at Financial Technnology Year
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Features in Specialized Research Hardware
for Investment Research & Analysis
High-performance computing systems and data storage solutions to support intensive data analysis, backtesting, and modeling activities required for sophisticated investment research.
We ask vendors to mark their product against our feature list. It is not available for all products and in some cases we have derived data from publicly available sources. The list of features follows. Vendors can add a further 10 key features of their own.
Analytics, Modeling & Backtesting
Empowers researchers to perform large-scale analytics, run complex models, and simulate strategies with speed and reliability.
- Backtesting Engine Integration
- Ability to interface with or contain backtesting platforms.
- Batch Processing Capability
- Ability to run large jobs in batch mode.
- Custom Scripting Support
- Enables use of custom code/scripts (Python, R, etc).
- Machine Learning Framework Compatibility
- Can run PyTorch, TensorFlow, or specialized frameworks.
- Model Training Throughput
- How fast the platform can process training cycles.
- Monte Carlo Simulation Capability
- Efficient support for running Monte Carlo analyses.
- Pre/Post Trade Analysis Modules
- Build-in tools for transaction analytics.
- Real-Time Analytics Capability
- Can perform live analytics with minimal lag.
- Scenario/Stress Testing Tools
- Allows exhaustive scenario analyses for risk testing.
- Simultaneous Model Execution
- Number of research models that can run in parallel.
- Supported Analytics Libraries
- Pre-installed scientific/financial libraries (e.g., NumPy, Pandas).
- Transfer Learning Support
- Can leverage pre-trained models for faster research.
Computational Performance
Measures and enables the speed, capacity, and parallelism of research hardware, crucial for handling large-scale simulations, modeling, and analysis.
- AI/ML Accelerator Integration
- Hardware support for machine learning accelerators (e.g., TPUs, FPGAs).
- CPU Frequency
- Clock speed of central processing unit.
- Customizable Hardware Profiles
- Support for user-configurable hardware allocations.
- Fault Tolerance Mechanisms
- Hardware-level reliability to minimize interruptions.
- Floating Point Operations per Second (FLOPS)
- Hardware's capacity for high-speed mathematical calculations.
- GPU Support
- Availability of graphical processing units for parallel computing.
- Number of GPUs
- Total GPU units available for workload.
- Processor Core Count
- Number of CPU cores available for computation.
- RAM Capacity
- Total system memory available.
- RAM Speed
- Frequency at which memory operates.
- Simultaneous Multithreading
- Ability to handle parallel threads per core.
- Thermal Design Power (TDP)
- Maximum heat output to consider for cooling systems.
- Upgradability
- Ease with which hardware components can be upgraded.
Connectivity & Data Ingestion
Supports the connection to multiple data sources, as well as high-speed, reliable data transfer for diverse research requirements.
- API Compatibility
- Supports ingestion via open APIs (REST, FIX, etc).
- Automatic Data Source Failover
- Switches to backup sources upon failure.
- Batch Data Import/Export
- Support for large volume data moves (csv, parquet, etc).
- Cloud Integration
- Ability to connect and sync with public/hybrid cloud.
- Concurrent Connection Support
- Number of simultaneous data sources supported.
- Data Format Flexibility
- Handles multiple data formats (JSON, XML, CSV, etc).
- Data Source Authentication
- Built-in mechanisms for secure access to data feeds.
- Direct Market Access (DMA) Feed Support
- Ability to receive high-frequency, real-time market data.
- High-Speed Network Interfaces
- Supports fast Ethernet connectivity (10GbE/40GbE/etc).
- Latency
- Time delay between data generation and ingestion.
- Multiple Network Interfaces
- Ability to install several NICs for redundancy & bandwidth.
- Streaming Data Support
- Capability to ingest and process live data feeds.
Cost Management & Efficiency
Features and transparency for minimizing, monitoring, and optimizing total cost of ownership.
- Automated Power Management
- Automatically powers down unused resources.
- Cloud Bursting Support
- Dynamically shift workloads to cloud during spikes.
- Detailed Usage Reporting
- Track resource and power consumption per job/user.
- Energy Efficiency Metrics
- Tracks power use and cost efficiency over time.
- Financial API Integration
- Connects with accounting/ERP systems.
- License Management Tools
- Manages software/hardware license allocations.
- Predictive Maintenance Scheduling
- Minimizes downtime/cost by scheduling ahead.
- Resource Allocation Quotas
- Set limits to avoid uncontrolled use of hardware.
- Total Cost of Ownership Tracking
- Visibility into cumulative system and maintenance cost.
- Usage-Based Billing Support
- Ability to apportion costs to business units/projects.
Data Storage & Management
Facilitates efficient and secure storage, retrieval, and management of large and diverse datasets used for research.
- Automated Backup Scheduling
- Set up automatic, regular data backups.
- Compression
- Reduces data size for efficient storage.
- Data Encryption at Rest
- Built-in encryption capabilities for stored data.
- Data Tiering
- Move old/less-used data to lower-cost storage automatically.
- Deduplication
- Reduces storage use by eliminating duplicate data.
- High Availability Cluster Storage
- Ensures continuous data access via failover mechanisms.
- Hot Swappable Drives
- Ability to replace drives without shutting down.
- Object Storage Compatibility
- Support for object-oriented storage system integration.
- RAID Support
- Ability to configure disk arrays for redundancy/performance.
- Read/Write Speed
- Speed at which data can be accessed or stored.
