Best Managed IT Services for Financial Services Firms

Financial services firms operate in a high-stakes environment where data security, regulatory compliance, and system uptime are non-negotiable. The slightest IT disruption can lead to significant financial loss, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties. Finding the right partner for managed IT services for financial services firms is not just an operational choice; it's a critical business decision that directly impacts risk management and growth potential. Standard IT support is simply not equipped to handle the complexities of this sector, from FINRA and SEC requirements to the sophisticated cybersecurity threats targeting financial data.

This guide provides a clear framework for selecting a provider that can protect your assets and support your strategic goals. We evaluate leading providers based on their industry expertise, compliance capabilities, and comprehensive service offerings. Whether you are a wealth management advisor, hedge fund, or private equity firm, understanding your options is the first step toward building a resilient and secure technology foundation. For firms of all sizes, a strong IT partner is essential, and the principles of choosing one are similar to those for general managed IT services for small businesses, but with a much greater emphasis on compliance and security protocols.

Why Financial Firms Need Specialized Managed IT

Choosing an IT partner requires a focus on providers who understand the unique operational and regulatory pressures of the financial industry. A specialized Managed Service Provider (MSP) delivers more than just technical support; they provide a strategic framework for security, compliance, and operational continuity that generic providers cannot match.

Regulatory Compliance

A specialized MSP helps you meet and document requirements from bodies like the SEC and FINRA. They implement and manage the necessary technical controls for data protection, access management, and reporting, ensuring your firm is prepared to pass audits and avoid costly penalties.

Advanced Cybersecurity

Financial firms are prime targets for sophisticated cyberattacks. An industry-focused provider offers multi-layered security, including advanced threat detection, vulnerability management, and employee security training, to safeguard sensitive client assets and protect your firm's reputation.

Data Integrity and Availability

In finance, downtime is not an option. A qualified MSP ensures your critical trading platforms, client portals, and financial applications are always online. They design high-availability infrastructure and implement robust disaster recovery plans to prevent service interruptions that could erode client trust and revenue.

Vendor Due Diligence

Partnering with a vetted, secure IT provider strengthens your firm's overall security posture. It demonstrates to regulators, investors, and clients that you take cybersecurity and compliance seriously, fulfilling a key component of third-party risk management and due diligence.

The Financial Impact of IT Decisions

The data underscores the high stakes involved in managing IT for the financial sector. Investing in a robust, compliant IT infrastructure is not an expense but a critical measure to mitigate significant financial and operational risks. These figures highlight the tangible value of partnering with an expert provider.

• The average cost of a data breach in the financial sector was $5.97 million in 2023, highlighting the severe financial impact of a security failure.
• Outsourcing to a Managed Service Provider can reduce IT operational costs by up to 40%, allowing firms to reallocate capital to core business functions.
• FINRA requires member firms to implement a formal cybersecurity program to protect sensitive customer data.
• The average estimated cost of IT downtime is over $5,600 per minute, underscoring the importance of system reliability for financial operations.

How We Evaluated These IT Providers

Our selection process focused on identifying managed IT service providers with a demonstrated ability to meet the rigorous demands of the financial services industry. We used a set of practical, ROI-focused criteria to ensure the firms listed offer tangible value, robust security, and deep industry knowledge.

Financial Industry Expertise

We prioritized providers with a proven track record of serving financial services firms, including wealth managers, hedge funds, and private equity. This ensures they have firsthand experience with the specific software, workflows, and compliance challenges of the sector.

Compliance and Security Credentials

Each provider was evaluated on their ability to support compliance with regulations like FINRA and SEC guidelines. We also looked for key security credentials and attestations, such as SOC 2 Type II certification, which validates their controls for managing customer data.

Service Scope

We assessed the comprehensiveness of their offerings. The best providers offer a full suite of services, including 24/7 help desk support, proactive cybersecurity management, cloud services, disaster recovery planning, and strategic IT consulting (vCIO).

Client Reviews and Reputation

We analyzed verified client testimonials and industry rankings to gauge customer satisfaction and reliability. A strong reputation for responsiveness, problem-solving, and long-term partnership was a key factor in our evaluation.

Top 10 Managed IT Services for Financial Firms

The following providers have been selected based on their deep expertise in the financial sector, robust security offerings, and proven ability to manage complex compliance requirements. Each offers a unique strength, making them suitable for different types of financial firms.

Cortavo

Role: All-Inclusive Managed IT Provider for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses

Snapshot: Cortavo delivers a fully managed, flat-fee IT service that bundles hardware, help desk, cybersecurity, cloud, connectivity and vendor management into one predictable monthly plan. Acting as a complete outsourced IT department, they provide unlimited US-based service desk support, advanced security tools, cloud and hybrid workplace management, and periodic device refreshes so teams can stay productive without surprise IT costs. Their all-inclusive model is designed to remove the complexity of business IT and scale alongside growing organisations across sectors like professional services, construction, real estate and more.

