diff --git a/Services/DashboardCache.cs b/Services/DashboardCache.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4aca88b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Services/DashboardCache.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+using Disco.Plugins.ServiceTracker.Models;
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+
+namespace Disco.Plugins.ServiceTracker.Services
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Static in-memory cache for the dashboard model.
+    /// Instead of running full EF queries + JSON reads + Google Sheet fetches on every page load,
+    /// this checks file modification timestamps to detect changes.
+    /// If nothing changed, returns the cached model instantly (near-zero CPU/memory cost).
+    /// </summary>
+    public static class DashboardCache
+    {
+        private static DashboardViewModel _cachedModel;
+        private static DateTime _cacheBuiltAt = DateTime.MinValue;
+        private static DateTime _ticketsFileTime = DateTime.MinValue;
+        private static DateTime _externalFileTime = DateTime.MinValue;
+        private static DateTime _sheetCacheTime = DateTime.MinValue;
+        private static DateTime _configFileTime = DateTime.MinValue;
+        private static string _lastSortBy;
+        private static string _lastFilter;
+        private static readonly object _lock = new object();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Maximum age of cache in seconds before forced rebuild, even if no files changed.
+        /// Acts as a safety net for database-only changes (e.g. Disco job opened/closed externally).
+        /// </summary>
+        public static int MaxCacheAgeSeconds = 30;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Returns cached model if still valid, or null if rebuild is needed.
+        /// A rebuild is needed when:
+        /// - Cache doesn't exist yet
+        /// - Any data file has been modified since last build
+        /// - Cache is older than MaxCacheAgeSeconds
+        /// - Sort/filter parameters changed
+        /// </summary>
+        public static DashboardViewModel GetIfValid(string dataDirectory, string sortBy, string filterKey)
+        {
+            lock (_lock)
+            {
+                if (_cachedModel == null) return null;
+
+                // Different sort/filter = must rebuild
+                if (_lastSortBy != sortBy || _lastFilter != filterKey) return null;
+
+                // Check age
+                var age = (DateTime.Now - _cacheBuiltAt).TotalSeconds;
+                if (age > MaxCacheAgeSeconds) return null;
+
+                // Check if any data files have been modified
+                if (HasFileChanged(Path.Combine(dataDirectory, "tickets.json"), ref _ticketsFileTime)) return null;
+                if (HasFileChanged(Path.Combine(dataDirectory, "external_tickets.json"), ref _externalFileTime)) return null;
+                if (HasFileChanged(Path.Combine(dataDirectory, "sheet_cache.csv"), ref _sheetCacheTime)) return null;
+                if (HasFileChanged(Path.Combine(dataDirectory, "config.json"), ref _configFileTime)) return null;
+
+                return _cachedModel;
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Store a freshly built model in the cache.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static void Store(DashboardViewModel model, string dataDirectory, string sortBy, string filterKey)
+        {
+            lock (_lock)
+            {
+                _cachedModel = model;
+                _cacheBuiltAt = DateTime.Now;
+                _lastSortBy = sortBy;
+                _lastFilter = filterKey;
+
+                // Snapshot current file times
+                _ticketsFileTime = GetFileTime(Path.Combine(dataDirectory, "tickets.json"));
+                _externalFileTime = GetFileTime(Path.Combine(dataDirectory, "external_tickets.json"));
+                _sheetCacheTime = GetFileTime(Path.Combine(dataDirectory, "sheet_cache.csv"));
+                _configFileTime = GetFileTime(Path.Combine(dataDirectory, "config.json"));
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Force invalidate the cache (called after writes if needed).
+        /// </summary>
+        public static void Invalidate()
+        {
+            lock (_lock)
+            {
+                _cachedModel = null;
+                _cacheBuiltAt = DateTime.MinValue;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static bool HasFileChanged(string path, ref DateTime lastKnownTime)
+        {
+            var currentTime = GetFileTime(path);
+            if (currentTime != lastKnownTime)
+            {
+                lastKnownTime = currentTime;
+                return true;
+            }
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        private static DateTime GetFileTime(string path)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                if (File.Exists(path)) return File.GetLastWriteTimeUtc(path);
+            }
+            catch { }
+            return DateTime.MinValue;
+        }
+    }
+}