- Snapshot Capability
- Ability to capture point-in-time data images.
- Storage Type
- Supported types such as HDD, SSD, NVMe.
- Total Storage Capacity
- Maximum capacity for data storage.
Integration & Interoperability
Ability to connect with existing fund management software, third-party data, and research ecosystems.
- APIs for Integration
- Library of APIs for seamless interoperability.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility
- Works on major OS (Linux, Windows, Mac).
- Custom Data Connector Support
- Create/adapt connectors to various databases/data sources.
- Integration with BI Tools
- Interoperability with Tableau, Power BI, etc.
- Plug-Ins and Extensions
- Modular system can be extended easily.
- SDK Availability
- Software Development Kit for building integrations.
- SFTP/FTP Access
- Secure file transfers to and from research environment.
- Standard Communication Protocols
- Supports FIX, REST, WebSockets, etc.
- Time-Series Data Integration
- Natively handles and integrates time-series feeds.
- Vendor-Agnostic Data Access
- Does not require proprietary formats for ingestion.
Reliability & Availability
Maximizes research uptime and ensures business continuity through robust design and failover.
- Automated Backup and Restore
- Ensures data and state can be restored quickly.
- Automatic Job Restart
- Incomplete jobs can restart automatically after crash.
- Error Detection and Reporting
- Automated discovery and logging of errors.
- Hardware Health Monitoring
- Detects possible failure before it occurs.
- High Availability Cluster Support
- Automated failover between hardware nodes.
- Hot Spare Nodes
- Idle nodes ready for rapid takeover on failure.
- Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
- Average operational time before failure.
- Redundant Power Supplies
- Multiple power circuits for continuous operation.
- Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
- Guaranteed uptime/service targets.
- Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS)
- Battery backup for short-duration outages.
Scalability & Flexibility
Includes features to easily grow computational and storage capabilities and adapt to changing research needs.
- API-Based Orchestration
- Programmatic management of compute and storage.
- Automated Load Balancing
- Distributes computational workloads efficiently.
- Containerization Compatibility
- Supports Docker, Kubernetes, etc. for deployment.
- Custom User Environment Profiles
- Personalized hardware/software setups per researcher.
- Elastic Resource Scaling
- Automatically scales up/down as needed.
- Horizontal Scaling Support
- Add more servers/nodes as research requirements grow.
- Minimum Node Size Required
- Smallest possible hardware increment for expansion.
- Multi-Tenancy Support
- Multiple groups or teams can use the hardware securely.
- On-Premises/Cloud Hybrid Support
- Can operate across premises and cloud seamlessly.
- Resource Pooling
- Enables flexible allocation across research projects.
- Vertical Scaling Support
- Increase performance by upgrading resources in a node.
Security & Compliance
Ensures all research data and systems are protected against cyber threats and comply with industry regulations.
- Audit Logging
- Every action is logged for review and compliance.
- Customizable Security Policies
- Organizations can tailor security requirements.
- Data Leak Prevention
- Mechanisms to block unauthorized data transfers.
- Data Wiping & Secure Deletion
- Ensures deleted data is non-recoverable.
- Disaster Recovery Planning
- Systems, processes, and testing for rapid restoration.
- End-to-End Encryption
- All data flows are encrypted in transit and at rest.
- Immutable Audit Trail
- Cannot alter historical audit records.
- Intrusion Detection/Prevention
- Monitors and blocks malicious activity automatically.
- Multi-Factor Authentication
- Additional authentication layers for system access.
- Regulatory Compliance Alerting
- Notification of compliance breaches.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Grant permissions at very granular user and group levels.
- SOC 2/ISO 27001 Certification
- Adherence to major information security standards.
Support, Maintenance & Vendor Services
Vendor capabilities to assist, troubleshoot, and maintain the research hardware environment.
- 24/7 Hotline Support
- Can contact support staff at any time.
- Custom Service Agreements
- Tailored SLAs to suit fund management needs.
- Detailed Knowledge Base
- Full documentation, FAQs, and troubleshooting guides.
- Migration Assistance
- Help with moving workloads or data.
- Onsite Support Availability
- Technician dispatch to physical location.
- Proactive Hardware Monitoring
- Vendor monitors for preemptive fixes.
- Regular Software/Firmware Updates
- Timely delivery of system updates.
- Remote Diagnostics
- Issues can be diagnosed by vendor remotely.
- Replacement Parts Logistics
- Availability and speed of replacement parts.
- Training and Onboarding Services
- Vendor support for onboarding and best practices.
Usability & User Experience
Ease of setup, monitoring, management, and troubleshooting, with tools for productivity and transparency.
- Alerting & Notification System
- Configurable alerts for hardware, job, or security events.
- Automated Scheduling
- Schedule jobs to run at specific times or after events.
- Command-Line Tools
- Powerful scripting and automation capabilities.
- Integrated Troubleshooting Tools
- Automated troubleshooting and diagnostics.
- Multi-Language Support
- Supports multiple user interface languages.
- Resource Usage Visualization
- Graphical monitoring of real-time performance.
- Role-Based Dashboard Configurability
- Custom views for different types of users.
- Self-Service Documentation
- Comprehensive, accessible user manuals and help.
- User Activity Monitoring
- See which researcher is using which resources.
- Web-Based Management Console
- Graphical interface for hardware and job control.
- Wizard-Based Setup
- Guided, step-by-step installation and configuration.