ -6,25 +6,30 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const instanaCore = require('@instana/core');
-const { backendConnector, consoleLogger: log } = require('@instana/serverless');
+const { backendConnector, consoleLogger: serverlessLogger } = require('@instana/serverless');
 
 const identityProvider = require('./identity_provider');
 const metrics = require('./metrics');
 const { fullyQualifiedContainerId } = require('./metrics/container/containerUtil');
+const { tracing, coreConfig, coreUtils } = instanaCore;
 
-const { tracing, util: coreUtil } = instanaCore;
-const { normalizeConfig } = coreUtil;
+const instanaCtr = new instanaCore.InstanaCtr();
 
-const logger = log.init();
-const config = normalizeConfig({}, logger);
+coreUtils.init(instanaCtr);
+coreConfig.init(instanaCtr);
+serverlessLogger.init(instanaCtr);
+
+instanaCtr.set('utils', coreUtils.create());
+instanaCtr.set('config', coreConfig.create());
+instanaCtr.set('logger', serverlessLogger.create());
 
 function init() {
-  instanaCore.preInit(config);
+  instanaCore.preInit(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils());
 
-  metrics.init(config, function onReady(err, ecsContainerPayload) {
+  metrics.init(instanaCtr.config(), function onReady(err, ecsContainerPayload) {
     if (err) {
-      logger.error(
-        `Initializing @instana/aws-fargate failed. This fargate task will not be monitored. 
+      instanaCtr.logger().error(
+        `Initializing @instana/aws-fargate failed. This fargate task will not be monitored.
         ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`
       );
       metrics.deactivate();
@@ -34,10 +39,12 @@ function init() {
     try {
       const taskArn = ecsContainerPayload && ecsContainerPayload.data ? ecsContainerPayload.data.taskArn : null;
       if (!taskArn) {
-        logger.error(
-          'Initializing @instana/aws-fargate failed, the metadata did not have a task ARN. This fargate task will ' +
-            'not be monitored.'
-        );
+        instanaCtr
+          .logger()
+          .error(
+            'Initializing @instana/aws-fargate failed, the metadata did not have a task ARN. This fargate task will ' +
+              'not be monitored.'
+          );
         metrics.deactivate();
         return;
       }
@@ -45,10 +52,12 @@ function init() {
         ? fullyQualifiedContainerId(taskArn, ecsContainerPayload.data.containerName)
         : null;
       if (!containerId) {
-        logger.error(
-          'Initializing @instana/aws-fargate failed, the metadata did not have a container name. This fargate task ' +
-            'will not be monitored.'
-        );
+        instanaCtr
+          .logger()
+          .error(
+            'Initializing @instana/aws-fargate failed, the metadata did not have a container name. This fargate task ' +
+              'will not be monitored.'
+          );
         metrics.deactivate();
         return;
       }
@@ -56,23 +65,25 @@ function init() {
       identityProvider.init(taskArn, containerId);
 
       backendConnector.init({
-        config,
+        config: instanaCtr.config(),
         identityProvider,
         defaultTimeout: 950
       });
 
-      instanaCore.init(config, backendConnector, identityProvider);
+      instanaCore.init(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils(), backendConnector, identityProvider);
       metrics.activate(backendConnector);
       tracing.activate();
 
-      logger.debug('@instana/aws-fargate initialized.');
+      instanaCtr.logger().debug('@instana/aws-fargate initialized.');
 
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-expressions
       process.send && process.send('instana.aws-fargate.initialized');
     } catch (e) {
-      logger.error(
-        `Initializing @instana/aws-fargate failed. This fargate task will not be monitored. ${e?.message} ${e?.stack}`
-      );
+      instanaCtr
+        .logger()
+        .error(
+          `Initializing @instana/aws-fargate failed. This fargate task will not be monitored. ${e?.message} ${e?.stack}`
+        );
     }
   });
 }
@@ -88,7 +99,7 @@ exports.sdk = tracing.sdk;
 
 // NOTE: this is the external interface for the customer. They can set a custom logger.
 exports.setLogger = function setLogger(_logger) {
-  log.init({ logger: _logger });
+  instanaCtr.logger().setLogger(_logger);
 };
 
 exports.opentracing = tracing.opentracing;
diff --git a/packages/aws-fargate/test/Control.js b/packages/aws-fargate/test/Control.js
index de10e80e60..847707d0e5 100644
--- a/packages/aws-fargate/test/Control.js
+++ b/packages/aws-fargate/test/Control.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const config = require('@instana/core/test/config');
 const AbstractServerlessControl = require('../../serverless/test/util/AbstractServerlessControl');
 const portfinder = require('../../collector/test/test_util/portfinder');
 const PATH_TO_INSTANA_FARGATE_PACKAGE = path.join(__dirname, '..');
-const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').util.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
+const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
 let execArg;
 
 function Control(opts) {
diff --git a/packages/aws-fargate/test/metrics/transmissionCycle_test.js b/packages/aws-fargate/test/metrics/transmissionCycle_test.js
index 759368a124..4173e6cacc 100644
--- a/packages/aws-fargate/test/metrics/transmissionCycle_test.js
+++ b/packages/aws-fargate/test/metrics/transmissionCycle_test.js
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ describe('transmission cycle', function () {
   let onReadyError;
 
   before(() => {
-    const config = core.util.normalizeConfig({});
+    const config = core.config.normalize();
     core.secrets.init(config);
 
     const metadataMockPort = portfinder();
diff --git a/packages/aws-lambda/src/wrapper.js b/packages/aws-lambda/src/wrapper.js
index 1e6aaab80b..973e02c4d5 100644
--- a/packages/aws-lambda/src/wrapper.js
+++ b/packages/aws-lambda/src/wrapper.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const instanaCore = require('@instana/core');
-const { backendConnector, consoleLogger: log, environment } = require('@instana/serverless');
+const { backendConnector, consoleLogger: serverlessLogger, environment } = require('@instana/serverless');
 const arnParser = require('./arn');
 const identityProvider = require('./identity_provider');
 const metrics = require('./metrics');
@@ -15,21 +15,29 @@ const triggers = require('./triggers');
 const processResult = require('./process_result');
 const captureHeaders = require('./capture_headers');
 
-const { tracing, util: coreUtil } = instanaCore;
-const { normalizeConfig } = coreUtil;
+const { tracing, coreConfig, coreUtils } = instanaCore;
 const { tracingHeaders, constants, spanBuffer } = tracing;
 
 const lambdaConfigDefaults = {
   tracing: { forceTransmissionStartingAt: 25, transmissionDelay: 100, initialTransmissionDelay: 100 }
 };
 
-const logger = log.init();
-let config = normalizeConfig({}, logger, lambdaConfigDefaults);
 let coldStart = true;
 
+const instanaCtr = new instanaCore.InstanaCtr();
+
+coreUtils.init(instanaCtr);
+coreConfig.init(instanaCtr);
+serverlessLogger.init(instanaCtr);
+
+instanaCtr.set('utils', coreUtils.create());
+instanaCtr.set('config', coreConfig.create({}, lambdaConfigDefaults));
+instanaCtr.set('logger', serverlessLogger.create());
+
 // Initialize instrumentations early to allow for require statements after our
 // package has been required but before the actual instana.wrap(...) call.
-instanaCore.preInit(config);
+// TODO: refactor to use `instanaCtr` only!
+instanaCore.preInit(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils());
 
 /**
  * Wraps an AWS Lambda handler so that metrics and traces are reported to Instana. This function will figure out if the
@@ -191,7 +199,7 @@ function shimmedHandler(originalHandler, originalThis, originalArgs, _config) {
       process.env.INSTANA_ENABLE_LAMBDA_TIMEOUT_DETECTION &&
       process.env.INSTANA_ENABLE_LAMBDA_TIMEOUT_DETECTION === 'true'
     ) {
-      logger.debug('Heuristical timeout detection enabled. Please only use for debugging purposes.');
+      instanaCtr.logger().debug('Heuristical timeout detection enabled. Please only use for debugging purposes.');
       registerTimeoutDetection(context, entrySpan);
     }
 
@@ -245,34 +253,41 @@ function init(event, arnInfo, _config) {
 
   // CASE: customer provides a custom logger or custom level
   if (customConfig.logger || customConfig.level) {
-    log.init(customConfig);
+    instanaCtr.setLogger(serverlessLogger.create(customConfig));
   }
 
-  // NOTE: We SHOULD renormalize because of:
+  // NOTE: We SHOULD re-create the config object, because:
   //         - in-code _config object
   //         - late env variables (less likely)
   //         - custom logger
   //         - we always renormalize unconditionally to ensure safety.
-  config = normalizeConfig(customConfig, logger, lambdaConfigDefaults);
+  //       This is a consequence of pre-initializing early.
+  instanaCtr.set('config', coreConfig.create(customConfig, lambdaConfigDefaults));
 
-  if (!config.tracing.enabled) {
+  if (!instanaCtr.config().tracing.enabled) {
     return false;
   }
 
   const useLambdaExtension = shouldUseLambdaExtension();
   if (useLambdaExtension) {
-    logger.info('@instana/aws-lambda will use the Instana Lambda extension to send data to the Instana back end.');
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .info('@instana/aws-lambda will use the Instana Lambda extension to send data to the Instana back end.');
   } else {
-    logger.info(
-      '@instana/aws-lambda will not use the Instana Lambda extension, but instead send data to the Instana back end ' +
-        'directly.'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .info(
+        '@instana/aws-lambda will not use the Instana Lambda extension, ' +
+          'but instead send data to the Instana back end ' +
+          'directly.'
+      );
   }
 
   identityProvider.init(arnInfo);
-  triggers.init(config);
+  triggers.init(instanaCtr.config());
+
   backendConnector.init({
-    config,
+    config: instanaCtr.config(),
     identityProvider,
     defaultTimeout: 500,
     useLambdaExtension,
@@ -282,16 +297,16 @@ function init(event, arnInfo, _config) {
     retries: !!useLambdaExtension
   });
 
-  instanaCore.init(config, backendConnector, identityProvider);
+  instanaCore.init(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils(), backendConnector, identityProvider);
 
   // After core init, because ssm requires require('@aws-sdk/client-ssm'), which triggers
   // the requireHook + shimmer. Any module which requires another external module has to be
   // initialized after the core.
-  ssm.init(config);
+  ssm.init(instanaCtr.config());
 
   spanBuffer.setIsFaaS(true);
-  captureHeaders.init(config);
-  metrics.init(config);
+  captureHeaders.init(instanaCtr.config());
+  metrics.init(instanaCtr.config());
   metrics.activate();
   tracing.activate();
 
@@ -311,10 +326,12 @@ function registerTimeoutDetection(context, entrySpan) {
     : 2000;
 
   if (initialRemainingMillis <= minimumTimeoutInMs) {
-    logger.debug(
-      'Heuristical timeout detection will be disabled for Lambda functions with a short timeout ' +
-        '(2 seconds and smaller).'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .debug(
+        'Heuristical timeout detection will be disabled for Lambda functions with a short timeout ' +
+          '(2 seconds and smaller).'
+      );
     return;
   }
 
@@ -329,9 +346,9 @@ function registerTimeoutDetection(context, entrySpan) {
     triggerTimeoutHandlingAfter = initialRemainingMillis - 400;
   }
 
-  logger.debug(
-    `Registering heuristical timeout detection to be triggered in ${triggerTimeoutHandlingAfter} milliseconds.`
-  );
+  instanaCtr
+    .logger()
+    .debug(`Registering heuristical timeout detection to be triggered in ${triggerTimeoutHandlingAfter} milliseconds.`);
 
   setTimeout(() => {
     postHandlerForTimeout(entrySpan, getRemainingTimeInMillis(context));
@@ -342,7 +359,9 @@ function getRemainingTimeInMillis(context) {
   if (context && typeof context.getRemainingTimeInMillis === 'function') {
     return context.getRemainingTimeInMillis();
   } else {
-    logger.warn('context.getRemainingTimeInMillis() is not available, timeout detection will be disabled.');
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn('context.getRemainingTimeInMillis() is not available, timeout detection will be disabled.');
     return null;
   }
 }
@@ -352,7 +371,7 @@ function getRemainingTimeInMillis(context) {
 //       used or not e.g. by checking the lambda handler name if that is possible.
 function shouldUseLambdaExtension() {
   if (process.env.INSTANA_DISABLE_LAMBDA_EXTENSION) {
-    logger.info('INSTANA_DISABLE_LAMBDA_EXTENSION is set, not using the Lambda extension.');
+    instanaCtr.logger().info('INSTANA_DISABLE_LAMBDA_EXTENSION is set, not using the Lambda extension.');
     return false;
   } else {
     // Note: We could also use context.memoryLimitInMB here instead of the env var AWS_LAMBDA_FUNCTION_MEMORY_SIZE (both
@@ -360,28 +379,33 @@ function shouldUseLambdaExtension() {
     // The context object is not available to the extension, so we prefer the env var over the value from the context.
     const memorySetting = process.env.AWS_LAMBDA_FUNCTION_MEMORY_SIZE;
     if (!memorySetting) {
-      logger.debug(
-        'The environment variable AWS_LAMBDA_FUNCTION_MEMORY_SIZE is not present, cannot determine memory settings.'
-      );
+      instanaCtr
+        .logger()
+        .debug(
+          'The environment variable AWS_LAMBDA_FUNCTION_MEMORY_SIZE is not present, cannot determine memory settings.'
+        );
       return true;
     }
     const memorySize = parseInt(memorySetting, 10);
     if (isNaN(memorySize)) {
-      logger.debug(
-        `Could not parse the value of the environment variable AWS_LAMBDA_FUNCTION_MEMORY_SIZE: "${memorySetting}", ` +
-          'cannot determine memory settings, not using the Lambda extension.'
-      );
+      instanaCtr
+        .logger()
+        .debug(
+          'Could not parse the value of the environment variable ' +
+            `AWS_LAMBDA_FUNCTION_MEMORY_SIZE: "${memorySetting}", ` +
+            'cannot determine memory settings, not using the Lambda extension.'
+        );
       return false;
     }
     if (memorySize < 256) {
-      let logFn = logger.debug;
+      let logFn = instanaCtr.logger().debug;
 
       // CASE: We try to determine if the customer has the extension installed. We need to put a warning
       //       because the extension is **not** working and might block the lambda extension when
       //       its not used correctly e.g. slow startup of extension or waiting for invokes or incoming spans
       //       from the tracer.
       if (process.env._HANDLER?.includes('instana-aws-lambda-auto-wrap')) {
-        logFn = logger.warn;
+        logFn = instanaCtr.logger().warn;
       }
 
       logFn(
@@ -428,7 +452,7 @@ function sendToBackend({ spans, metricsPayload, finalLambdaRequest, callback })
 
   return ssm.waitAndGetInstanaKey((err, value) => {
     if (err) {
-      logger.debug(err);
+      instanaCtr.logger().debug(err);
       return callback();
     }
 
@@ -513,14 +537,14 @@ function postHandlerForTimeout(entrySpan, remainingMillis) {
    * `setTimeout` is not 100% reliable
    */
   if (remainingMillis < 200) {
-    logger.debug('Skipping heuristical timeout detection because lambda timeout exceeded already.');
+    instanaCtr.logger().debug('Skipping heuristical timeout detection because lambda timeout exceeded already.');
     return;
   }
 
   if (entrySpan) {
     // CASE: Timeout not needed, we already send the data to the backend successfully
     if (entrySpan.transmitted) {
-      logger.debug('Skipping heuristical timeout detection because BE data was sent already.');
+      instanaCtr.logger().debug('Skipping heuristical timeout detection because BE data was sent already.');
       return;
     }
 
@@ -531,7 +555,7 @@ function postHandlerForTimeout(entrySpan, remainingMillis) {
     entrySpan.transmit();
   }
 
-  logger.debug(`Heuristical timeout detection was triggered with ${remainingMillis} milliseconds left.`);
+  instanaCtr.logger().debug(`Heuristical timeout detection was triggered with ${remainingMillis} milliseconds left.`);
 
   // deliberately not gathering metrics but only sending spans.
   const spans = spanBuffer.getAndResetSpans();
@@ -551,7 +575,7 @@ exports.currentSpan = function getHandleForCurrentSpan() {
 exports.sdk = tracing.sdk;
 
 exports.setLogger = function setLogger(_logger) {
-  log.init({ logger: _logger });
+  instanaCtr.logger().setLogger(_logger);
 };
 
 exports.opentracing = tracing.opentracing;
diff --git a/packages/azure-container-services/src/activate.js b/packages/azure-container-services/src/activate.js
index 31f3d724e8..54c1464d78 100644
--- a/packages/azure-container-services/src/activate.js
+++ b/packages/azure-container-services/src/activate.js
@@ -5,26 +5,33 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const instanaCore = require('@instana/core');
-const { backendConnector, consoleLogger: log } = require('@instana/serverless');
+const { backendConnector, consoleLogger: serverlessLogger } = require('@instana/serverless');
 
 const identityProvider = require('./identity_provider');
+const { tracing, coreConfig, coreUtils } = instanaCore;
 
-const { tracing, util: coreUtil } = instanaCore;
-const { normalizeConfig } = coreUtil;
+const instanaCtr = new instanaCore.InstanaCtr();
 