Core Strength: True all-inclusive, flat-fee managed IT that covers hardware, software, support and cybersecurity for predictable budgeting.

Best For: Small and mid-sized businesses that want a single accountable partner to handle all IT needs—especially those moving to hybrid or remote work and tired of piecemeal IT vendors.

Pro Tip: Ask about which of their plans (Productivity, Connectivity or Techtility) best aligns with your growth plans so you can consolidate vendors and shift more IT spend to a flat operating expense.

Compliant Cloud Solutions

Role: Managed IT Provider for Financial Firms

Snapshot: This provider excels at migrating and managing financial firms' infrastructure in secure, compliant cloud environments like AWS and Azure. Compliant Cloud Solutions helps firms move away from legacy on-premise servers to gain scalability, disaster recovery, and remote work capabilities without compromising security. Their services include cloud readiness assessments, migration planning, and ongoing management of cloud resources to optimize costs and performance. They ensure that all cloud deployments are configured to meet FINRA and SEC standards for data residency, encryption, and access controls, providing detailed reports for audits.

Core Strength: Expertise in designing, migrating, and managing secure, audit-ready public and private cloud infrastructures.

Best For: Firms looking to modernize their infrastructure by moving to the cloud while maintaining strict compliance.

Pro Tip: Inquire about their cloud cost optimization services to prevent unexpected monthly bills.

Apex Wealth Tech

Role: Managed IT Provider for Financial Firms

Snapshot: Apex Wealth Tech focuses exclusively on the needs of Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and wealth management firms. They have deep expertise in the specific software stack used by advisors, including CRM, portfolio management, and financial planning tools. Their service model is built around providing responsive, white-glove support to advisors who need their technology to work flawlessly during market hours. They handle everything from user onboarding and device management to cybersecurity training and vendor due diligence, allowing advisors to focus on their clients instead of their IT.

Core Strength: Unmatched expertise in the software and workflow needs of RIAs and wealth management firms.

Best For: Independent RIAs and wealth management practices that need a high-touch, specialized IT partner.

Pro Tip: Leverage their vendor management service to help vet new financial technology platforms.

Capital Core Systems

Role: Managed IT Provider for Financial Firms

Snapshot: For firms where every millisecond counts, Capital Core Systems provides high-availability infrastructure and network management. They specialize in supporting trading firms, brokers, and asset managers who depend on low-latency connectivity and 100% uptime for their trading platforms and data feeds. Their services include network architecture design, proactive monitoring of critical systems, and rapid-response support to resolve any issues that could impact trading operations. They also implement robust business continuity and disaster recovery solutions to ensure operations can continue seamlessly in the event of an outage.

Core Strength: Building and maintaining resilient, high-performance IT infrastructure to ensure zero downtime for critical operations.

Best For: Trading firms and asset managers for whom system uptime and performance are paramount.

Pro Tip: Discuss their network latency monitoring capabilities to ensure optimal trade execution speeds.

Aegis Financial IT

Role: Managed IT Provider for Financial Firms

Snapshot: Aegis Financial IT is a leader in co-managed IT services for financial firms. They are an ideal partner for companies that have an internal IT team but need to augment its capabilities with specialized expertise. Aegis can fill gaps by providing advanced cybersecurity services, 24/7 help desk support, or strategic guidance on compliance and technology roadmapping. This collaborative model allows firms to retain internal control and knowledge while leveraging the enterprise-grade tools and deep expertise of a dedicated financial MSP, creating a cost-effective and powerful IT partnership.

Core Strength: Flexible co-managed IT services that complement and enhance existing internal IT departments.

Best For: Mid-sized firms with an internal IT manager who needs specialized support for security or compliance.

Pro Tip: Define clear roles and responsibilities with their team to ensure seamless collaboration.

Veritas Tech Partners

Role: Managed IT Provider for Financial Firms

Snapshot: Veritas Tech Partners distinguishes itself with a strong focus on strategic IT consulting and virtual CIO (vCIO) services. While they offer a full suite of managed IT support, their primary value lies in helping firm leadership align technology with long-term business goals. Their vCIOs work with clients to develop technology roadmaps, create IT budgets, manage vendor relationships, and ensure that technology investments deliver a clear return. This strategic approach is ideal for growing firms that need more than just day-to-day support and want a partner to guide their technology decisions.

Core Strength: Providing strategic, high-level vCIO guidance to align technology with business objectives.

Best For: Growing firms that need a strategic technology partner to help plan for the future.

Pro Tip: Use their vCIO service to build a multi-year IT budget and technology roadmap.

