Driving IT resilience through Managed Services

From DORA compliance solutions to IT modernisation for capital markets, managed services are enabling firms to stay resilient while focusing internal resources on innovation and differentiation. Thong Tran, Co-Founder of Upskills powered by VISEO, share how his teams are supporting financial institutions in Asia with practical, scalable solutions.

Is Managed Services the key to IT resilience and DORA compliance in Financial Services?

Can financial institutions scale innovation while staying compliant and cost-efficient?

The financial services industry is undergoing a profound transformation. With evolving regulatory demands, increasing operational complexity, and accelerating digital innovation, firms are under pressure to modernise their IT infrastructure while staying compliant and resilient. The emergence of regulations like the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is a turning point, requiring financial institutions to operate at the highest levels of system stability, cybersecurity, and upgrade readiness.

In this context, managed services are no longer a cost-cutting tactic—they have become a strategic pillar for financial institutions navigating complexity. As Thong Tran, Co-Founder of Upskills powered by VISEO, explains, managed services are playing a critical role in IT optimisation, regulatory compliance, and future-proofing core systems such as Murex.

Are Financial Institutions underestimating the true cost of their IT ecosystem?

One of the most overlooked aspects of financial IT is the total cost of ownership (TCO). While licensing and support fees are visible, many firms underestimate the hidden costs related to maintenance delays, patching inconsistencies, and internal resourcing. Managed services offer a more transparent and predictable cost model, helping institutions uncover and manage the full scope of their IT spend.

Can Managed Services improve time-to-market and regulatory agility?

Time-to-market has always been a competitive advantage in capital markets. But with the introduction of DORA and similar frameworks across APAC, the ability to quickly upgrade and secure critical IT systems has become a compliance requirement.

Platforms like Murex MX.3, which are mission-critical to many capital markets players, must now be kept continuously updated and secure. Managed Murex services, including automated testing, seamless version upgrades, and real-time security patching, offer a scalable way to meet these requirements. In essence, managed services allow firms to stay compliant without compromising on speed or draining internal IT capacity.

How can outsourcing help address the talent shortage in financial IT?

Talent shortages—both in IT and financial services expertise—are a growing concern. With technical skills in high demand and short supply, managed services provide a way for institutions to reallocate limited internal resources to more strategic, differentiating initiatives. Outsourcing routine system maintenance, compliance reporting, and testing can significantly increase agility while improving employee retention and innovation focus.

Is the “Build vs. Buy” debate still relevant in today’s tech landscape?

Gone are the days of the binary “build vs. buy” approach. Today’s leading financial institutions are adopting hybrid strategies—buying standardised, secure platforms and building on top to drive differentiation. Managed services make this approach possible.

By outsourcing the foundation—ensuring stability, patching, and performance—firms can confidently innovate on the application layer. They benefit from open, API-ready infrastructure that supports internal development without sacrificing security or compliance. It’s a modular, future-ready approach that balances cost, control, and creativity.

Could AI and compliance-as-a-service redefine the Managed Services Model?

Two emerging trends are poised to reshape managed services even further:

1. Artificial Intelligence in Managed Services

AI is being integrated into managed services to improve end-user productivity, optimise performance, and automate support functions. From natural language search across large datasets to performance tuning for high-volume systems, AI is driving greater efficiency and accessibility.

2. Compliance-as-a-Service

As regulatory obligations grow in complexity and cost, institutions are seeking partners who can embed compliance into their managed services model. This allows firms to shift compliance from a cost centre to a service, freeing budget and bandwidth for strategic technology and business initiatives.

What’s the strategic value of Managed Services in a regulated world?

As financial institutions adapt to a more demanding regulatory environment and intensifying operational complexity, managed services are becoming an essential component of IT strategy. The right partner can help institutions stay ahead of compliance mandates like DORA, optimise their capital markets infrastructure, and scale innovation without compromising resilience.

At Upskills powered by VISEO, we believe the future of financial technology lies in a flexible, secure, and service-driven model—where firms can focus on what makes them unique, while trusting experts to manage the rest.