-const logger = log.init();
-const config = normalizeConfig({}, logger);
+coreUtils.init(instanaCtr);
+coreConfig.init(instanaCtr);
+serverlessLogger.init(instanaCtr);
+
+instanaCtr.set('utils', coreUtils.create());
+instanaCtr.set('config', coreConfig.create());
+instanaCtr.set('logger', serverlessLogger.create());
 
 function init() {
   // For more details about environment variables in azure, please see
   // https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/reference-app-settings?tabs=kudu%2Cdotnet#app-environment
   if (!process.env.WEBSITE_OWNER_NAME && !process.env.WEBSITE_SITE_NAME && !process.env.WEBSITE_RESOURCE_GROUP) {
-    logger.error(
-      'Initializing @instana/azure-container-services failed. The environment variables' +
-        `WEBSITE_OWNER_NAME: ${process.env.WEBSITE_OWNER_NAME} WEBSITE_SITE_NAME: ${process.env.WEBSITE_SITE_NAME} ` +
-        `WEBSITE_RESOURCE_GROUP: ${process.env.WEBSITE_RESOURCE_GROUP} are not set. ` +
-        'This container instance will not be monitored.'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .error(
+        'Initializing @instana/azure-container-services failed. The environment variables' +
+          `WEBSITE_OWNER_NAME: ${process.env.WEBSITE_OWNER_NAME} WEBSITE_SITE_NAME: ${process.env.WEBSITE_SITE_NAME} ` +
+          `WEBSITE_RESOURCE_GROUP: ${process.env.WEBSITE_RESOURCE_GROUP} are not set. ` +
+          'This container instance will not be monitored.'
+      );
     return;
   }
   // In contrast to Fargate, the Azure Agent collects required metrics information from Azure APIs to oversee
@@ -34,23 +41,25 @@ function init() {
     identityProvider.init();
 
     backendConnector.init({
-      config,
+      config: instanaCtr.config(),
       identityProvider,
       defaultTimeout: 950
     });
 
-    instanaCore.init(config, backendConnector, identityProvider);
+    instanaCore.init(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils(), backendConnector, identityProvider);
     tracing.activate();
 
-    logger.debug('@instana/azure-container-services initialized.');
+    instanaCtr.logger().debug('@instana/azure-container-services initialized.');
 
     // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-expressions
     process.send && process.send('instana.azure-app-service.initialized');
   } catch (e) {
-    logger.error(
-      'Initializing @instana/azure-container-services failed. This azure container service will not be monitored.' +
-        `${e?.message} ${e?.stack}`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .error(
+        'Initializing @instana/azure-container-services failed. This azure container service will not be monitored.' +
+          `${e?.message} ${e?.stack}`
+      );
   }
 }
 
@@ -64,7 +73,7 @@ exports.sdk = tracing.sdk;
 
 // NOTE: this is the external interface for the customer. They can set a custom logger.
 exports.setLogger = function setLogger(_logger) {
-  log.init({ logger: _logger });
+  instanaCtr.logger().setLogger(_logger);
 };
 
 exports.opentracing = tracing.opentracing;
diff --git a/packages/azure-container-services/test/Control.js b/packages/azure-container-services/test/Control.js
index f62c82d7b7..e113d959b1 100644
--- a/packages/azure-container-services/test/Control.js
+++ b/packages/azure-container-services/test/Control.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ const fetch = require('node-fetch-v2');
 const portfinder = require('@instana/collector/test/test_util/portfinder');
 const config = require('@instana/core/test/config');
 const AbstractServerlessControl = require('../../serverless/test/util/AbstractServerlessControl');
-const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').util.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
+const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
 
 const PATH_TO_INSTANA_AZURE_PACKAGE = path.join(__dirname, '..');
 let execArg;
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/actions/source.js b/packages/collector/src/actions/source.js
index fbab69d19e..47fd29b029 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/actions/source.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/actions/source.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ let logger;
 const validFileRequests = /\.(js|ts|jsx)$|(^|\/)package\.json$/i;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/agent/opts.js b/packages/collector/src/agent/opts.js
index 1017c5433f..90b20acbf7 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/agent/opts.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/agent/opts.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ exports.agentUuid = undefined;
 // @ts-ignore - Cannot redeclare exported variable
 exports.autoProfile = false;
 
-/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} config */
+/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} config */
 exports.config = {};
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/agent/requestHandler.js b/packages/collector/src/agent/requestHandler.js
index 4ef16c5f61..c766a7e0d9 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/agent/requestHandler.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/agent/requestHandler.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const actionMapping = {
 };
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/agentConnection.js b/packages/collector/src/agentConnection.js
index d8e67cb508..a1a51c5775 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/agentConnection.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/agentConnection.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { util, uninstrumentedHttp, uninstrumentedFs: fs } = require('@instana/core');
+const { uninstrumentedHttp, uninstrumentedFs: fs } = require('@instana/core');
 const pathUtil = require('path');
 const circularReferenceRemover = require('./util/removeCircular');
 const agentOpts = require('./agent/opts');
@@ -34,12 +34,17 @@ let isConnected = false;
 /** @type {string | null} */
 let cpuSetFileContent = null;
 
+/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} */
+let coreUtils;
+
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  * @param {any} _pidStore
  */
-exports.init = function init(config, _pidStore) {
+exports.init = function init(config, utils, _pidStore) {
   logger = config.logger;
+  coreUtils = utils;
   pidStore = _pidStore;
 
   cmdline.init(config);
@@ -90,7 +95,7 @@ exports.AgentEventSeverity = {
  * @param {(err: Error, rawResponse?: string) => void} callback
  */
 exports.announceNodeCollector = function announceNodeCollector(callback) {
-  const cb = util.atMostOnce('callback for announceNodeCollector', callback);
+  const cb = coreUtils.atMostOnce('callback for announceNodeCollector', callback);
 
   /** @type {AgentConnectionPayload} */
   const payload = {
@@ -221,7 +226,7 @@ exports.checkWhetherAgentIsReadyToAcceptData = function checkWhetherAgentIsReady
  * @param {(...args: *) => *} cb
  */
 function checkWhetherResponseForPathIsOkay(path, cb) {
-  cb = util.atMostOnce('callback for checkWhetherResponseForPathIsOkay', cb);
+  cb = coreUtils.atMostOnce('callback for checkWhetherResponseForPathIsOkay', cb);
 
   const req = http.request(
     {
@@ -257,7 +262,7 @@ function checkWhetherResponseForPathIsOkay(path, cb) {
  * @param {(...args: *) => *} cb
  */
 exports.sendMetrics = function sendMetrics(data, cb) {
-  cb = util.atMostOnce('callback for sendMetrics', cb);
+  cb = coreUtils.atMostOnce('callback for sendMetrics', cb);
 
   sendData(`/com.instana.plugin.nodejs.${pidStore.pid}`, data, (err, body) => {
     if (err) {
@@ -283,7 +288,7 @@ exports.sendMetrics = function sendMetrics(data, cb) {
  * @param {(...args: *) => *} cb
  */
 exports.sendSpans = function sendSpans(spans, cb) {
-  const callback = util.atMostOnce('callback for sendSpans', err => {
+  const callback = coreUtils.atMostOnce('callback for sendSpans', err => {
     if (err && !maxContentErrorHasBeenLogged && err instanceof PayloadTooLargeError) {
       logLargeSpans(spans);
     } else if (err) {
@@ -304,7 +309,7 @@ exports.sendSpans = function sendSpans(spans, cb) {
  * @param {(...args: *) => *} cb
  */
 exports.sendProfiles = function sendProfiles(profiles, cb) {
-  const callback = util.atMostOnce('callback for sendProfiles', err => {
+  const callback = coreUtils.atMostOnce('callback for sendProfiles', err => {
     if (err && err instanceof PayloadTooLargeError) {
       logger.warn('Profiles are too too large to be sent.');
     } else if (err && err.statusCode === 404) {
@@ -324,7 +329,7 @@ exports.sendProfiles = function sendProfiles(profiles, cb) {
  * @param {(...args: *) => *} cb
  */
 exports.sendEvent = function sendEvent(eventData, cb) {
-  const callback = util.atMostOnce('callback for sendEvent', (err, responseBody) => {
+  const callback = coreUtils.atMostOnce('callback for sendEvent', (err, responseBody) => {
     cb(err, responseBody);
   });
 
@@ -346,7 +351,7 @@ exports.sendAgentMonitoringEvent = function sendAgentMonitoringEvent(code, categ
     category
   };
 
-  const callback = util.atMostOnce('callback for sendAgentMonitoringEvent', (err, responseBody) => {
+  const callback = coreUtils.atMostOnce('callback for sendAgentMonitoringEvent', (err, responseBody) => {
     cb(err, responseBody);
   });
 
@@ -359,7 +364,7 @@ exports.sendAgentMonitoringEvent = function sendAgentMonitoringEvent(code, categ
  * @param {(...args: *) => *} cb
  */
 exports.sendAgentResponseToAgent = function sendAgentResponseToAgent(messageId, response, cb) {
-  cb = util.atMostOnce('callback for sendAgentResponseToAgent', cb);
+  cb = coreUtils.atMostOnce('callback for sendAgentResponseToAgent', cb);
 
   sendData(
     `/com.instana.plugin.nodejs/response.${pidStore.pid}?messageId=${encodeURIComponent(messageId)}`,
@@ -373,7 +378,7 @@ exports.sendAgentResponseToAgent = function sendAgentResponseToAgent(messageId,
  * @param {(...args: *) => *} cb
  */
 exports.sendTracingMetricsToAgent = function sendTracingMetricsToAgent(tracingMetrics, cb) {
-  const callback = util.atMostOnce('callback for sendTracingMetricsToAgent', err => {
+  const callback = coreUtils.atMostOnce('callback for sendTracingMetricsToAgent', err => {
     cb(err);
   });
 
@@ -388,7 +393,7 @@ exports.sendTracingMetricsToAgent = function sendTracingMetricsToAgent(tracingMe
  * @returns
  */
 function sendData(path, data, cb, ignore404 = false) {
-  cb = util.atMostOnce(`callback for sendData: ${path}`, cb);
+  cb = coreUtils.atMostOnce(`callback for sendData: ${path}`, cb);
 
   const payloadAsString = JSON.stringify(data, circularReferenceRemover());
   if (typeof logger.trace === 'function') {
@@ -499,7 +504,7 @@ function logLargeSpans(spans) {
     .slice(0, 4)
     .map(
       s =>
-        `span name: ${s.span.n}, largest attribute: ${util
+        `span name: ${s.span.n}, largest attribute: ${coreUtils
           .propertySizes(s.span)
           .sort((p1, p2) => p2.length - p1.length)
           .slice(0, 1)
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/agentHostLookup.js b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/agentHostLookup.js
index a19d6057ed..95f0412bc3 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/agentHostLookup.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/agentHostLookup.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const { callbackify } = require('util');
-const { atMostOnce } = require('@instana/core').util;
+const { atMostOnce } = require('@instana/core').coreUtils;
 const { http } = require('@instana/core').uninstrumentedHttp;
 
 const agentOpts = require('../agent/opts');
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ const readDefaultGateway = callbackify(defaultGatewayParser.parseProcSelfNetRout
 let logger;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 const init = config => {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/agentready.js b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/agentready.js
index d190acdd62..11b3e531a8 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/agentready.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/agentready.js
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ let pidStore;
 let disableEOLEvents;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  * @param {any} _pidStore
  */
 function init(config, _pidStore) {
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/announced.js b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/announced.js
index bd787b6681..1d1dfe4b6d 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/announced.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/announced.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ let logger;
 const MAX_RETRIES = 60;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ function checkWhetherAgentIsReadyToAccept(totalNumberOfAttempts, ctx) {
       ctx.transitionTo('agentready');
     } else if (totalNumberOfAttempts > MAX_RETRIES) {
       logger.warn(
-        `The Instana host agent is not yet ready to accept data after ${totalNumberOfAttempts} attempts. 
+        `The Instana host agent is not yet ready to accept data after ${totalNumberOfAttempts} attempts.
         Restarting the cycle to establish a connection.`
       );
       ctx.transitionTo('unannounced');
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/defaultGatewayParser.js b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/defaultGatewayParser.js
index dbb51bbce1..0b5adc4611 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/defaultGatewayParser.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/defaultGatewayParser.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ let logger;
 let cachedResult;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/index.js b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/index.js
index 2d1e53905b..88d7668f38 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/index.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/index.js
@@ -52,16 +52,17 @@ const ctx = {
 };
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  * @param {any} pidStore
  */
-exports.init = function init(config, pidStore) {
+exports.init = function init(config, utils, pidStore) {
   logger = config.logger;
 
   agentHostLookup.init(config);
   announced.init(config);
   agentready.init(config, pidStore);
-  unannounced.init(config, pidStore);
+  unannounced.init(config, utils, pidStore);
 };
 
 exports.start = function start() {
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/unannounced.js b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/unannounced.js
index a9acbfbb42..c6528868c8 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/unannounced.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/announceCycle/unannounced.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 const {
   secrets,
   tracing,
-  util: { ensureNestedObjectExists, configNormalizers }
+  coreConfig: { configNormalizers }
 } = require('@instana/core');
 const { constants: tracingConstants } = tracing;
 
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ let logger;
 /** @type {{ pid: number }} */
 let pidStore;
 
+/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} */
+let coreUtils;
+
 const initialRetryDelay = 10 * 1000; // 10 seconds
 const backoffFactor = 1.5;
 const maxRetryDelay = 60 * 1000; // one minute
@@ -35,7 +38,7 @@ const maxRetryDelay = 60 * 1000; // one minute
 /**
  * @typedef {Object} SecretsConfig
  * @property {Array.<string>} list
- * @property {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').MatchingOption} matcher
+ * @property {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').MatchingOption} matcher
  */
 
 /**
@@ -53,10 +56,12 @@ const maxRetryDelay = 60 * 1000; // one minute
  */
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  * @param {any} _pidStore
  */
-function init(config, _pidStore) {
+function init(config, utils, _pidStore) {
+  coreUtils = utils;
   logger = config.logger;
   pidStore = _pidStore;
 }
@@ -130,17 +135,17 @@ function applySecretsConfiguration(agentResponse) {
   if (agentResponse.secrets) {
     if (!(typeof agentResponse.secrets.matcher === 'string')) {
       logger.warn(
-        `Received an invalid secrets configuration from the Instana host agent, attribute matcher is not a string: 
+        `Received an invalid secrets configuration from the Instana host agent, attribute matcher is not a string:
           ${agentResponse.secrets.matcher}`
       );
     } else if (Object.keys(secrets.matchers).indexOf(agentResponse.secrets.matcher) < 0) {
       logger.warn(
-        `Received an invalid secrets configuration from the Intana agent, matcher is not supported: 
+        `Received an invalid secrets configuration from the Intana agent, matcher is not supported:
           ${agentResponse.secrets.matcher}`
       );
     } else if (!Array.isArray(agentResponse.secrets.list)) {
       logger.warn(
-        `Received an invalid secrets configuration from the Instana host agent, attribute list is not an array: 
+        `Received an invalid secrets configuration from the Instana host agent, attribute list is not an array:
           ${agentResponse.secrets.list}`
       );
     } else {
@@ -168,7 +173,7 @@ function applyExtraHttpHeaderConfiguration(agentResponse) {
  */
 function actuallyApplyExtraHttpHeaderConfiguration(extraHeaders) {
   if (Array.isArray(extraHeaders)) {
-    ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing', 'http']);
+    coreUtils.ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing', 'http']);
     // The Node.js HTTP API converts all incoming HTTP headers into lowercase.
     agentOpts.config.tracing.http.extraHttpHeadersToCapture = extraHeaders.map((/** @type {string} */ s) =>
       s.toLowerCase()
@@ -188,7 +193,7 @@ function applyKafkaTracingConfiguration(agentResponse) {
           ? kafkaTracingConfigFromAgent['trace-correlation']
           : tracingConstants.kafkaTraceCorrelationDefault
     };
-    ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing', 'kafka']);
+    coreUtils.ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing', 'kafka']);
     agentOpts.config.tracing.kafka = kafkaTracingConfig;
   }
   // There is no fallback because there is are no legacy agent response attributes for the Kafka tracing config, those
@@ -201,7 +206,7 @@ function applyKafkaTracingConfiguration(agentResponse) {
 function applySpanBatchingConfiguration(agentResponse) {
   if (agentResponse.tracing) {
     if (agentResponse.tracing['span-batching-enabled'] === true) {
-      ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing']);
+      coreUtils.ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing']);
       agentOpts.config.tracing.spanBatchingEnabled = true;
     }
     return;
@@ -211,7 +216,7 @@ function applySpanBatchingConfiguration(agentResponse) {
   // common tracing options section. We can remove this legacy fallback approximately in May 2023.
   if (agentResponse.spanBatchingEnabled === true || agentResponse.spanBatchingEnabled === 'true') {
     logger.info('Enabling span batching via Instana host agent configuration.');
-    ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing']);
+    coreUtils.ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing']);
     agentOpts.config.tracing.spanBatchingEnabled = true;
   }
 }
@@ -235,7 +240,7 @@ function applyIgnoreEndpointsConfiguration(agentResponse) {
   const ignoreEndpointsConfig = agentResponse?.tracing?.['ignore-endpoints'];
   if (!ignoreEndpointsConfig) return;
 
-  ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing', 'ignoreEndpoints']);
+  coreUtils.ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing', 'ignoreEndpoints']);
   agentOpts.config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints = configNormalizers.ignoreEndpoints.normalizeConfig(ignoreEndpointsConfig);
 }
 
@@ -251,11 +256,12 @@ function applyDisableConfiguration(agentResponse) {
   const disablingConfig = agentResponse?.tracing?.disable;
   if (!disablingConfig) return;
 
-  ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing', 'disable']);
+  coreUtils.ensureNestedObjectExists(agentOpts.config, ['tracing', 'disable']);
   agentOpts.config.tracing.disable = configNormalizers.disable.normalizeExternalConfig({
     tracing: { disable: disablingConfig }
   });
 }
+
 module.exports = {
   init,
 
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/cmdline.js b/packages/collector/src/cmdline.js
index 28131e18bf..7b9c6ef40f 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/cmdline.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/cmdline.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const { uninstrumentedFs: fs } = require('@instana/core');
 let logger;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/immediate.js b/packages/collector/src/immediate.js
index 0ac46511a7..98ee993352 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/immediate.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/immediate.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ if (isNodeJsTooOld()) {
   return;
 }
 
