Real-time market data managed services: Evolution, not revolution

Real-time market data has become a critical competitive differentiator across the capital markets, but the operational complexity of managing the infrastructure behind it continues to grow.

Rising data volumes, regulatory requirements, cyber security concerns and demand for faster access to new datasets are forcing firms to rethink how market data environments are operated. Based on a survey of 40 capital markets professionals globally, this whitepaper examines how firms are adopting managed services to address these challenges while retaining appropriate control over mission-critical functions.

The findings reveal a clear preference for hybrid operating models, with 58% of respondents combining in-house infrastructure with third-party support. Rather than pursuing wholesale outsourcing, firms are selectively using managed services to improve scalability, flexibility, resilience and speed-to-market. Security and regulatory compliance are the leading considerations when evaluating providers, while integration and avoiding vendor lock-in remain important concerns.

Looking ahead, respondents expect automation, hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence-driven analytics and deeper provider partnerships to shape the next phase of market development. The evidence points to an industry in transition: managed services is moving beyond a cost-optimization tool to become a strategic means of strengthening operational resilience, accelerating modernization and enabling firms to respond more effectively to changing market demands.

Key findings:

• Hybrid is the dominant model: 58% of respondents combine in-house infrastructure with third-party support.
• Scalability and flexibility lead adoption: 63% identify them as key drivers for managed services.
• Resilience matters more than cost: Operational resilience and uptime rank as the top provider-evaluation priority, ahead of total cost of ownership.
• Security and compliance are critical: 73% cite data security and compliance as the greatest challenge when assessing providers.
• Integration and optionality matter: Firms want providers that work with existing technology estates without creating unnecessary vendor lock-in.
• The future is increasingly automated: Automation, AI, hybrid cloud and closer provider partnerships are expected to shape the evolution of managed services.

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