Quantum Leap IT

Role: Managed IT Provider for Financial Firms

Snapshot: Quantum Leap IT has carved out a niche serving private equity and venture capital firms. They understand the unique, project-based IT needs of the M&A lifecycle, from pre-acquisition due diligence to post-acquisition integration of portfolio companies. Their team is adept at rapidly assessing the IT infrastructure and cybersecurity posture of target companies, identifying risks, and developing a plan for seamless integration. They also provide ongoing IT support for the PE firm itself, ensuring its own data and communications are secure and highly available throughout the investment cycle.

Core Strength: Specialized IT services for the entire M&A lifecycle, from due diligence to portfolio company integration.

Best For: Private equity and venture capital firms that need an agile IT partner for M&A activities.

Pro Tip: Engage them early in the due diligence process to identify potential IT liabilities.

Sentinel Managed Services

Role: Managed IT Provider for Financial Firms

Snapshot: Sentinel Managed Services is built around business continuity and disaster recovery. They provide comprehensive backup solutions, data replication, and fully tested recovery plans to ensure that financial firms can withstand any disruption, from a server failure to a natural disaster. Their offering includes secure offsite data storage and the ability to quickly spin up critical systems in a secondary location. Sentinel's team works with clients to define Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) and then builds and tests a plan to meet those specific business requirements.

Core Strength: Delivering robust, fully managed business continuity and disaster recovery solutions.

Best For: Firms that need to guarantee operational continuity and data availability in any scenario.

Pro Tip: Ensure your disaster recovery plan is tested at least annually to validate its effectiveness.

Blue Ocean IT

Role: Managed IT Provider for Financial Firms

Snapshot: Blue Ocean IT caters to boutique investment firms, family offices, and emerging fund managers who need a comprehensive, all-in-one IT solution. They simplify technology by bundling all essential services—including help desk support, cybersecurity, cloud email, and device management—into a predictable, per-user monthly fee. This straightforward model eliminates the complexity and high cost of sourcing and managing multiple IT vendors. Their scalable platform allows smaller firms to access enterprise-level tools and security without the need for a large upfront investment, enabling them to compete with larger players.

Core Strength: All-inclusive, scalable IT packages with predictable pricing for smaller financial firms.

Best For: Boutique firms and family offices seeking a simple, comprehensive, and cost-effective IT solution.

Pro Tip: Verify which specific software licenses are included in their per-user fee to maximize value.

Ironclad Data Services

Role: Managed IT Provider for Financial Firms

Snapshot: Ironclad Data Services focuses on the critical areas of data governance, backup, and archival for financial firms with strict retention policies. They help clients implement solutions for email archiving, data classification, and secure long-term storage to meet SEC Rule 17a-4 and other regulatory requirements. Their services ensure that data is not only backed up but is also indexed, searchable, and retrievable for e-discovery and compliance audits. Ironclad provides the expertise and infrastructure to manage the entire data lifecycle, protecting firms from data loss and non-compliance penalties.

Core Strength: Expertise in data governance, compliant email archiving, and long-term data retention.

Best For: Firms needing to meet stringent data retention and e-discovery rules like SEC 17a-4.

Pro Tip: Ask about their e-discovery support services to streamline responses to regulatory requests.

Your Path to Secure, Compliant IT

Cortavo provides a straightforward process to assess your needs and implement a comprehensive managed IT plan that aligns with your firm's goals.

1. Submit your IT needs (quick online form).
2. Get a consultation to match the right plan for your team size and goals.
3. Receive a flat-fee managed IT plan (cybersecurity, support, connectivity, cost management).
4. Onboard quickly with certified experts, 24/7 help desk, and ongoing technology support.

Why Choose Cortavo?

Our approach is designed to deliver reliable, secure, and cost-effective IT management, giving you a competitive advantage.

• Seamless IT management for onsite, hybrid, and remote workplaces.
• Transparent, flat-fee plans with predictable costs.
• Comprehensive services: cybersecurity, help desk, connectivity, hardware, and cost management.
• Peace of mind: recognized as a top managed service provider by G2, Cloudtango, and Clutch.

Secure Your Firm's Future

In the financial services industry, technology is not just a tool—it is the foundation of your operations, security, and client trust. The immense pressure to maintain compliance, defend against cyber threats, and ensure constant uptime requires a strategic approach to IT management. Partnering with an expert MSP offloads this complex burden, mitigates significant risk, and allows you to focus on your core business of managing assets and serving clients. Choosing the right provider is a critical decision that provides more than just technical support; it delivers peace of mind and a stable platform for growth. By selecting from the best managed IT services for financial services firms, you are making a direct investment in your firm's resilience and long-term success. Let's talk!

Frequently Asked Questions