-const { util: coreUtil } = require('@instana/core');
+const excludedFromInstrumentation = require('@instana/core/src/util/excludedFromInstrumentation');
 const agentOpts = require('./agent/opts');
 
 // This file can be used with NODE_OPTIONS or `node --require` to instrument a Node.js app with Instana without
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ const agentOpts = require('./agent/opts');
 // eslint-disable-next-line max-len
 // https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/instana-observability/current?topic=nodejs-collector-installation#activating-the-collector
 
-const isExcludedFromInstrumentation = coreUtil.excludedFromInstrumentation && coreUtil.excludedFromInstrumentation();
+const isExcludedFromInstrumentation = excludedFromInstrumentation && excludedFromInstrumentation();
 
 // In case this is a child process of an instrumented parent process we might receive the agent uuid from the parent
 // process to be able to produce and collect spans immediately without waiting for a connection to the agent in this
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/index.js b/packages/collector/src/index.js
index 8ded6deb64..4d51237717 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/index.js
@@ -46,14 +46,21 @@ const instanaNodeJsCore = require('@instana/core');
 const instanaSharedMetrics = require('@instana/shared-metrics');
 require('./tracing'); // load additional instrumentations
 
-const log = require('./logger');
+const collectorLogger = require('./logger');
 const normalizeCollectorConfig = require('./util/normalizeConfig');
 const experimental = require('./experimental');
+const { coreConfig, coreUtils } = instanaNodeJsCore;
+
+const instanaCtr = new instanaNodeJsCore.InstanaCtr();
+
+coreUtils.init(instanaCtr);
+coreConfig.init(instanaCtr);
+collectorLogger.init(instanaCtr);
+
+instanaCtr.set('utils', coreUtils.create());
+instanaCtr.set('config', coreConfig.create());
+instanaCtr.set('logger', collectorLogger.create());
 
-// NOTE: Default collector logger && config for cases like `preinit`.
-const logger = log.init();
-/** @type {import('./types/collector').CollectorConfig} */
-let config = instanaNodeJsCore.util.normalizeConfig({}, logger);
 /** @type {import('./agentConnection')} */
 let agentConnection;
 
@@ -96,13 +103,13 @@ function init(_config = {}) {
   // @ts-ignore: Property '__INSTANA_INITIALIZED' does not exist on type global
   global.__INSTANA_INITIALIZED = true;
 
-  // CASE: reinit logger if custom logger or log level is provided.
+  // CASE: recreate logger if custom logger or log level is provided.
   if (_config.logger || _config.level) {
-    log.init(_config);
+    instanaCtr.set('logger', collectorLogger.create(_config));
   }
 
-  config = normalizeCollectorConfig(_config);
-  config = instanaNodeJsCore.util.normalizeConfig(config, logger);
+  const collectorConfigNormalized = normalizeCollectorConfig(_config);
+  instanaCtr.set('config', coreConfig.create(collectorConfigNormalized));
 
   agentConnection = require('./agentConnection');
   const agentOpts = require('./agent/opts');
@@ -111,18 +118,21 @@ function init(_config = {}) {
   const announceCycle = require('./announceCycle');
   const metrics = require('./metrics');
 
-  pidStore.init(config);
-  agentOpts.init(config);
-  announceCycle.init(config, pidStore);
-  agentConnection.init(config, pidStore);
-  instanaNodeJsCore.init(config, agentConnection, pidStore);
+  pidStore.init(instanaCtr.config());
+  agentOpts.init(instanaCtr.config());
+  announceCycle.init(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils(), pidStore);
+  agentConnection.init(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils(), pidStore);
+  instanaNodeJsCore.init(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils(), agentConnection, pidStore);
 
   if (isMainThread) {
-    uncaught.init(config, agentConnection, pidStore);
-    metrics.init(config, pidStore);
+    uncaught.init(instanaCtr.config(), agentConnection, pidStore);
+    metrics.init(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils(), pidStore);
   }
 
-  logger.info(`@instana/collector module version: ${require(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'package.json')).version}`);
+  instanaCtr
+    .logger()
+    .info(`@instana/collector module version: ${require(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'package.json')).version}`);
+
   announceCycle.start();
 
   return init;
@@ -157,7 +167,7 @@ init.isConnected = function isConnected() {
  */
 init.setLogger = function setLogger(_logger) {
   // NOTE: Override our default logger with customer's logger
-  log.init({ logger: _logger });
+  instanaCtr.logger().setLogger(_logger);
 };
 
 init.core = instanaNodeJsCore;
@@ -172,7 +182,7 @@ if (process.env.INSTANA_IMMEDIATE_INIT != null && process.env.INSTANA_IMMEDIATE_
   process.env.INSTANA_EARLY_INSTRUMENTATION != null &&
   process.env.INSTANA_EARLY_INSTRUMENTATION.toLowerCase() === 'true'
 ) {
-  instanaNodeJsCore.preInit(config);
+  instanaNodeJsCore.preInit(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils());
 }
 
 module.exports = init;
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/logger.js b/packages/collector/src/logger.js
index 74fc739d0f..c9c46b5a5e 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/logger.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/logger.js
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ try {
   // thread (0).
 }
 
+const os = require('os');
 const uninstrumentedLogger = require('./uninstrumentedLogger');
 const loggerToAgentStream = require('./agent/loggerToAgentStream');
 
@@ -49,13 +50,19 @@ class InstanaLogger {
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {import('./types/collector').CollectorConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} [_instanaCtr]
  */
-exports.init = function init(config = {}) {
+// eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
+exports.init = _instanaCtr => {};
+
+/**
+ * @param {import('./types/collector').CollectorConfig} customConfig
+ */
+exports.create = (customConfig = {}) => {
   /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
   let parentLogger;
 
-  if (config.logger && typeof config.logger.child === 'function') {
+  if (customConfig.logger && typeof customConfig.logger.child === 'function') {
     // A bunyan or pino logger has been provided via config. In either case we create a child logger directly under the
     // given logger which serves as the parent for all loggers we create later on.
 
@@ -65,7 +72,7 @@ exports.init = function init(config = {}) {
     //      It takes the parent logger level.
     //      We cannot fix this in our side.
     //      https://github.com/winstonjs/winston/issues/1854#issuecomment-710195110
-    parentLogger = config.logger.child({
+    parentLogger = customConfig.logger.child({
       // TODO: Rename to "instana-nodejs-logger" in next major version.
       module: 'instana-nodejs-logger-parent',
       threadId
@@ -74,15 +81,16 @@ exports.init = function init(config = {}) {
     // CASE: Attach custom instana meta attribute to filter out internal instana logs.
     //       This will prevent these logs from being traced.
     parentLogger.__instana = true;
-  } else if (config.logger && hasLoggingFunctions(config.logger)) {
+  } else if (customConfig.logger && hasLoggingFunctions(customConfig.logger)) {
     // CASE: Built-in console logger or log4js. We use it as is.
     // The __instana attribute identifies the Instana logger, distinguishing it from the client application logger,
     // and also prevents these logs from being traced
     // Extends config.logger with __instana while preserving its prototype and methods.
-    parentLogger = Object.setPrototypeOf({ ...config.logger, __instana: 1 }, Object.getPrototypeOf(config.logger));
+    parentLogger = Object.setPrototypeOf(
+      { ...customConfig.logger, __instana: 1 },
+      Object.getPrototypeOf(customConfig.logger)
+    );
   } else {
-    const os = require('os');
-
     // No custom logger has been provided via config, we create a new pino logger as our internal
     // Instana logger.
 
@@ -138,8 +146,8 @@ exports.init = function init(config = {}) {
 
   if (process.env['INSTANA_DEBUG']) {
     setLoggerLevel(parentLogger, 'debug');
-  } else if (config.level) {
-    setLoggerLevel(parentLogger, config.level);
+  } else if (customConfig.level) {
+    setLoggerLevel(parentLogger, customConfig.level);
   } else if (process.env['INSTANA_LOG_LEVEL']) {
     setLoggerLevel(parentLogger, process.env['INSTANA_LOG_LEVEL'].toLowerCase());
   }
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/metrics/index.js b/packages/collector/src/metrics/index.js
index 9bb2282073..44f73168f2 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/metrics/index.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/metrics/index.js
@@ -14,12 +14,13 @@ const additionalMetrics = [pid];
 
 /**
  * @param {import('@instana/core/src/metrics').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  * @param {any} pidStore
  */
-exports.init = function init(config, pidStore) {
+exports.init = function init(config, utils, pidStore) {
   coreMetrics.init(config);
   sharedMetrics.init(config);
-  transmissionCycle.init(config);
+  transmissionCycle.init(config, utils);
 
   additionalMetrics.forEach(metric => {
     metric.init(config, pidStore);
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/metrics/initializedTooLate.js b/packages/collector/src/metrics/initializedTooLate.js
index a6ff2df91d..bf3e79a928 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/metrics/initializedTooLate.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/metrics/initializedTooLate.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate = require('@instana/core').util.hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate;
+const hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate;
 
 exports.payloadPrefix = 'initTooLate';
 exports.currentPayload = undefined;
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/metrics/pid.js b/packages/collector/src/metrics/pid.js
index 5460db4a6d..6b47639b34 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/metrics/pid.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/metrics/pid.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 let pid;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  * @param {{ pid: number, onPidChange: (callback: (pid: number) => void) => void }} pidStore
  */
 exports.init = function init(config, pidStore) {
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/metrics/transmissionCycle.js b/packages/collector/src/metrics/transmissionCycle.js
index db757808fb..cbdb449848 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/metrics/transmissionCycle.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/metrics/transmissionCycle.js
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const core = require('@instana/core');
-
 /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
 let logger;
 
@@ -31,13 +29,17 @@ let previousTransmittedValue;
 let transmissionTimeoutHandle;
 let transmissionDelay = 1000;
 let isActive = false;
+/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} */
+let coreUtils;
 
 /**
  * @param {import('@instana/core/src/metrics').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
+exports.init = function init(config, utils) {
   logger = config.logger;
   transmissionDelay = config.metrics.transmissionDelay;
+  coreUtils = utils;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -90,7 +92,7 @@ function sendMetrics() {
   }
 
   // clone retrieved objects to allow mutations in metric retrievers
-  const newValueToTransmit = core.util.clone(metrics.gatherData());
+  const newValueToTransmit = coreUtils.clone(metrics.gatherData());
 
   /** @type {Object<string, *>} */
   let payload;
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ function sendMetrics() {
   if (isFullTransmission) {
     payload = newValueToTransmit;
   } else {
-    payload = core.util.compression(previousTransmittedValue, newValueToTransmit);
+    payload = coreUtils.compression(previousTransmittedValue, newValueToTransmit);
   }
 
   downstreamConnection.sendMetrics(payload, onMetricsHaveBeenSent.bind(null, isFullTransmission, newValueToTransmit));
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/pidStore/index.js b/packages/collector/src/pidStore/index.js
index 86c40fa48e..aad9acaaf8 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/pidStore/index.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/pidStore/index.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const eventName = 'pidChanged';
 let eventEmitter;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/tracing/instrumentation/process/edgemicro.js b/packages/collector/src/tracing/instrumentation/process/edgemicro.js
index 7d34419742..4d9a74492b 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/tracing/instrumentation/process/edgemicro.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/tracing/instrumentation/process/edgemicro.js
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@
 
 const cluster = require('cluster');
 
-const hook = require('@instana/core').util.hook;
+const hook = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.hook;
 const selfPath = require('./selfPath');
 
 /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
 let logger;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function (config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/collector/src/util/initializedTooLate.js b/packages/collector/src/util/initializedTooLate.js
index dc0404491d..049e366cba 100644
--- a/packages/collector/src/util/initializedTooLate.js
+++ b/packages/collector/src/util/initializedTooLate.js
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ const FIRE_MONITORING_EVENT_DURATION_IN_MS = process.env.INSTANA_FIRE_MONITORING
   ? Number(process.env.INSTANA_FIRE_MONITORING_EVENT_DURATION_IN_MS)
   : 600000;
 
-const hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate = require('@instana/core').util.hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate;
+const hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate;
 const agentConnection = require('../agentConnection');
 
 let warningHasBeenLogged = false;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/collector/test/agentConnection_test.js b/packages/collector/test/agentConnection_test.js
index 0158ac1da2..faa703f9c2 100644
--- a/packages/collector/test/agentConnection_test.js
+++ b/packages/collector/test/agentConnection_test.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ const expect = require('chai').expect;
 
 const constants = require('@instana/core').tracing.constants;
 const supportedVersion = require('@instana/core').tracing.supportedVersion;
+const coreUtils = require('@instana/core/src/util').coreUtils;
 const testConfig = require('../../core/test/config');
 const testUtils = require('../../core/test/test_util');
 
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ mochaSuiteFn('agent connection', function () {
     agentOpts.port = agentControls.getPort();
     agentConnection = require('../src/agentConnection');
     pidStore.init(config);
-    agentConnection.init(config, pidStore);
+    agentConnection.init(config, coreUtils, pidStore);
 
     await agentControls.simulateDiscovery(process.pid);
     await agentControls.clearReceivedData();
diff --git a/packages/collector/test/bazel_inode_test.js b/packages/collector/test/bazel_inode_test.js
index 3f5f5aad29..05ee87f634 100644
--- a/packages/collector/test/bazel_inode_test.js
+++ b/packages/collector/test/bazel_inode_test.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ describe('agent connection/bazel', function () {
         '@instana/core': mockInstanaCoreHttp()
       });
 
-      agentConnection.init({ logger: testUtils.createFakeLogger() }, { pid: 1234 });
+      agentConnection.init({ logger: testUtils.createFakeLogger() }, {}, { pid: 1234 });
     });
 
     it('should remove the leading path segmentes which node-patches prepends', done => {
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ describe('agent connection/bazel', function () {
         '@instana/core': mockInstanaCoreHttp()
       });
 
-      agentConnection.init({ logger: testUtils.createFakeLogger() }, { pid: 1234 });
+      agentConnection.init({ logger: testUtils.createFakeLogger() }, {}, { pid: 1234 });
     });
 
     it('should not modify the readlinkSync result', done => {
diff --git a/packages/collector/test/test_util/ProcessControls.js b/packages/collector/test/test_util/ProcessControls.js
index 7e3cb54cae..f61741c83d 100644
--- a/packages/collector/test/test_util/ProcessControls.js
+++ b/packages/collector/test/test_util/ProcessControls.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const globalAgent = require('../globalAgent');
 const portFinder = require('./portfinder');
 const sslDir = path.join(__dirname, '..', 'apps', 'ssl');
 const cert = fs.readFileSync(path.join(sslDir, 'cert'));
-const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').util.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
+const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
 
 class ProcessControls {
   /**
diff --git a/packages/collector/test/tracing/native_esm/customInstrumentation/squareCalc.js b/packages/collector/test/tracing/native_esm/customInstrumentation/squareCalc.js
index d689a3b264..4b1ac5da2b 100644
--- a/packages/collector/test/tracing/native_esm/customInstrumentation/squareCalc.js
+++ b/packages/collector/test/tracing/native_esm/customInstrumentation/squareCalc.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 const { EXIT } = require('@instana/core').tracing.constants;
 const tracingUtil = require('../../../../../core/src/tracing/tracingUtil');
 const cls = require('../../../../../core/src/tracing/cls');
-const hook = require('@instana/core').util.hook;
+const hook = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.hook;
 // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
 let isActive = false;
 
diff --git a/packages/collector/test/tracing/sdk/multiple_installations/esm/test.js b/packages/collector/test/tracing/sdk/multiple_installations/esm/test.js
index 9944c824ed..897a655ae4 100644
--- a/packages/collector/test/tracing/sdk/multiple_installations/esm/test.js
+++ b/packages/collector/test/tracing/sdk/multiple_installations/esm/test.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ const config = require('@instana/core/test/config');
 const testUtils = require('@instana/core/test/test_util');
 const ProcessControls = require('../../../../test_util/ProcessControls');
 const globalAgent = require('../../../../globalAgent');
-const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').util.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
+const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
 const mochaSuiteFn = supportedVersion(process.versions.node) ? describe : describe.skip;
 
 mochaSuiteFn('[ESM] tracing/sdk/multiple_installations', function () {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/configNormalizers/disable.js b/packages/core/src/config/configNormalizers/disable.js
similarity index 76%
rename from packages/core/src/util/configNormalizers/disable.js
rename to packages/core/src/config/configNormalizers/disable.js
index c15369b920..32a616ad0c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/configNormalizers/disable.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/config/configNormalizers/disable.js
@@ -5,14 +5,15 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const { DISABLABLE_INSTRUMENTATION_GROUPS } = require('../../tracing/constants');
-/** @type {import('../../core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
+
+/** @type {import('../../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} _config
+ * @param {import('../../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} _instanaCtr
  */
-exports.init = function init(_config) {
-  logger = _config.logger;
+exports.init = function init(_instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = _instanaCtr;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -23,29 +24,35 @@ exports.init = function init(_config) {
  * 2. `tracing.disabledTracers` (deprecated)
  * 3. Environment variables (`INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE*`)
  *
- * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.normalize = function normalize(config) {
   if (!config?.tracing) config.tracing = {};
   try {
     // Disable all tracing if explicitly set  'disable' to true
     if (config.tracing.disable === true) {
-      logger?.info('Tracing has been disabled via "tracing.disable: true" configuration.');
+      instanaCtr.logger().info('Tracing has been disabled via "tracing.disable: true" configuration.');
       return true;
     }
     const hasDisableConfig = isDisableConfigNonEmpty(config);
 
     if (hasDisableConfig) {
-      logger?.info(
-        `Tracing selectively disabled as per "tracing.disable" configuration: ${JSON.stringify(config.tracing.disable)}`
-      );
+      instanaCtr
+        .logger()
+        .info(
+          `Tracing selectively disabled as per "tracing.disable" configuration: ${JSON.stringify(
+            config.tracing.disable
+          )}`
+        );
     }
     // Handle deprecated `disabledTracers` config
     if (config.tracing.disabledTracers) {
-      logger?.warn(
-        'The configuration property "tracing.disabledTracers" is deprecated and will be removed in the next ' +
-          'major release. Please use "tracing.disable" instead.'
-      );
+      instanaCtr
+        .logger()
+        .warn(
+          'The configuration property "tracing.disabledTracers" is deprecated and will be removed in the next ' +
+            'major release. Please use "tracing.disable" instead.'
+        );
       if (!hasDisableConfig) {
         config.tracing.disable = { instrumentations: config.tracing.disabledTracers };
       }
@@ -75,14 +82,14 @@ exports.normalize = function normalize(config) {
     return disableConfig || {};
   } catch (error) {
     // Fallback to an empty disable config on error
-    logger?.debug(`Error while normalizing tracing.disable config: ${error?.message} ${error?.stack}`);
+    instanaCtr.logger().debug(`Error while normalizing tracing.disable config: ${error?.message} ${error?.stack}`);
     return {};
   }
 };
 
 /**
  * Handles config from agent.
- * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.normalizeExternalConfig = function normalizeExternalConfig(config) {
   try {
@@ -91,7 +98,9 @@ exports.normalizeExternalConfig = function normalizeExternalConfig(config) {
       return categorizeDisableEntries(flattenedEntries);
     }
   } catch (error) {
-    logger?.debug(`Error while normalizing external tracing.disable config: ${error?.message} ${error?.stack}`);
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .debug(`Error while normalizing external tracing.disable config: ${error?.message} ${error?.stack}`);
   }
 
   return {};
@@ -111,10 +120,12 @@ function getDisableFromEnv() {
 
   // @deprecated
   if (process.env.INSTANA_DISABLED_TRACERS) {
-    logger?.warn(
-      'The environment variable "INSTANA_DISABLED_TRACERS" is deprecated and will be removed in the next ' +
-        'major release. Use "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE" instead.'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        'The environment variable "INSTANA_DISABLED_TRACERS" is deprecated and will be removed in the next ' +
+          'major release. Use "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE" instead.'
+      );
     disable.instrumentations = parseEnvVar(process.env.INSTANA_DISABLED_TRACERS);
   }
 
@@ -123,7 +134,7 @@ function getDisableFromEnv() {
     const envVarValue = process.env.INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE;
 
     if (envVarValue === 'true') {
-      logger?.info('Tracing has been disabled via environment variable "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE=true".');
+      instanaCtr.logger().info('Tracing has been disabled via environment variable "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE=true".');
       return true;
     }
 
@@ -136,24 +147,30 @@ function getDisableFromEnv() {
         disable.groups = categorized.groups;
       }
 
-      logger?.info(`Tracing has been disabled via "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE=${envVarValue}"`);
+      instanaCtr.logger().info(`Tracing has been disabled via "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE=${envVarValue}"`);
     }
   }
 
   if (process.env.INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE_INSTRUMENTATIONS) {
     disable.instrumentations = parseEnvVar(process.env.INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE_INSTRUMENTATIONS);
-    logger?.info(
-      `Tracing instrumentations disabled via "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE_INSTRUMENTATIONS": ${JSON.stringify(
-        disable.instrumentations
-      )}`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .info(
+        `Tracing instrumentations disabled via "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE_INSTRUMENTATIONS": ${JSON.stringify(
+          disable.instrumentations
+        )}`
+      );
   }
 
   if (process.env.INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE_GROUPS) {
     disable.groups = parseEnvVar(process.env.INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE_GROUPS);
-    logger?.info(
-      `Tracing instrumentation groups disabled via "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE_GROUPS": ${JSON.stringify(disable.groups)}`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .info(
+        `Tracing instrumentation groups disabled via "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE_GROUPS": ${JSON.stringify(
+          disable.groups
+        )}`
+      );
   }
 
   return Object.keys(disable).length > 0 ? disable : null;
@@ -244,7 +261,7 @@ function isNonEmptyObject(obj) {
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 function isDisableConfigNonEmpty(config) {
   const disableConfig = config.tracing?.disable;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints.js b/packages/core/src/config/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints.js
similarity index 87%
rename from packages/core/src/util/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints.js
rename to packages/core/src/config/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints.js
index 65c41dd1b0..a99322d889 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/config/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints.js
@@ -5,14 +5,15 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const path = require('path');
-const { read } = require('../yamlReader');
-/** @type {import('../../core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
+
+/** @type {import('../../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
+
 /**
- * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} _instanaCtr
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
-  logger = config.logger;
+exports.init = function init(_instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = _instanaCtr;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ exports.normalizeConfig = function normalizeConfig(ignoreEndpointConfig) {
       })
     );
   } catch (error) {
-    logger?.warn('Error when parsing ignore-endpoints configuration', error?.message);
+    instanaCtr.logger().warn('Error when parsing ignore-endpoints configuration', error?.message);
     return {};
   }
 };
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ exports.fromEnv = function fromEnv(ignoreEndpointsEnv) {
         const [serviceName, endpointList] = (serviceEntry || '').split(':').map(part => part.trim());
 
         if (!serviceName || !endpointList) {
-          logger?.warn(
+          instanaCtr.logger().warn(
             // eslint-disable-next-line max-len
             `Invalid configuration: entry in INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS ${ignoreEndpointsEnv}: "${serviceEntry}". Expected format is e.g. "service:endpoint1,endpoint2".`
           );
@@ -113,7 +114,9 @@ exports.fromEnv = function fromEnv(ignoreEndpointsEnv) {
 
     return exports.normalizeConfig(Object.assign({}, ...parsedConfig));
   } catch (error) {
-    logger?.warn(`Failed to parse INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS: ${ignoreEndpointsEnv}. Error: ${error?.message}`);
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(`Failed to parse INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS: ${ignoreEndpointsEnv}. Error: ${error?.message}`);
     return {};
   }
 };
@@ -129,16 +132,17 @@ exports.fromEnv = function fromEnv(ignoreEndpointsEnv) {
  */
 exports.fromYaml = function fromYaml(yamlFilePath) {
   if (!path.isAbsolute(yamlFilePath)) {
-    logger?.warn(
+    instanaCtr.logger().warn(
       // eslint-disable-next-line max-len
       `Invalid configuration: INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS_PATH file path ${yamlFilePath} is not absolute.`
     );
     return {};
   }
   /** @type {Record<string, any>} */
-  const endpointsConfig = read(yamlFilePath);
+  const endpointsConfig = instanaCtr.utils().yamlReader.read(yamlFilePath);
+
   if (!endpointsConfig || typeof endpointsConfig !== 'object') {
-    logger?.debug(
+    instanaCtr.logger().debug(
       // eslint-disable-next-line max-len
       `Invalid configuration: INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS_PATH value is not valid, got: ${typeof endpointsConfig}. Provide valid YAML file`
     );
@@ -146,12 +150,12 @@ exports.fromYaml = function fromYaml(yamlFilePath) {
   }
 
   if (!endpointsConfig.tracing && !endpointsConfig['com.instana.tracing']) {
-    logger?.debug('Invalid configuration: INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS_PATH root key must be "tracing".');
+    instanaCtr.logger().debug('Invalid configuration: INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS_PATH root key must be "tracing".');
     return {};
   }
 
   if (endpointsConfig['com.instana.tracing']) {
-    logger?.info(
+    instanaCtr.logger().info(
       // eslint-disable-next-line max-len
       `Detected the root key "com.instana.tracing" in the YAML file at "${yamlFilePath}". This format is accepted, but please migrate to using "tracing" as the root key.`
     );
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/configNormalizers/index.js b/packages/core/src/config/configNormalizers/index.js
similarity index 57%
rename from packages/core/src/util/configNormalizers/index.js
rename to packages/core/src/config/configNormalizers/index.js
index 4a88d3b799..ea098e526d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/configNormalizers/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/config/configNormalizers/index.js
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ const disable = require('./disable');
 const ignoreEndpoints = require('./ignoreEndpoints');
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} instanaCtr
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
-  disable.init(config);
-  ignoreEndpoints.init(config);
+exports.init = function init(instanaCtr) {
+  disable.init(instanaCtr);
+  ignoreEndpoints.init(instanaCtr);
 };
 
 exports.disable = disable;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/config/index.js b/packages/core/src/config/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1f3bf0c6e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/config/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+/*
+ * (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2025
+ */
+
+'use strict';
+
+const normalizeConfig = require('./normalizeConfig');
+const configNormalizers = require('./configNormalizers');
+
+/**
+ * @param {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} instanaCtr
+ */
+exports.init = instanaCtr => {
+  normalizeConfig.init(instanaCtr);
+  configNormalizers.init(instanaCtr);
+};
+
+exports.create = function () {
+  return normalizeConfig.create(...arguments);
+};
+
+exports.configNormalizers = configNormalizers;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/normalizeConfig.js b/packages/core/src/config/normalizeConfig.js
similarity index 75%
rename from packages/core/src/util/normalizeConfig.js
rename to packages/core/src/config/normalizeConfig.js
index 34a94d703c..cd4c713ce0 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/normalizeConfig.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/config/normalizeConfig.js
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 
 const supportedTracingVersion = require('../tracing/supportedVersion');
 const configNormalizers = require('./configNormalizers');
-const deepMerge = require('./deepMerge');
 
 /**
  * @typedef {Object} InstanaTracingOption
@@ -98,9 +97,6 @@ const allowedSecretMatchers = ['equals', 'equals-ignore-case', 'contains', 'cont
  * @property {boolean} [traceCorrelation]
  */
 
-/** @type {import('../core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
-
 /** @type {InstanaConfig} */
 let defaults = {
   serviceName: null,
@@ -143,44 +139,40 @@ let defaults = {
 
 const validSecretsMatcherModes = ['equals-ignore-case', 'equals', 'contains-ignore-case', 'contains', 'regex', 'none'];
 
+/** @type {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
+
+/**
+ * @param {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} [__instanaCtr]
+ */
+module.exports.init = function init(__instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = __instanaCtr;
+};
+
 /**
  * Merges the config that was passed to the init function with environment variables and default values.
  */
 
 /**
- * @param {InstanaConfig} [config]
- * @param {import('../core').GenericLogger} [_logger]
+ * @param {InstanaConfig} [customConfig]
  * @param {InstanaConfig} [defaultsOverride]
  * @returns {InstanaConfig}
  */
-module.exports = function normalizeConfig(config, _logger, defaultsOverride = {}) {
-  if (_logger) {
-    logger = _logger;
-  } else {
-    // NOTE: This is only a hard backup. This should not happen. We always pass in
-    //       our custom logger from the upper package.
-    logger = {
-      debug: console.log,
-      info: console.log,
-      warn: console.warn,
-      error: console.error,
-      trace: console.trace
-    };
-  }
-
+module.exports.create = (customConfig, defaultsOverride = {}) => {
   if (defaultsOverride && typeof defaultsOverride === 'object') {
-    defaults = deepMerge(defaults, defaultsOverride);
+    defaults = instanaCtr.utils().deepMerge(defaults, defaultsOverride);
   }
 
-  /** @type InstanaConfig */
+  /** @type {InstanaConfig} */
   let targetConfig = {};
 
   // NOTE: Do not modify the original object
-  if (config !== null) {
-    targetConfig = Object.assign({}, config);
+  if (customConfig !== null) {
+    targetConfig = Object.assign({}, customConfig);
   }
 
-  targetConfig.logger = logger;
+  // TODO: Remove when all modules use instanaCtr
+  targetConfig.logger = instanaCtr.logger();
 
   normalizeServiceName(targetConfig);
   normalizePackageJsonPath(targetConfig);
@@ -198,9 +190,11 @@ function normalizeServiceName(config) {
     config.serviceName = process.env['INSTANA_SERVICE_NAME'];
   }
   if (config.serviceName != null && typeof config.serviceName !== 'string') {
-    logger.warn(
-      `Invalid configuration: config.serviceName is not a string, the value will be ignored: ${config.serviceName}`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        `Invalid configuration: config.serviceName is not a string, the value will be ignored: ${config.serviceName}`
+      );
     config.serviceName = defaults.serviceName;
   }
 }
@@ -213,9 +207,11 @@ function normalizePackageJsonPath(config) {
     config.packageJsonPath = process.env['INSTANA_PACKAGE_JSON_PATH'];
   }
   if (config.packageJsonPath != null && typeof config.packageJsonPath !== 'string') {
-    logger.warn(
-      `Invalid configuration: config.packageJsonPath is not a string, the value will be ignored: ${config.packageJsonPath}`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        `Invalid configuration: config.packageJsonPath is not a string, the value will be ignored: ${config.packageJsonPath}`
+      );
 
     config.packageJsonPath = null;
   }
@@ -271,7 +267,7 @@ function normalizeTracingConfig(config) {
  */
 function normalizeTracingEnabled(config) {
   if (config.tracing.enabled === false) {
-    logger.info('Not enabling tracing as it is explicitly disabled via config.');
+    instanaCtr.logger().info('Not enabling tracing as it is explicitly disabled via config.');
     return;
   }
   if (config.tracing.enabled === true) {
@@ -280,11 +276,15 @@ function normalizeTracingEnabled(config) {
 
   // @deprecated
   if (process.env['INSTANA_DISABLE_TRACING'] === 'true') {
-    logger.info('Not enabling tracing as it is explicitly disabled via environment variable INSTANA_DISABLE_TRACING.');
-    logger.warn(
-      'The environment variable INSTANA_DISABLE_TRACING is deprecated and will be removed in the next major release. ' +
-        'Please use INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE="true" instead.'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .info('Not enabling tracing as it is explicitly disabled via environment variable INSTANA_DISABLE_TRACING.');
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        'The environment variable INSTANA_DISABLE_TRACING is deprecated and will be removed in the next major release. ' +
+          'Please use INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE="true" instead.'
+      );
     config.tracing.enabled = false;
     return;
   }
@@ -338,30 +338,34 @@ function normalizeUseOpentelemetry(config) {
  */
 function normalizeAutomaticTracingEnabled(config) {
   if (!config.tracing.enabled) {
-    logger.info('Not enabling automatic tracing as tracing in general is explicitly disabled via config.');
+    instanaCtr.logger().info('Not enabling automatic tracing as tracing in general is explicitly disabled via config.');
     config.tracing.automaticTracingEnabled = false;
     return;
   }
 
   if (config.tracing.automaticTracingEnabled === false) {
-    logger.info('Not enabling automatic tracing as it is explicitly disabled via config.');
+    instanaCtr.logger().info('Not enabling automatic tracing as it is explicitly disabled via config.');
     config.tracing.automaticTracingEnabled = false;
     return;
   }
 
   if (process.env['INSTANA_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTR'] === 'true') {
-    logger.info(
-      'Not enabling automatic tracing as it is explicitly disabled via environment variable INSTANA_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTR.'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .info(
+        'Not enabling automatic tracing as it is explicitly disabled via environment variable INSTANA_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTR.'
+      );
     config.tracing.automaticTracingEnabled = false;
     return;
   }
 
   if (!supportedTracingVersion(process.versions.node)) {
-    logger.warn(
-      'Not enabling automatic tracing, this is an unsupported version of Node.js. ' +
-        'See: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/instana-observability/current?topic=nodejs-support-information#supported-nodejs-versions'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        'Not enabling automatic tracing, this is an unsupported version of Node.js. ' +
+          'See: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/instana-observability/current?topic=nodejs-support-information#supported-nodejs-versions'
+      );
     config.tracing.automaticTracingEnabled = false;
     return;
   }
@@ -405,17 +409,21 @@ function normalizeTracingTransmission(config) {
 
   // DEPRECATED! This was never documented, but we shared it with a customer.
   if (process.env['INSTANA_DEV_MIN_DELAY_BEFORE_SENDING_SPANS']) {
-    logger.warn(
-      'The environment variable INSTANA_DEV_MIN_DELAY_BEFORE_SENDING_SPANS is deprecated and will be removed in the next major release. ' +
-        'Please use INSTANA_TRACING_TRANSMISSION_DELAY instead.'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        'The environment variable INSTANA_DEV_MIN_DELAY_BEFORE_SENDING_SPANS is deprecated and will be removed in the next major release. ' +
+          'Please use INSTANA_TRACING_TRANSMISSION_DELAY instead.'
+      );
 
     config.tracing.transmissionDelay = parseInt(process.env['INSTANA_DEV_MIN_DELAY_BEFORE_SENDING_SPANS'], 10);
 
     if (isNaN(config.tracing.transmissionDelay)) {
-      logger.warn(
-        `The value of INSTANA_DEV_MIN_DELAY_BEFORE_SENDING_SPANS is not a number. Falling back to the default value ${defaults.tracing.transmissionDelay}.`
-      );
+      instanaCtr
+        .logger()
+        .warn(
+          `The value of INSTANA_DEV_MIN_DELAY_BEFORE_SENDING_SPANS is not a number. Falling back to the default value ${defaults.tracing.transmissionDelay}.`
+        );
 
       config.tracing.transmissionDelay = defaults.tracing.transmissionDelay;
     }
@@ -454,11 +462,13 @@ function normalizeTracingHttp(config) {
     config.tracing.http.extraHttpHeadersToCapture = fromEnvVar;
   }
   if (!Array.isArray(config.tracing.http.extraHttpHeadersToCapture)) {
-    logger.warn(
-      `Invalid configuration: config.tracing.http.extraHttpHeadersToCapture is not an array, the value will be ignored: ${JSON.stringify(
-        config.tracing.http.extraHttpHeadersToCapture
-      )}`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        `Invalid configuration: config.tracing.http.extraHttpHeadersToCapture is not an array, the value will be ignored: ${JSON.stringify(
+          config.tracing.http.extraHttpHeadersToCapture
+        )}`
+      );
     config.tracing.http.extraHttpHeadersToCapture = defaults.tracing.http.extraHttpHeadersToCapture;
     return;
   }
@@ -494,11 +504,13 @@ function normalizeTracingStackTraceLength(config) {
     } else if (typeof config.tracing.stackTraceLength === 'string') {
       parseStringStackTraceLength(config, config.tracing.stackTraceLength);
     } else {
-      logger.warn(
-        `The value of config.tracing.stackTraceLength has the non-supported type ${typeof config.tracing
-          .stackTraceLength} (the value is "${config.tracing.stackTraceLength}").` +
-          `Assuming the default stack trace length ${defaults.tracing.stackTraceLength}.`
-      );
+      instanaCtr
+        .logger()
+        .warn(
+          `The value of config.tracing.stackTraceLength has the non-supported type ${typeof config.tracing
+            .stackTraceLength} (the value is "${config.tracing.stackTraceLength}").` +
+            `Assuming the default stack trace length ${defaults.tracing.stackTraceLength}.`
+        );
       config.tracing.stackTraceLength = defaults.tracing.stackTraceLength;
     }
   } else {
@@ -515,10 +527,12 @@ function parseStringStackTraceLength(config, value) {
   if (!isNaN(config.tracing.stackTraceLength)) {
     config.tracing.stackTraceLength = normalizeNumericalStackTraceLength(config.tracing.stackTraceLength);
   } else {
-    logger.warn(
-      `The value of config.tracing.stackTraceLength ("${value}") has type string and cannot be parsed to a numerical ` +
-        `value. Assuming the default stack trace length ${defaults.tracing.stackTraceLength}.`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        `The value of config.tracing.stackTraceLength ("${value}") has type string and cannot be parsed to a numerical ` +
+          `value. Assuming the default stack trace length ${defaults.tracing.stackTraceLength}.`
+      );
     config.tracing.stackTraceLength = defaults.tracing.stackTraceLength;
   }
 }
@@ -531,9 +545,9 @@ function normalizeNumericalStackTraceLength(numericalLength) {
   // just in case folks provide non-integral numbers or negative numbers
   const normalized = Math.abs(Math.round(numericalLength));
   if (normalized !== numericalLength) {
-    logger.warn(
-      `Normalized the provided value of config.tracing.stackTraceLength (${numericalLength}) to ${normalized}.`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(`Normalized the provided value of config.tracing.stackTraceLength (${numericalLength}) to ${normalized}.`);
   }
   return normalized;
 }
@@ -566,20 +580,22 @@ function normalizeSpanBatchingEnabled(config) {
   if (config.tracing.spanBatchingEnabled != null) {
     if (typeof config.tracing.spanBatchingEnabled === 'boolean') {
       if (config.tracing.spanBatchingEnabled) {
-        logger.info('Span batching is enabled via config.');
+        instanaCtr.logger().info('Span batching is enabled via config.');
       }
       return;
     } else {
-      logger.warn(
-        `Invalid configuration: config.tracing.spanBatchingEnabled is not a boolean value, will be ignored: ${JSON.stringify(
-          config.tracing.spanBatchingEnabled
-        )}`
-      );
+      instanaCtr
+        .logger()
+        .warn(
+          `Invalid configuration: config.tracing.spanBatchingEnabled is not a boolean value, will be ignored: ${JSON.stringify(
+            config.tracing.spanBatchingEnabled
+          )}`
+        );
     }
   }
 
   if (process.env['INSTANA_SPANBATCHING_ENABLED'] === 'true') {
-    logger.info('Span batching is enabled via environment variable INSTANA_SPANBATCHING_ENABLED.');
+    instanaCtr.logger().info('Span batching is enabled via environment variable INSTANA_SPANBATCHING_ENABLED.');
     config.tracing.spanBatchingEnabled = true;
     return;
   }
@@ -592,13 +608,13 @@ function normalizeSpanBatchingEnabled(config) {
  */
 function normalizeDisableW3cTraceCorrelation(config) {
   if (config.tracing.disableW3cTraceCorrelation === true) {
-    logger.info('W3C trace correlation has been disabled via config.');
+    instanaCtr.logger().info('W3C trace correlation has been disabled via config.');
     return;
   }
   if (process.env['INSTANA_DISABLE_W3C_TRACE_CORRELATION']) {
-    logger.info(
-      'W3C trace correlation has been disabled via environment variable INSTANA_DISABLE_W3C_TRACE_CORRELATION.'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .info('W3C trace correlation has been disabled via environment variable INSTANA_DISABLE_W3C_TRACE_CORRELATION.');
     config.tracing.disableW3cTraceCorrelation = true;
     return;
   }
@@ -613,12 +629,14 @@ function normalizeTracingKafka(config) {
   config.tracing.kafka = config.tracing.kafka || {};
 
   if (config.tracing.kafka.traceCorrelation === false) {
-    logger.info('Kafka trace correlation has been disabled via config.');
+    instanaCtr.logger().info('Kafka trace correlation has been disabled via config.');
   } else if (
     process.env['INSTANA_KAFKA_TRACE_CORRELATION'] != null &&
     process.env['INSTANA_KAFKA_TRACE_CORRELATION'].toLowerCase() === 'false'
   ) {
-    logger.info('Kafka trace correlation has been disabled via environment variable INSTANA_KAFKA_TRACE_CORRELATION.');
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .info('Kafka trace correlation has been disabled via environment variable INSTANA_KAFKA_TRACE_CORRELATION.');
     config.tracing.kafka.traceCorrelation = false;
   } else {
     config.tracing.kafka.traceCorrelation = defaults.tracing.kafka.traceCorrelation;
@@ -643,19 +661,25 @@ function normalizeSecrets(config) {
   config.secrets.keywords = config.secrets.keywords || fromEnvVar.keywords || defaults.secrets.keywords;
 
   if (typeof config.secrets.matcherMode !== 'string') {
-    logger.warn(
-      `The value of config.secrets.matcherMode ("${config.secrets.matcherMode}") is not a string. Assuming the default value ${defaults.secrets.matcherMode}.`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        `The value of config.secrets.matcherMode ("${config.secrets.matcherMode}") is not a string. Assuming the default value ${defaults.secrets.matcherMode}.`
+      );
     config.secrets.matcherMode = defaults.secrets.matcherMode;
   } else if (validSecretsMatcherModes.indexOf(config.secrets.matcherMode) < 0) {
-    logger.warn(
-      `The value of config.secrets.matcherMode (or the matcher mode parsed from INSTANA_SECRETS) (${config.secrets.matcherMode}) is not a supported matcher mode. Assuming the default value ${defaults.secrets.matcherMode}.`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        `The value of config.secrets.matcherMode (or the matcher mode parsed from INSTANA_SECRETS) (${config.secrets.matcherMode}) is not a supported matcher mode. Assuming the default value ${defaults.secrets.matcherMode}.`
+      );
     config.secrets.matcherMode = defaults.secrets.matcherMode;
   } else if (!Array.isArray(config.secrets.keywords)) {
-    logger.warn(
-      `The value of config.secrets.keywords (${config.secrets.keywords}) is not an array. Assuming the default value ${defaults.secrets.keywords}.`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        `The value of config.secrets.keywords (${config.secrets.keywords}) is not an array. Assuming the default value ${defaults.secrets.keywords}.`
+      );
     config.secrets.keywords = defaults.secrets.keywords;
   }
   if (config.secrets.matcherMode === 'none') {
@@ -696,9 +720,11 @@ function parseSecretsEnvVar(envVarValue) {
 
   if (!keywords) {
     // a list of keywords (with at least one element) is mandatory for all matcher modes except "none"
-    logger.warn(
-      `The value of INSTANA_SECRETS (${envVarValue}) cannot be parsed. Please use the following format: INSTANA_SECRETS=<matcher>:<secret>[,<secret>]. This setting will be ignored.`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        `The value of INSTANA_SECRETS (${envVarValue}) cannot be parsed. Please use the following format: INSTANA_SECRETS=<matcher>:<secret>[,<secret>]. This setting will be ignored.`
+      );
     return {};
   }
 
@@ -727,7 +753,7 @@ function normalizeSingleValue(configValue, defaultValue, configPath, envVarKey)
   }
 
   if (typeof configValue !== 'number' || isNaN(configValue)) {
-    logger.warn(
+    instanaCtr.logger().warn(
       `The value of ${configPath} (or ${envVarKey}) ("${originalValue}") is ' +
         'not numerical or cannot be parsed to a numerical value. Assuming the default value ${defaultValue}.`
     );
@@ -746,18 +772,22 @@ function normalizeIgnoreEndpoints(config) {
   const ignoreEndpointsConfig = config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints;
 
   if (typeof ignoreEndpointsConfig !== 'object' || Array.isArray(ignoreEndpointsConfig)) {
-    logger.warn(
-      `Invalid tracing.ignoreEndpoints configuration. Expected an object, but received: ${JSON.stringify(
-        ignoreEndpointsConfig
-      )}`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .warn(
+        `Invalid tracing.ignoreEndpoints configuration. Expected an object, but received: ${JSON.stringify(
+          ignoreEndpointsConfig
+        )}`
+      );
     config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints = {};
     return;
   }
   // Case 1: Use in-code configuration if available
   if (Object.keys(ignoreEndpointsConfig).length) {
     config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints = configNormalizers.ignoreEndpoints.normalizeConfig(ignoreEndpointsConfig);
-    logger.debug(`Ignore endpoints have been configured: ${JSON.stringify(config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints)}`);
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .debug(`Ignore endpoints have been configured: ${JSON.stringify(config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints)}`);
     return;
   }
 
@@ -769,7 +799,9 @@ function normalizeIgnoreEndpoints(config) {
       process.env.INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS_PATH
     );
 
-    logger.debug(`Ignore endpoints have been configured: ${JSON.stringify(config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints)}`);
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .debug(`Ignore endpoints have been configured: ${JSON.stringify(config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints)}`);
     return;
   }
 
@@ -778,7 +810,9 @@ function normalizeIgnoreEndpoints(config) {
   // Provides a simple way to configure ignored operations via environment variables.
   if (process.env.INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS) {
     config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints = configNormalizers.ignoreEndpoints.fromEnv(process.env.INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS);
-    logger.debug(`Ignore endpoints have been configured: ${JSON.stringify(config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints)}`);
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .debug(`Ignore endpoints have been configured: ${JSON.stringify(config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints)}`);
     return;
   }
 }
@@ -788,9 +822,11 @@ function normalizeIgnoreEndpoints(config) {
  */
 function normalizeIgnoreEndpointsDisableSuppression(config) {
   if (process.env['INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS_DISABLE_SUPPRESSION'] === 'true') {
-    logger.info(
-      'Disabling downstream suppression for ignoring endpoints feature as it is explicitly disabled via environment variable "INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS_DISABLE_SUPPRESSION".'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .info(
+        'Disabling downstream suppression for ignoring endpoints feature as it is explicitly disabled via environment variable "INSTANA_IGNORE_ENDPOINTS_DISABLE_SUPPRESSION".'
+      );
     config.tracing.ignoreEndpointsDisableSuppression = true;
     return;
   }
@@ -805,9 +841,11 @@ function normalizeDisableEOLEvents(config) {
   config.tracing = config.tracing || {};
 
   if (process.env['INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE_EOL_EVENTS'] === 'true') {
-    logger.info(
-      'Disabling EOL events as it is explicitly disabled via environment variable "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE_EOL_EVENTS".'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .info(
+        'Disabling EOL events as it is explicitly disabled via environment variable "INSTANA_TRACING_DISABLE_EOL_EVENTS".'
+      );
     config.tracing.disableEOLEvents = true;
     return;
   }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.js b/packages/core/src/index.js
index 82e2672aa8..2c88427a8e 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.js
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ const uninstrumentedFs = require('./uninstrumentedFs');
 const metrics = require('./metrics');
 const secrets = require('./secrets');
 const tracing = require('./tracing');
-const util = require('./util');
+const coreConfig = require('./config');
+const coreUtils = require('./util');
+const instanaCtr = require('./instanaCtr');
 
 /**
  * @typedef {{
@@ -58,28 +60,30 @@ function registerAdditionalInstrumentations(additionalInstrumentationModules) {
  *       access to the customers configuration yet!
  *       Some logs will appear BEFORE the actual initialization.
  *       e.g. customer passes a custom log level or a custon logger.
- * @param {import('./util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} preliminaryConfig
+ * @param {import('./config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} preliminaryConfig
+ * @param {import('./util/index').CoreUtilsType} utils
  */
-function preInit(preliminaryConfig) {
-  util.init(preliminaryConfig);
-  util.hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate.activate();
-  tracing.preInit(preliminaryConfig);
+function preInit(preliminaryConfig, utils) {
+  utils.hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate.activate();
   // Initialize secrets as early as possible, in particular for env var collection in fargate/google-cloud-run when
   // the config comes from INSTANA_SECRETS.
   secrets.init(preliminaryConfig);
+
+  tracing.preInit(preliminaryConfig, utils);
 }
 
 /**
  *
- * @param {import('./util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('./config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('./util/index').CoreUtilsType} utils
  * @param {DownstreamConnection} downstreamConnection
  * @param {import('../../collector/src/pidStore')} processIdentityProvider
  */
-function init(config, downstreamConnection, processIdentityProvider) {
-  util.init(config);
-  util.hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate.activate();
+function init(config, utils, downstreamConnection, processIdentityProvider) {
+  utils.hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate.activate();
   secrets.init(config);
-  tracing.init(config, downstreamConnection, processIdentityProvider);
+
+  tracing.init(config, utils, downstreamConnection, processIdentityProvider);
 }
 
 module.exports = {
@@ -93,8 +97,10 @@ module.exports = {
   tracing,
   uninstrumentedHttp,
   uninstrumentedFs,
-  util,
+  coreConfig,
+  coreUtils,
   init,
+  InstanaCtr: instanaCtr.InstanaCtr,
   preInit,
   registerAdditionalInstrumentations
 };
diff --git a/packages/core/src/instanaCtr.js b/packages/core/src/instanaCtr.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a3fdee0bef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/instanaCtr.js
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+ * (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2025
+ */
+
+'use strict';
+
+/**
+ * @typedef {object} InstanaCtrType
+ * @property {function} utils
+ * @property {function} config
+ * @property {function} logger
+ */
+
+class InstanaCtr {
+  /** @type {import('./util/index').CoreUtilsType} */
+  utils_i;
+
+  /** @type {import('./config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} */
+  config_i;
+
+  /** @type {import('./core').GenericLogger} */
+  logger_i;
+
+  /**
+   * @param {string} name
+   * @param {*} instance
+   */
+  set(name, instance) {
+    Object.defineProperty(this, `${name}_i`, {
+      configurable: true,
+      enumerable: true,
+      writable: false,
+      value: instance
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @returns {import('./util/index').CoreUtilsType}
+   */
+  utils() {
+    return this.utils_i;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @returns {import('./config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig}
+   */
+  config() {
+    return this.config_i;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @returns {import('./core').GenericLogger}
+   */
+  logger() {
+    return this.logger_i;
+  }
+}
+
+exports.InstanaCtr = InstanaCtr;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/metrics/index.js b/packages/core/src/metrics/index.js
index ffc36c7ff1..a051c2b1e5 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/metrics/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/metrics/index.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 const fs = require('../uninstrumentedFs');
 const path = require('path');
 
-/** @typedef {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} InstanaConfig */
+/** @typedef {import('../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} InstanaConfig */
 
 /** @type {InstanaConfig} */
 let config;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/secrets.js b/packages/core/src/secrets.js
index 9fdd78b8cc..0d7e051100 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/secrets.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/secrets.js
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ function toLowerCase(configuredSecrets) {
 let isSecretInternal;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('./util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('./config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ exports.isSecret = function isSecret(key) {
 };
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').MatchingOption} matcherId
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').MatchingOption} matcherId
  * @param {Array.<string>} secretsList
  */
 exports.setMatcher = function setMatcher(matcherId, secretsList) {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/cls.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/cls.js
index 972562ec10..b3e1525ec1 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/cls.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/cls.js
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ let ignoreEndpointsDisableDownStreamSuppression;
 const ns = hooked.createNamespace('instana.collector');
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  * @param {import('../../../collector/src/pidStore')} [_processIdentityProvider]
  */
 function init(config, _processIdentityProvider) {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/index.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/index.js
index 398448f0d0..bf7c3346ca 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/index.js
@@ -17,14 +17,16 @@ const shimmer = require('./shimmer');
 const supportedVersion = require('./supportedVersion');
 const { otelInstrumentations } = require('./opentelemetry-instrumentations');
 const cls = require('./cls');
-const coreUtil = require('../util');
 
 let tracingEnabled = false;
 let tracingActivated = false;
 let instrumenationsInitialized = false;
 let automaticTracingEnabled = false;
 
-/** @type {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} */
+/** @type {import('../util').CoreUtilsType} */
+let coreUtils = null;
+
+/** @type {import('../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} */
 let config = null;
 
 /** @typedef {import('../../../collector/src/pidStore')} CollectorPIDStore */
@@ -162,9 +164,12 @@ exports.registerAdditionalInstrumentations = function registerAdditionalInstrume
 };
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} preliminaryConfig
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} preliminaryConfig
+ * @param {import('../util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  */
-exports.preInit = function preInit(preliminaryConfig) {
+exports.preInit = function preInit(preliminaryConfig, utils) {
+  coreUtils = utils;
+
   /**
    * On e.g. Fargate the `preInit` function is called as early as possible
    * and all our modules (shimmer, cls, sdk etc.) need to be initialized.
@@ -192,20 +197,23 @@ exports.preInit = function preInit(preliminaryConfig) {
 };
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} _config
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} _config
+ * @param {import('../util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  * @param {import('..').DownstreamConnection} downstreamConnection
  * @param {CollectorPIDStore} _processIdentityProvider
  */
-exports.init = function init(_config, downstreamConnection, _processIdentityProvider) {
+exports.init = function init(_config, utils, downstreamConnection, _processIdentityProvider) {
+  coreUtils = utils;
+
   if (process.env.INSTANA_DEBUG || process.env.INSTANA_LOG_LEVEL === 'debug') {
-    const preloadFlags = coreUtil.preloadFlags.get();
+    const preloadFlags = coreUtils.preloadFlags.get();
 
     // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
     console.debug(`The App is using the following preload flags: ${preloadFlags}`);
   }
 
   // Consider removing this in the next major release of the @instana package.
-  if (coreUtil.esm.hasExperimentalLoaderFlag()) {
+  if (coreUtils.esm.hasExperimentalLoaderFlag()) {
     // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
     console.warn(
       'Node.js introduced breaking changes in versions 18.19.0 and above, leading to the discontinuation of support ' +
@@ -242,8 +250,8 @@ exports.init = function init(_config, downstreamConnection, _processIdentityProv
       if (_config.tracing.useOpentelemetry) {
         otelInstrumentations.init(config, cls);
       }
-      if (coreUtil.esm.isESMApp()) {
-        coreUtil.iitmHook.activate();
+      if (coreUtils.esm.isESMApp()) {
+        coreUtils.iitmHook.activate();
       }
     }
   }
@@ -254,7 +262,7 @@ exports.init = function init(_config, downstreamConnection, _processIdentityProv
 };
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} _config
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} _config
  */
 function initInstrumenations(_config) {
   // initialize all instrumentations
@@ -263,7 +271,7 @@ function initInstrumenations(_config) {
       instrumentationModules[instrumentationKey] = require(instrumentationKey);
 
       if (
-        !coreUtil.disableInstrumentation.isInstrumentationDisabled({
+        !coreUtils.disableInstrumentation.isInstrumentationDisabled({
           instrumentationModules,
           instrumentationKey
         })
@@ -293,7 +301,7 @@ function initInstrumenations(_config) {
 exports.activate = function activate(extraConfig = {}) {
   if (tracingEnabled && !tracingActivated) {
     tracingActivated = true;
-    coreUtil.activate(extraConfig);
+    coreUtils.activate(extraConfig);
     spanBuffer.activate(extraConfig);
     opentracing.activate();
     sdk.activate();
@@ -309,7 +317,7 @@ exports.activate = function activate(extraConfig = {}) {
         //
         // We will revisit this in the future, especially if we encounter issues with disabled instrumentations.
         if (
-          !coreUtil.disableInstrumentation.isInstrumentationDisabled({
+          !coreUtils.disableInstrumentation.isInstrumentationDisabled({
             instrumentationModules,
             instrumentationKey
           })
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/instrumentation/protocols/superagent.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/instrumentation/protocols/superagent.js
index 24c6d44524..b779bdc8e5 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/instrumentation/protocols/superagent.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/instrumentation/protocols/superagent.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const cls = require('../../cls');
 let logger;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function (config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/opentracing/Span.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/opentracing/Span.js
index e93d89c9eb..ce930bfb3d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/opentracing/Span.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/opentracing/Span.js
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ function copyBaggage(baggage) {
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  * @param {CollectorPIDStore} _processIdentityProvider
  */
 Span.init = function init(config, _processIdentityProvider) {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/opentracing/index.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/opentracing/index.js
index 4f8e40fcc9..29b34ae6b9 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/opentracing/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/opentracing/index.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ let cls;
 let automaticTracingEnabled = false;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  * @param {boolean} _automaticTracingEnabled
  * @param {import('../../../../collector/src/pidStore')} processIdentityProvider
  */
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/sdk/index.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/sdk/index.js
index 2eee53d48a..f95e239097 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/sdk/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/sdk/index.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ const callback = sdk.generate(true);
 const promise = sdk.generate(false);
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  * @param {import('../cls')} _cls
  */
 exports.init = function init(config, _cls) {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/sdk/sdk.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/sdk/sdk.js
index eb88a03fed..8d6cacc7a1 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/sdk/sdk.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/sdk/sdk.js
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ exports.generate = function (isCallbackApi) {
   }
 
   /**
-   * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+   * @param {import('../../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
    * @param {import('../cls')} _cls
    */
   function init(config, _cls) {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/spanBuffer.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/spanBuffer.js
index 2479124c42..28eeef4181 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/spanBuffer.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/spanBuffer.js
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ const batchBucketWidth = 18;
 const batchingBuckets = new Map();
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  * @param {import('..').DownstreamConnection} _downstreamConnection
  */
 exports.init = function init(config, _downstreamConnection) {
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ exports.init = function init(config, _downstreamConnection) {
 };
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} extraConfig
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} extraConfig
  */
 exports.activate = function activate(extraConfig) {
   if (!downstreamConnection) {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/spanHandle.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/spanHandle.js
index cca9bf5301..4a124cf85d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/spanHandle.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/spanHandle.js
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ NoopSpanHandle.prototype.cancel = function cancel() {
 };
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/tracingHeaders.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/tracingHeaders.js
index 64286c5e6e..cddd802229 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/tracingHeaders.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/tracingHeaders.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ let logger;
 let disableW3cTraceCorrelation = false;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function (config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/tracingUtil.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/tracingUtil.js
index 405eb981d2..58aa366d55 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/tracingUtil.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/tracingUtil.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ const hexDecoder = new StringDecoder('hex');
 let stackTraceLength = 10;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function (config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/w3c_trace_context/index.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/w3c_trace_context/index.js
index 6ab2d3fbbe..a94edb97fd 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/w3c_trace_context/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/w3c_trace_context/index.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const create = require('./create');
 const parse = require('./parse');
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   parse.init(config);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/tracing/w3c_trace_context/parse.js b/packages/core/src/tracing/w3c_trace_context/parse.js
index f5d6ef5cc8..44bf821bc4 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tracing/w3c_trace_context/parse.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/tracing/w3c_trace_context/parse.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ const regexUnknownVersion = /^[0-9a-f]{2}-([0-9a-f]{32})-([0-9a-f]{16})-([0-9a-f
 const instanaVendorKeyOffset = constants.w3cInstanaEquals.length;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../../config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/applicationUnderMonitoring.js b/packages/core/src/util/applicationUnderMonitoring.js
index 9fb61b62de..a029720413 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/applicationUnderMonitoring.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/util/applicationUnderMonitoring.js
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ const fs = require('../uninstrumentedFs');
 const path = require('path');
 const isESMApp = require('./esm').isESMApp;
 
-/** @type {import('../core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
+/** @type {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
 
 // Cache determined main package json as these will be referenced often
 // and identification of these values is expensive.
@@ -22,16 +22,11 @@ let mainPackageJsonPath;
 let nodeModulesPath;
 let appInstalledIntoNodeModules = false;
 
-/** @type {string} */
-let packageJsonPath;
-
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} _instanaCtr
  */
-function init(config) {
-  logger = config.logger;
-
-  packageJsonPath = config.packageJsonPath;
+function init(_instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = _instanaCtr;
 }
 
 function isAppInstalledIntoNodeModules() {
@@ -54,8 +49,8 @@ function getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule(cb) {
   }
 
   // CASE: customer provided custom package.json path, let's try loading it
-  if (packageJsonPath) {
-    return readFile(packageJsonPath, cb);
+  if (instanaCtr.config().packageJsonPath) {
+    return readFile(instanaCtr.config().packageJsonPath, cb);
   }
 
   return getMainPackageJsonStartingAtDirectory(null, cb);
@@ -106,7 +101,9 @@ function readFile(filePath, cb) {
     try {
       parsedMainPackageJson = JSON.parse(contents);
     } catch (e) {
-      logger.warn(`Package.json file ${packageJsonPath} cannot be parsed: ${e?.message} ${e?.stack}`);
+      instanaCtr
+        .logger()
+        .warn(`Package.json file ${instanaCtr.config().packageJsonPath} cannot be parsed: ${e?.message} ${e?.stack}`);
       return cb(e, null);
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/disableInstrumentation.js b/packages/core/src/util/disableInstrumentation.js
index c3c4c53ee4..72df4d6cb6 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/disableInstrumentation.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/util/disableInstrumentation.js
@@ -6,21 +6,21 @@
 
 const { DISABLABLE_INSTRUMENTATION_GROUPS } = require('../tracing/constants');
 
-/** @type {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} */
-let config;
-
-/** @type {import('../util/normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} */
+/** @type {import('../config/normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} */
 let agentConfig;
 
+/** @type {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
+
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} _config
+ * @param {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} _instanaCtr
  */
-function init(_config) {
-  config = _config;
+function init(_instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = _instanaCtr;
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} _agentConfig
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} _agentConfig
  */
 function activate(_agentConfig) {
   agentConfig = _agentConfig;
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ function isInstrumentationDisabled({ instrumentationModules = {}, instrumentatio
   const context = { moduleName, instrumentationName, group };
 
   // Give priority to service-level config
-  if (config && shouldDisable(config, context)) {
+  if (shouldDisable(instanaCtr.config(), context)) {
     return true;
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/getPreloadFlags.js b/packages/core/src/util/getPreloadFlags.js
index 8645d3429b..90692b22a0 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/getPreloadFlags.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/util/getPreloadFlags.js
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-/** @type {import('../core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
+/** @type {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} _instanaCtr
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
-  logger = config.logger;
+exports.init = function init(_instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = _instanaCtr;
 };
 
 exports.get = () => {
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ exports.get = () => {
     const result = [nodeOptions, execArgs].filter(Boolean).join(', ') || 'noFlags';
     return result;
   } catch (error) {
-    logger.error(`Error occurred while doing preload flag filtering: ${error?.message} ${error?.stack}`);
+    instanaCtr.logger().error(`Error occurred while doing preload flag filtering: ${error?.message} ${error?.stack}`);
     return '';
   }
 };
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/iitmHook.js b/packages/core/src/util/iitmHook.js
index 4ef047d5c2..61f7d7b967 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/iitmHook.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/util/iitmHook.js
@@ -6,17 +6,17 @@
 
 const iitmHook = require('import-in-the-middle');
 
-/** @type {import('../core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
+/** @type {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
 
 /** @type {Object.<string, Function[]>} */
 const byModuleNameTransformers = {};
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} _instanaCtr
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
-  logger = config.logger;
+exports.init = function init(_instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = _instanaCtr;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ exports.activate = function activate() {
         if (typeof transformerFn === 'function') {
           // @ts-ignore
           iitmHook([moduleName], (exports, name) => {
-            logger.debug(`iitm-hooking enabled for module ${name}`);
+            instanaCtr.logger().debug(`iitm-hooking enabled for module ${name}`);
             if (exports && exports.default) {
               exports.default = transformerFn(exports.default);
             } else {
@@ -38,11 +38,13 @@ exports.activate = function activate() {
             return exports;
           });
         } else {
-          logger.error(
-            `The transformer is not a function but of type "${typeof transformerFn}" (details: ${
-              transformerFn == null ? 'null/undefined' : transformerFn
-            }).`
-          );
+          instanaCtr
+            .logger()
+            .error(
+              `The transformer is not a function but of type "${typeof transformerFn}" (details: ${
+                transformerFn == null ? 'null/undefined' : transformerFn
+              }).`
+            );
         }
       });
     }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/index.js b/packages/core/src/util/index.js
index 9956c0e8a1..34269c50f9 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/util/index.js
@@ -11,49 +11,21 @@ const compression = require('./compression');
 const ensureNestedObjectExists = require('./ensureNestedObjectExists');
 const excludedFromInstrumentation = require('./excludedFromInstrumentation');
 const hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate = require('./initializedTooLateHeuristic');
-const normalizeConfig = require('./normalizeConfig');
 const propertySizes = require('./propertySizes');
 const requireHook = require('./requireHook');
 const slidingWindow = require('./slidingWindow');
 const stackTrace = require('./stackTrace');
 const iitmHook = require('./iitmHook');
 const hook = require('./hook');
+const deepMerge = require('./deepMerge');
 const esm = require('./esm');
 const preloadFlags = require('./getPreloadFlags');
-const configNormalizers = require('./configNormalizers');
 const spanFilter = require('./spanFilter');
 const yamlReader = require('./yamlReader');
 const disableInstrumentation = require('./disableInstrumentation');
 
-/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
-
-/**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
- */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
-  logger = config.logger;
-  hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate.init(config);
-  applicationUnderMonitoring.init(config);
-  requireHook.init(config);
-  preloadFlags.init(config);
-  iitmHook.init(config);
-  configNormalizers.init(config);
-  spanFilter.init(config);
-  yamlReader.init(config);
-  configNormalizers.init(config);
-  disableInstrumentation.init(config);
-};
-
-/**
- * @param {import('./normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} extraConfig
- */
-exports.activate = function activate(extraConfig) {
-  disableInstrumentation.activate(extraConfig);
-  spanFilter.activate(extraConfig);
-};
-
-exports.applicationUnderMonitoring = applicationUnderMonitoring;
+/** @type {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
 
 /**
  * Make sure that a function is only ever called once. This is useful to maintain
@@ -66,7 +38,7 @@ exports.applicationUnderMonitoring = applicationUnderMonitoring;
  * @return {(...args: *) => *} A wrapped function which will forward the first call to `cb`
  *   and log any successive calls.
  */
-exports.atMostOnce = function atMostOnce(name, cb) {
+const atMostOnce = function atMostOnce(name, cb) {
   let callCount = 0;
   return function callbackWrappedForAtMostOneExecution() {
     callCount++;
@@ -77,29 +49,85 @@ exports.atMostOnce = function atMostOnce(name, cb) {
       args: Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments)
     };
 
-    logger.debug(
-      `Function ${name} was called ${callCount} times. This time with the following arguments: ${JSON.stringify(
-        argObj
-      )}`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .debug(
+        `Function ${name} was called ${callCount} times. This time with the following arguments: ${JSON.stringify(
+          argObj
+        )}`
+      );
   };
 };
 
-exports.preloadFlags = preloadFlags;
-exports.clone = clone;
-exports.compression = compression;
-exports.ensureNestedObjectExists = ensureNestedObjectExists;
-exports.excludedFromInstrumentation = excludedFromInstrumentation;
-exports.hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate = hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate;
-exports.normalizeConfig = normalizeConfig;
-exports.propertySizes = propertySizes;
-exports.requireHook = requireHook;
-exports.slidingWindow = slidingWindow;
-exports.stackTrace = stackTrace;
-exports.iitmHook = iitmHook;
-exports.hook = hook;
-exports.esm = esm;
-exports.configNormalizers = configNormalizers;
-exports.spanFilter = spanFilter;
-exports.yamlReader = yamlReader;
-exports.disableInstrumentation = disableInstrumentation;
+/**
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} extraConfig
+ */
+const activate = function activate(extraConfig) {
+  disableInstrumentation.activate(extraConfig);
+  spanFilter.activate(extraConfig);
+};
+
+/**
+ * @typedef {Object} CoreUtilsType
+ * @property {typeof applicationUnderMonitoring} applicationUnderMonitoring
+ * @property {typeof clone} clone
+ * @property {typeof activate} activate
+ * @property {typeof deepMerge} deepMerge
+ * @property {typeof compression} compression
+ * @property {typeof ensureNestedObjectExists} ensureNestedObjectExists
+ * @property {typeof excludedFromInstrumentation} excludedFromInstrumentation
+ * @property {typeof hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate} hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate
+ * @property {typeof propertySizes} propertySizes
+ * @property {typeof requireHook} requireHook
+ * @property {typeof slidingWindow} slidingWindow
+ * @property {typeof stackTrace} stackTrace
+ * @property {typeof iitmHook} iitmHook
+ * @property {typeof hook} hook
+ * @property {typeof esm} esm
+ * @property {typeof preloadFlags} preloadFlags
+ * @property {typeof spanFilter} spanFilter
+ * @property {typeof yamlReader} yamlReader
+ * @property {typeof disableInstrumentation} disableInstrumentation
+ * @property {typeof atMostOnce} atMostOnce
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @param {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} _instanaCtr
+ */
+exports.init = function init(_instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = _instanaCtr;
+
+  hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate.init(instanaCtr);
+  applicationUnderMonitoring.init(instanaCtr);
+  requireHook.init(instanaCtr);
+  preloadFlags.init(instanaCtr);
+  iitmHook.init(instanaCtr);
+  spanFilter.init(instanaCtr);
+  yamlReader.init(instanaCtr);
+  disableInstrumentation.init(instanaCtr);
+};
+
+exports.create = () => {
+  return {
+    preloadFlags,
+    clone,
+    activate,
+    compression,
+    applicationUnderMonitoring,
+    ensureNestedObjectExists,
+    excludedFromInstrumentation,
+    hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate,
+    propertySizes,
+    requireHook,
+    atMostOnce,
+    slidingWindow,
+    stackTrace,
+    iitmHook,
+    hook,
+    esm,
+    spanFilter,
+    yamlReader,
+    disableInstrumentation,
+    deepMerge
+  };
+};
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/initializedTooLateHeuristic.js b/packages/core/src/util/initializedTooLateHeuristic.js
index 867117b1f3..082f79c094 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/initializedTooLateHeuristic.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/util/initializedTooLateHeuristic.js
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-/** @type {import('../core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
+/** @type {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
 let firstCall = true;
 let hasBeenInitializedTooLate = false;
 
@@ -81,10 +81,10 @@ const extraPatterns = [
 ];
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} _instanaCtr
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
-  logger = config.logger;
+exports.init = function init(_instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = _instanaCtr;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ exports.activate = function hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate() {
     if (addExtraPatterns) {
       patterns = patterns.concat(extraPatterns);
     } else {
-      logger.debug(
+      instanaCtr.logger().debug(
         // eslint-disable-next-line max-len
         'Found @contrast/agent in the modules that have already been loaded. @instana/core will therefore exclude bluebird, request and winston from the check for modules that have been loaded before @instana/core.'
       );
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ exports.activate = function hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate() {
       for (let j = 0; j < patterns.length; j++) {
         if (patterns[j].test(loadedModules[i])) {
           hasBeenInitializedTooLate = true;
-          logger.debug(
+          instanaCtr.logger().debug(
             // eslint-disable-next-line max-len
             `Found a module that has been loaded before @instana/core but should have been loaded afterwards: ${loadedModules[i]}.`
           );
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/requireHook.js b/packages/core/src/util/requireHook.js
index 1667fec834..662352a011 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/requireHook.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/util/requireHook.js
@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ let byModuleNameTransformers = {};
 let byFileNamePatternTransformers = [];
 const origLoad = /** @type {*} */ (Module)._load;
 
-/** @type {import('../core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
+/** @type {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('./normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} [config]
+ * @param {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} _instanaCtr
  */
-exports.init = function (config) {
-  logger = config.logger;
+exports.init = function (_instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = _instanaCtr;
 
   /** @type {*} */ (Module)._load = patchedModuleLoad;
 };
@@ -126,19 +126,21 @@ function patchedModuleLoad(moduleName) {
         try {
           cacheEntry.moduleExports = transformerFn(cacheEntry.moduleExports, filename) || cacheEntry.moduleExports;
         } catch (e) {
-          logger.error(
-            `Cannot instrument ${moduleName} due to an error in instrumentation: ${e?.message}, ${e?.stack}`
-          );
+          instanaCtr
+            .logger()
+            .error(`Cannot instrument ${moduleName} due to an error in instrumentation: ${e?.message}, ${e?.stack}`);
         }
       } else {
-        logger.error(
-          `A requireHook invariant has been violated for module name ${moduleName}, index ${i}. ` +
-            `The transformer is not a function but of type "${typeof transformerFn}" (details:  ${
-              transformerFn == null ? 'null/undefined' : transformerFn
-            }). The most likely cause is that something has messed with Node.js' ` +
-            'module cache. This can result in limited tracing and health check functionality (for example, missing ' +
-            'calls in Instana).'
-        );
+        instanaCtr
+          .logger()
+          .error(
+            `A requireHook invariant has been violated for module name ${moduleName}, index ${i}. ` +
+              `The transformer is not a function but of type "${typeof transformerFn}" (details:  ${
+                transformerFn == null ? 'null/undefined' : transformerFn
+              }). The most likely cause is that something has messed with Node.js' ` +
+              'module cache. This can result in limited tracing and health check functionality (for example, missing ' +
+              'calls in Instana).'
+          );
       }
     }
     cacheEntry.appliedByModuleNameTransformers.push(moduleName);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/spanFilter.js b/packages/core/src/util/spanFilter.js
index 03524006ab..d57e165139 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/spanFilter.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/util/spanFilter.js
@@ -4,22 +4,21 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-/**
- * @type {import('../tracing').IgnoreEndpoints}
- */
-let ignoreEndpoints;
+/** @type {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
+
+/** @type {import('../tracing').IgnoreEndpoints} */
+let ignoreEndpointsConfig;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} _instanaCtr
  */
-function init(config) {
-  if (config?.tracing?.ignoreEndpoints) {
-    ignoreEndpoints = config.tracing.ignoreEndpoints;
-  }
+function init(_instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = _instanaCtr;
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} extraConfig
+ * @param {import('../config/normalizeConfig').AgentConfig} extraConfig
  */
 function activate(extraConfig) {
   /**
@@ -36,9 +35,11 @@ function activate(extraConfig) {
    *
    * TODO: Perform a major refactoring of configuration priority ordering in INSTA-817.
    */
-  const isIgnoreEndpointsEmpty = !ignoreEndpoints || Object.keys(ignoreEndpoints).length === 0;
+  ignoreEndpointsConfig = instanaCtr.config().tracing.ignoreEndpoints;
+  const isIgnoreEndpointsEmpty = !ignoreEndpointsConfig || Object.keys(ignoreEndpointsConfig).length === 0;
+
   if (isIgnoreEndpointsEmpty && extraConfig?.tracing?.ignoreEndpoints) {
-    ignoreEndpoints = extraConfig.tracing.ignoreEndpoints;
+    ignoreEndpointsConfig = extraConfig.tracing.ignoreEndpoints;
   }
 }
 
@@ -127,10 +128,9 @@ function matchConnections(span, spanTypeKey, ignoreconfig) {
 
 /**
  * @param {import("../core").InstanaBaseSpan} span
- * @param {import('../tracing').IgnoreEndpoints} ignoreEndpointsConfig
  * @returns {boolean}
  */
-function shouldIgnore(span, ignoreEndpointsConfig) {
+function shouldIgnore(span) {
   // Skip if the span type is not in the ignored list
   if (!IGNORABLE_SPAN_TYPES.includes(span.n)) {
     return false;
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ function normalizeSpanDataTypeKey(spanType) {
  * @returns {import('../core').InstanaBaseSpan | null}
  */
 function applyFilter(span) {
-  if (ignoreEndpoints && shouldIgnore(span, ignoreEndpoints)) {
+  if (ignoreEndpointsConfig && shouldIgnore(span)) {
     return null;
   }
   return span;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/yamlReader.js b/packages/core/src/util/yamlReader.js
index c11eb48206..ad083ca03b 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/yamlReader.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/util/yamlReader.js
@@ -20,13 +20,15 @@ const path = require('path');
  * - read-yaml-file parsing took: 0.000536 seconds - Best option
  *
  */
-/** @type {import('../core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
+
+/** @type {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} */
+let instanaCtr;
+
 /**
- * @param {import('../util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('../instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} _instanaCtr
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
-  logger = config.logger;
+exports.init = function init(_instanaCtr) {
+  instanaCtr = _instanaCtr;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -36,7 +38,7 @@ exports.init = function init(config) {
 exports.read = function read(filePath) {
   try {
     if (!path.isAbsolute(filePath)) {
-      logger?.warn(`The file path is not absolute. Expected an absolute path, but received: ${filePath}`);
+      instanaCtr.logger().warn(`The file path is not absolute. Expected an absolute path, but received: ${filePath}`);
       return {};
     }
 
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@ exports.read = function read(filePath) {
     delete require.cache[require.resolve('read-yaml-file')];
     return result;
   } catch (error) {
-    logger?.warn(`Error reading YAML file from ${filePath}: ${error?.message}`);
+    instanaCtr.logger().warn(`Error reading YAML file from ${filePath}: ${error?.message}`);
     return {};
   }
 };
diff --git a/packages/core/test/tracing/index_test.js b/packages/core/test/tracing/index_test.js
index d1894ee74e..e1a1adf62f 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/tracing/index_test.js
+++ b/packages/core/test/tracing/index_test.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const sinonChai = require('sinon-chai');
 
 const testUtils = require('@instana/core/test/test_util');
 const supportedVersion = require('@instana/core').tracing.supportedVersion;
-const normalizeConfig = require('../../src/util/normalizeConfig');
+const normalizeConfig = require('../../src/config/normalizeConfig');
 const kafkaJs = require('../../src/tracing/instrumentation/messaging/kafkaJs');
 const rdKafka = require('../../src/tracing/instrumentation/messaging/rdkafka');
 const grpcJs = require('../../src/tracing/instrumentation/protocols/grpcJs');
diff --git a/packages/core/test/util/configNormalizers/disable_test.js b/packages/core/test/util/configNormalizers/disable_test.js
index 5fa6cde022..500272ad61 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/util/configNormalizers/disable_test.js
+++ b/packages/core/test/util/configNormalizers/disable_test.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 const { describe, it, beforeEach, afterEach } = require('mocha');
 const { expect } = require('chai');
 
-const { normalize, normalizeExternalConfig } = require('../../../src/util/configNormalizers/disable');
+const { normalize, normalizeExternalConfig } = require('../../../src/config/configNormalizers/disable');
 
 function resetEnv() {
   delete process.env.INSTANA_DISABLED_TRACERS;
diff --git a/packages/core/test/util/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints_test.js b/packages/core/test/util/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints_test.js
index 0a1936950b..856284efcf 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/util/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints_test.js
+++ b/packages/core/test/util/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints_test.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 const { expect } = require('chai');
-const { normalizeConfig, fromEnv, fromYaml } = require('../../../src/util/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints');
+const { normalizeConfig, fromEnv, fromYaml } = require('../../../src/config/configNormalizers/ignoreEndpoints');
 
 describe('util.ignoreEndpoints', function () {
   describe('normalizeConfig', function () {
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ describe('util.ignoreEndpoints', function () {
         tracingYamlPath,
         `tracing:
           ignore-endpoints:
-            kafka: 
+            kafka:
               - methods: ["consume","publish"]
                 endpoints: ["topic1","topic2"]`
       );
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ describe('util.ignoreEndpoints', function () {
         comInstanaTracingYamlPath,
         `com.instana.tracing:
         ignore-endpoints:
-          kafka: 
+          kafka:
             - methods: ["consume","publish"]
               endpoints: ["topic1","topic2"]`
       );
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ describe('util.ignoreEndpoints', function () {
         invalidTracingYamlPath,
         `instana-tracing:
           ignore-endpoints:
-            kafka: 
+            kafka:
               - methods: ["consume","publish"]
                 endpoints: ["topic1","topic2"]`
       );
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ describe('util.ignoreEndpoints', function () {
         withoutIgnoreEndpointsYamlPath,
         `tracing:
           sampling:
-            kafka: 
+            kafka:
               - methods: ["consume","publish"]
                 endpoints: ["topic1","topic2"]`
       );
@@ -226,10 +226,10 @@ describe('util.ignoreEndpoints', function () {
         withBasicFilteringYamlPath,
         `tracing:
           ignore-endpoints:
-            redis: 
+            redis:
               - type
               - get
-            kafka: 
+            kafka:
               - methods: ["consume","publish"]
                 endpoints: ["topic1","topic2"]`
       );
diff --git a/packages/core/test/util/normalizeConfig_test.js b/packages/core/test/util/normalizeConfig_test.js
index 38f863676b..22ba023e78 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/util/normalizeConfig_test.js
+++ b/packages/core/test/util/normalizeConfig_test.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const expect = require('chai').expect;
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 
-const normalizeConfig = require('../../src/util/normalizeConfig');
+const normalizeConfig = require('../../src/config/normalizeConfig');
 
 describe('util.normalizeConfig', () => {
   beforeEach(resetEnv);
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ describe('util.normalizeConfig', () => {
       tracingYamlPath,
       `tracing:
       ignore-endpoints:
-        kafka: 
+        kafka:
           - methods: ["consume","publish"]
             endpoints: ["topic1","topic2"]`
     );
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ describe('util.normalizeConfig', () => {
       comInstanaTracingYamlPath,
       `com.instana.tracing:
       ignore-endpoints:
-        kafka: 
+        kafka:
           - methods: ["consume","publish"]
             endpoints: ["topic1","topic2"]`
     );
diff --git a/packages/google-cloud-run/src/activate.js b/packages/google-cloud-run/src/activate.js
index 2262e1acac..cae6cea53e 100644
--- a/packages/google-cloud-run/src/activate.js
+++ b/packages/google-cloud-run/src/activate.js
@@ -6,32 +6,40 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const instanaCore = require('@instana/core');
-const { backendConnector, consoleLogger: log } = require('@instana/serverless');
+const { backendConnector, consoleLogger: serverlessLogger } = require('@instana/serverless');
 
 const identityProvider = require('./identity_provider');
 const metrics = require('./metrics');
 
-const { tracing, util: coreUtil } = instanaCore;
-const { normalizeConfig } = coreUtil;
+const { tracing, coreUtils, coreConfig } = instanaCore;
+const instanaCtr = new instanaCore.InstanaCtr();
 
-const logger = log.init();
-const config = normalizeConfig({}, logger);
+coreUtils.init(instanaCtr);
+coreConfig.init(instanaCtr);
+serverlessLogger.init(instanaCtr);
+
+instanaCtr.set('utils', coreUtils.create());
+instanaCtr.set('config', coreConfig.create());
+instanaCtr.set('logger', serverlessLogger.create());
 
 function init() {
   if (!process.env.K_REVISION) {
-    logger.error(
-      'Initializing @instana/google-cloud-run failed. The environment variable K_REVISION is not set. This container ' +
-        'instance will not be monitored.'
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .error(
+        'Initializing @instana/google-cloud-run failed. ' +
+          'The environment variable K_REVISION is not set. This container ' +
+          'instance will not be monitored.'
+      );
     return;
   }
 
-  instanaCore.preInit(config);
+  instanaCore.preInit(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils());
 
-  metrics.init(config, function onReady(err, serviceRevisionPayload) {
+  metrics.init(instanaCtr.config(), function onReady(err, serviceRevisionPayload) {
     if (err) {
-      logger.error(
-        `Initializing @instana/google-cloud-run failed. This container instance will not be monitored. 
+      instanaCtr.logger().error(
+        `Initializing @instana/google-cloud-run failed. This container instance will not be monitored.
         Error: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`
       );
       metrics.deactivate();
@@ -41,10 +49,12 @@ function init() {
     const containerInstanceId =
       serviceRevisionPayload && serviceRevisionPayload.data ? serviceRevisionPayload.data.instanceId : null;
     if (!containerInstanceId) {
-      logger.error(
-        'Initializing @instana/google-cloud-run failed, the metadata did not have an instance ID. This Cloud Run ' +
-          'container instance will not be monitored.'
-      );
+      instanaCtr
+        .logger()
+        .error(
+          'Initializing @instana/google-cloud-run failed, the metadata did not have an instance ID. This Cloud Run ' +
+            'container instance will not be monitored.'
+        );
       metrics.deactivate();
       return;
     }
@@ -53,21 +63,21 @@ function init() {
       identityProvider.init(containerInstanceId);
 
       backendConnector.init({
-        config,
+        config: instanaCtr.config(),
         identityProvider,
         defaultTimeout: 950
       });
 
-      instanaCore.init(config, backendConnector, identityProvider);
+      instanaCore.init(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils(), backendConnector, identityProvider);
       metrics.activate(backendConnector);
       tracing.activate();
 
-      logger.debug('@instana/google-cloud-run initialized.');
+      instanaCtr.logger().debug('@instana/google-cloud-run initialized.');
 
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-expressions
       process.send && process.send('instana.google-cloud-run.initialized');
     } catch (e) {
-      logger.error(
+      instanaCtr.logger().error(
         `Initializing @instana/google-cloud-run failed. This Cloud Run container instance will not be monitored.
           ${e?.message} ${e?.stack}`
       );
@@ -85,7 +95,7 @@ exports.sdk = tracing.sdk;
 
 // NOTE: this is the external interface for the customer. They can set a custom logger.
 exports.setLogger = function setLogger(_logger) {
-  log.init({ logger: _logger });
+  instanaCtr.logger().setLogger(_logger);
 };
 
 exports.opentracing = tracing.opentracing;
diff --git a/packages/google-cloud-run/test/Control.js b/packages/google-cloud-run/test/Control.js
index 2480d4846f..2b0db31b3e 100644
--- a/packages/google-cloud-run/test/Control.js
+++ b/packages/google-cloud-run/test/Control.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ const fetch = require('node-fetch-v2');
 const portfinder = require('@instana/collector/test/test_util/portfinder');
 const config = require('@instana/core/test/config');
 const AbstractServerlessControl = require('../../serverless/test/util/AbstractServerlessControl');
-const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').util.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
+const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
 const PATH_TO_INSTANA_GOOGLE_CLOUD_RUN_PACKAGE = path.join(__dirname, '..');
 
 function Control(opts) {
diff --git a/packages/serverless-collector/src/activate.js b/packages/serverless-collector/src/activate.js
index 18a5146dc3..7f68420391 100644
--- a/packages/serverless-collector/src/activate.js
+++ b/packages/serverless-collector/src/activate.js
@@ -5,15 +5,21 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const instanaCore = require('@instana/core');
-const { backendConnector, consoleLogger: log } = require('@instana/serverless');
+const { backendConnector, consoleLogger: serverlessLogger } = require('@instana/serverless');
 const identityProvider = require('./identity_provider');
 
-const { tracing, util: coreUtil } = instanaCore;
-const { normalizeConfig } = coreUtil;
+const { tracing, coreUtils, coreConfig } = instanaCore;
 const customMetrics = require('./metrics');
 
-const logger = log.init();
-const config = normalizeConfig({}, logger);
+const instanaCtr = new instanaCore.InstanaCtr();
+
+coreUtils.init(instanaCtr);
+coreConfig.init(instanaCtr);
+serverlessLogger.init(instanaCtr);
+
+instanaCtr.set('utils', coreUtils.create());
+instanaCtr.set('config', coreConfig.create());
+instanaCtr.set('logger', serverlessLogger.create());
 
 async function init() {
   // NOTE: This package does not support autotracing.
@@ -23,32 +29,34 @@ async function init() {
     // NOTE: We have to call pre-init because we are running an async call to get the service name.
     //       The goal is to register our instrumentations as early as possible.
     //       Otherwise we can easily run into errors e.g. from `hasThePackageBeenInitializedTooLate`.
-    instanaCore.preInit(config);
+    instanaCore.preInit(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils());
 
-    const serviceName = await customMetrics.name(config);
+    const serviceName = await customMetrics.name(instanaCtr.config());
     if (serviceName) {
-      config.serviceName = serviceName;
+      instanaCtr.config().serviceName = serviceName;
     }
 
     identityProvider.init();
 
     backendConnector.init({
-      config,
+      config: instanaCtr.config(),
       identityProvider,
       defaultTimeout: 950
     });
 
-    instanaCore.init(config, backendConnector, identityProvider);
+    instanaCore.init(instanaCtr.config(), instanaCtr.utils(), backendConnector, identityProvider);
     tracing.activate();
 
-    logger.info('@instana/serverless-collector initialized.');
+    instanaCtr.logger().info('@instana/serverless-collector initialized.');
 
     // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-expressions
     process.send && process.send('instana.serverless-collector.initialized');
   } catch (e) {
-    logger.error(
-      `Initializing @instana/serverless-collector failed. This process will not be traced. ${e?.message} ${e?.stack}`
-    );
+    instanaCtr
+      .logger()
+      .error(
+        `Initializing @instana/serverless-collector failed. This process will not be traced. ${e?.message} ${e?.stack}`
+      );
   }
 }
 
@@ -64,7 +72,7 @@ exports.sdk = tracing.sdk;
 
 // NOTE: this is the external interface for the customer. They can set a custom logger.
 exports.setLogger = function setLogger(_logger) {
-  log.init(_logger);
+  instanaCtr.logger().setLogger(_logger);
 };
 
 exports.opentracing = tracing.opentracing;
diff --git a/packages/serverless-collector/src/index.js b/packages/serverless-collector/src/index.js
index a9be73135f..adf2c958d2 100644
--- a/packages/serverless-collector/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/serverless-collector/src/index.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ if (isNodeJsTooOld()) {
   return;
 }
 
-const { util: coreUtil } = require('@instana/core');
+const excludedFromInstrumentation = require('@instana/core/src/util/excludedFromInstrumentation');
 const { environment: environmentUtil, consoleLogger: log } = require('@instana/serverless');
 
 // TODO: we currently call "log.init()" twice. Once here
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ const { environment: environmentUtil, consoleLogger: log } = require('@instana/s
 const logger = log.init();
 environmentUtil.init({ logger });
 
-const isExcludedFromInstrumentation = coreUtil.excludedFromInstrumentation && coreUtil.excludedFromInstrumentation();
+const isExcludedFromInstrumentation = excludedFromInstrumentation && excludedFromInstrumentation();
 
 if (!isExcludedFromInstrumentation) {
   environmentUtil.validate();
diff --git a/packages/serverless-collector/test/Control.js b/packages/serverless-collector/test/Control.js
index 97fd9d1d91..ee585841a9 100644
--- a/packages/serverless-collector/test/Control.js
+++ b/packages/serverless-collector/test/Control.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ const fetch = require('node-fetch-v2');
 const portfinder = require('@instana/collector/test/test_util/portfinder');
 const config = require('@instana/core/test/config');
 const AbstractServerlessControl = require('../../serverless/test/util/AbstractServerlessControl');
-const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').util.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
+const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
 
 const SERVERLESS_COLLECTOR_PATH = path.join(__dirname, '..');
 let execArg;
diff --git a/packages/serverless/src/logger.js b/packages/serverless/src/logger.js
index b93ebd734a..8ef9a24d42 100644
--- a/packages/serverless/src/logger.js
+++ b/packages/serverless/src/logger.js
@@ -73,35 +73,41 @@ class InstanaServerlessLogger {
   trace = (...args) => this.logger?.trace?.(...args);
 }
 
-exports.init = function init(config = {}) {
+/**
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/instanaCtr').InstanaCtrType} [_instanaCtr]
+ */
+// eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
+exports.init = _instanaCtr => {};
+
+exports.create = customConfig => {
   let parentLogger;
 
-  // CASE: prevent circular references
-  if (config.logger && config.logger instanceof InstanaServerlessLogger && config.logger.logger) {
-    config.logger = config.logger.logger;
+  // CASE: prevent circular references. This is our own logger.
+  if (customConfig.logger && customConfig.logger instanceof InstanaServerlessLogger && customConfig.logger.logger) {
+    customConfig.logger = customConfig.logger.logger;
   }
 
   // CASE: customer overrides logger in serverless land.
-  if (config.logger && typeof config.logger.child === 'function') {
+  if (customConfig.logger && typeof customConfig.logger.child === 'function') {
     // A bunyan or pino logger has been provided via config. In either case we create a child logger directly under the
     // given logger which serves as the parent for all loggers we create later on.
 
     // BUG: Winston does not support child logger levels! Neither in `.child` nor with `level()`
     //      Setting INSTANA_DEBUG=true has no affect in the child winston logger.
     //      It takes the parent logger level.
-    parentLogger = config.logger.child({
+    parentLogger = customConfig.logger.child({
       module: 'instana-nodejs-serverless-logger'
     });
-  } else if (config.logger && hasLoggingFunctions(config.logger)) {
+  } else if (customConfig.logger && hasLoggingFunctions(customConfig.logger)) {
     // A custom non-bunyan/non-pino logger has been provided via config. We use it as is.
-    parentLogger = config.logger;
+    parentLogger = customConfig.logger;
   } else {
     parentLogger = consoleLogger;
   }
 
   // NOTE: We accept for `process.env.INSTANA_DEBUG` any string value - does not have to be "true".
-  if (process.env.INSTANA_DEBUG || config.level || process.env.INSTANA_LOG_LEVEL) {
-    setLoggerLevel(process.env.INSTANA_DEBUG ? 'debug' : config.level || process.env.INSTANA_LOG_LEVEL);
+  if (process.env.INSTANA_DEBUG || customConfig.level || process.env.INSTANA_LOG_LEVEL) {
+    setLoggerLevel(process.env.INSTANA_DEBUG ? 'debug' : customConfig.level || process.env.INSTANA_LOG_LEVEL);
   }
 
   if (!instanaServerlessLogger) {
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/dependencies.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/dependencies.js
index f92aa3b291..9603ba4fd5 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/dependencies.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/dependencies.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const path = require('path');
-const { util, uninstrumentedFs: fs } = require('@instana/core');
+const { uninstrumentedFs: fs } = require('@instana/core');
 
 const CountDownLatch = require('./util/CountDownLatch');
 const { DependencyDistanceCalculator, MAX_DEPTH } = require('./util/DependencyDistanceCalculator');
@@ -14,10 +14,15 @@ const { DependencyDistanceCalculator, MAX_DEPTH } = require('./util/DependencyDi
 /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
 let logger;
 
+/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} */
+let coreUtils;
+
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
+exports.init = function init(config, utils) {
+  coreUtils = utils;
   logger = config.logger;
 };
 
@@ -43,7 +48,7 @@ exports.activate = function activate() {
   attempts++;
 
   const started = Date.now();
-  util.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonPathStartingAtMainModule((err, mainPackageJsonPath) => {
+  coreUtils.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonPathStartingAtMainModule((err, mainPackageJsonPath) => {
     if (err) {
       return logger.warn(`Failed to determine main package.json. Reason: ${err?.message}, ${err?.stack}`);
     } else if (!mainPackageJsonPath && attempts < exports.MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
@@ -54,7 +59,8 @@ exports.activate = function activate() {
       logger.info(
         `Main package.json could not be found after ${attempts} retries. Looking for node_modules folder now.`
       );
-      util.applicationUnderMonitoring.findNodeModulesFolder((errNodeModules, nodeModulesFolder) => {
+
+      coreUtils.applicationUnderMonitoring.findNodeModulesFolder((errNodeModules, nodeModulesFolder) => {
         if (errNodeModules) {
           return logger.warn(`Failed to determine node_modules folder. Reason: ${err?.message}, ${err?.stack}`);
         } else if (!nodeModulesFolder) {
@@ -69,7 +75,7 @@ exports.activate = function activate() {
     }
 
     let dependencyDir;
-    if (util.applicationUnderMonitoring.isAppInstalledIntoNodeModules()) {
+    if (coreUtils.applicationUnderMonitoring.isAppInstalledIntoNodeModules()) {
       dependencyDir = path.join(path.dirname(mainPackageJsonPath), '..', '..', 'node_modules');
     } else {
       dependencyDir = path.join(path.dirname(mainPackageJsonPath), 'node_modules');
@@ -199,7 +205,7 @@ function addDependency(dependency, dependencyDirPath, countDownLatch) {
       }
     } catch (parseErr) {
       return logger.info(
-        `Failed to identify version of ${dependency} dependency due to: ${parseErr?.message}. 
+        `Failed to identify version of ${dependency} dependency due to: ${parseErr?.message}.
           This means that you will not be able to see details about this dependency within Instana.`
       );
     }
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/description.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/description.js
index 564a952abe..b34c0ac3a9 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/description.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/description.js
@@ -5,16 +5,19 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { applicationUnderMonitoring } = require('@instana/core').util;
-
 /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
 let logger;
 
+/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} */
+let coreUtils;
+
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
+exports.init = function init(config, utils) {
   logger = config.logger;
+  coreUtils = utils;
 };
 
 exports.payloadPrefix = 'description';
@@ -28,7 +31,7 @@ let attempts = 0;
 exports.activate = function activate() {
   attempts++;
 
-  applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
+  coreUtils.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
     if (err) {
       return logger.warn(`Failed to determine main package json. Reason: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`);
     } else if (!packageJson && attempts < MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/directDependencies.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/directDependencies.js
index f3017524a7..6505a5dcb6 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/directDependencies.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/directDependencies.js
@@ -5,16 +5,21 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { util, uninstrumentedFs: fs } = require('@instana/core');
+const { uninstrumentedFs: fs } = require('@instana/core');
 
 /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
 let logger;
 
+/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} */
+let coreUtils;
+
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
+exports.init = function init(config, utils) {
   logger = config.logger;
+  coreUtils = utils;
 };
 
 exports.payloadPrefix = 'directDependencies';
@@ -36,10 +41,10 @@ exports.deactivate = function deactivate() {
 
 exports.activate = function activate() {
   attempts++;
-  util.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonPathStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJsonPath) => {
+  coreUtils.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonPathStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJsonPath) => {
     if (err) {
       return logger.info(
-        `Failed to determine main package.json for analysis of direct dependencies. 
+        `Failed to determine main package.json for analysis of direct dependencies.
         Reason: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`
       );
     } else if (!packageJsonPath && attempts < MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/gc.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/gc.js
index d2191e5230..87c97dc922 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/gc.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/gc.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const path = require('path');
-const slidingWindow = require('@instana/core').util.slidingWindow;
+const slidingWindow = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.slidingWindow;
 const nativeModuleRetry = require('./util/nativeModuleRetry');
 
 const windowOpts = { duration: 1000 };
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/healthchecks.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/healthchecks.js
index e210d8041e..ee98c87045 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/healthchecks.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/healthchecks.js
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { hook } = require('@instana/core').util;
+const { hook } = require('@instana/core').coreUtils;
 
 /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
 let logger;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ hook.onModuleLoad(
 );
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.activate = function activate(config) {
   timeBetweenHealthcheckCalls = config.metrics.timeBetweenHealthcheckCalls;
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/index.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/index.js
index 3165ef3fab..83be92725d 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/index.js
@@ -44,18 +44,17 @@ const allMetrics = [
 ];
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  */
-const init = function (config) {
-  util.init(config);
-  dependencies.init(config);
-  description.init(config);
-  directDependencies.init(config);
+const init = function (config, utils) {
+  dependencies.init(config, utils);
+  description.init(config, utils);
+  directDependencies.init(config, utils);
   healthchecks.init(config);
-  keywords.init(config);
-  name.init(config);
-  version.init(config);
-  name.init(config);
+  keywords.init(config, utils);
+  name.init(config, utils);
+  version.init(config, utils);
   gc.init();
   libuv.init();
 };
@@ -64,7 +63,7 @@ const init = function (config) {
  * @typedef {Object} InstanaSharedMetrics
  * @property {Array.<import('@instana/core/src/metrics').InstanaMetricsModule>} allMetrics
  * @property {import('./util')} util
- * @property {(config: import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig) => void} init
+ * @property {(config: import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig) => void} init
  * @property {(logger: import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger) => void} setLogger
  */
 
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/keywords.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/keywords.js
index c0a8596eb6..d7496f0dd6 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/keywords.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/keywords.js
@@ -5,16 +5,19 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { applicationUnderMonitoring } = require('@instana/core').util;
-
 /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
 let logger;
 
+/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} */
+let coreUtils;
+
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
+exports.init = function init(config, utils) {
   logger = config.logger;
+  coreUtils = utils;
 };
 
 exports.payloadPrefix = 'keywords';
@@ -29,7 +32,7 @@ let attempts = 0;
 exports.activate = function activate() {
   attempts++;
 
-  applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
+  coreUtils.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
     if (err) {
       return logger.warn(`Failed to determine main package json. Reason: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`);
     } else if (!packageJson && attempts < MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/name.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/name.js
index e8601d5180..a2d99dd04d 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/name.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/name.js
@@ -5,16 +5,19 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { applicationUnderMonitoring } = require('@instana/core').util;
-
 /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
 let logger;
 
+/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} */
+let coreUtils;
+
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
+exports.init = function init(config, utils) {
   logger = config.logger;
+  coreUtils = utils;
 };
 
 exports.payloadPrefix = 'name';
@@ -28,7 +31,7 @@ let attempts = 0;
 exports.activate = function activate() {
   attempts++;
 
-  applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
+  coreUtils.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
     if (err) {
       return logger.warn(`Failed to determine main package json. Reason: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`);
     } else if (!packageJson && attempts < exports.MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/DependencyDistanceCalculator.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/DependencyDistanceCalculator.js
index 90d59a862f..3353aa2223 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/DependencyDistanceCalculator.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/DependencyDistanceCalculator.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ const CountDownLatch = require('./CountDownLatch');
 let logger;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 const init = config => {
   logger = config.logger;
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class DependencyDistanceCalculator {
           parsedPackageJson = JSON.parse(contents);
         } catch (parseErr) {
           logger.debug(
-            `Failed to calculate transitive distances for some dependencies, could not parse package.json file at 
+            `Failed to calculate transitive distances for some dependencies, could not parse package.json file at
               ${packageJsonPath}: ${parseErr?.message}.`
           );
           this.globalCountDownLatchAllPackages.countDown(3);
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class DependencyDistanceCalculator {
       // This catch-block is for synchronous errors from fs.readFile, which can also happen in addition to the callback
       // being called with an error.
       logger.debug(
-        `Failed to calculate transitive distances for some dependencies, synchronous error from fs.readFile for 
+        `Failed to calculate transitive distances for some dependencies, synchronous error from fs.readFile for
           ${packageJsonPath}: ${fsReadFileErr?.message}`
       );
       this.globalCountDownLatchAllPackages.countDown(3);
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/index.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/index.js
index 729e00e2f3..80817d6f5c 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/index.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/index.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const nativeModuleRetry = require('./nativeModuleRetry');
 const dependencyDistanceCalculator = require('./DependencyDistanceCalculator');
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 const init = config => {
   nativeModuleRetry.init(config);
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/nativeModuleRetry.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/nativeModuleRetry.js
index d705145a13..651fb74ac5 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/nativeModuleRetry.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/util/nativeModuleRetry.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ const detectLibc = require('detect-libc');
 let logger;
 
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
  */
 exports.init = function init(config) {
   logger = config.logger;
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ function copyPrecompiled(opts, loaderEmitter, callback) {
       return;
     } else if (statsErr) {
       logger.warn(
-        `Looking for a precompiled version for ${opts.nativeModuleName} ${label} failed. 
+        `Looking for a precompiled version for ${opts.nativeModuleName} ${label} failed.
         ${statsErr?.message} ${statsErr?.stack}`
       );
       callback(false);
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ function copyPrecompiled(opts, loaderEmitter, callback) {
           });
       })
       .catch(tarErr => {
-        logger.warn(`Unpacking the precompiled build for ${opts.nativeModuleName} ${label} failed. 
+        logger.warn(`Unpacking the precompiled build for ${opts.nativeModuleName} ${label} failed.
           ${tarErr?.message} ${tarErr?.stack}`);
         callback(false);
       });
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/version.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/version.js
index 5bb56dd6a6..8ceb63bf17 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/version.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/version.js
@@ -5,16 +5,20 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { applicationUnderMonitoring } = require('@instana/core').util;
-
 /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
 let logger;
 
+/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} */
+let coreUtils;
+
 /**
- * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config/normalizeConfig').InstanaConfig} config
+ * @param {import('@instana/core/src/util').CoreUtilsType} utils
+ *
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
+exports.init = function init(config, utils) {
   logger = config.logger;
+  coreUtils = utils;
 };
 
 exports.payloadPrefix = 'version';
@@ -28,7 +32,7 @@ let attempts = 0;
 exports.activate = function activate() {
   attempts++;
 
-  applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
+  coreUtils.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
     if (err) {
       return logger.warn(`Failed to determine main package json. Reason: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`);
     } else if (!packageJson && attempts < MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/test/esm-loader/test.js b/packages/shared-metrics/test/esm-loader/test.js
index eaa05498b0..be0fe5df0c 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/test/esm-loader/test.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/test/esm-loader/test.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ const expect = require('chai').expect;
 const { supportedVersion } = require('@instana/core').tracing;
 const testUtils = require('@instana/core/test/test_util');
 const config = require('@instana/core/test/config');
-const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').util.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
+const isLatestEsmSupportedVersion = require('@instana/core').coreUtils.esm.isLatestEsmSupportedVersion;
 
 const ProcessControls = require('../../../collector/test/test_util/ProcessControls');
 const loaderPath = isLatestEsmSupportedVersion(process.versions.node)
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/test/name_test.js b/packages/shared-metrics/test/name_test.js
index 00fc772cef..1167c40476 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/test/name_test.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/test/name_test.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ const sinon = require('sinon');
 const path = require('path');
 const testUtils = require('../../core/test/test_util');
 const name = require('../src/name');
-const { applicationUnderMonitoring } = require('@instana/core').util;
+const { applicationUnderMonitoring } = require('@instana/core').coreUtils;
 
 describe('metrics.name', () => {
   before(() => {