Financial institutions face challenges in achieving observability due to legacy systems, large data volumes, and regulatory demands, prompting technology leaders to invest in AI and machine learning (ML) for enhanced data analysis and cyberattack detection. In a recent panel discussion with Société Générale, Microsoft, and Elastic, experts emphasized the importance of flexible, scalable observability platforms with integrated AI and ML capabilities to address these challenges. Société Générale has implemented Elastic as an "Observability as a Service" to efficiently monitor its IT environment, optimize resources, and manage compliance with regulations like GDPR. The panel also highlighted the significance of cloud strategies, with Microsoft investing in secure, compliant solutions to support financial services institutions in navigating data sovereignty and regional compliance standards. By leveraging platforms like Elastic on Azure, financial services can enhance IT visibility and client outcomes while adapting to evolving cloud strategies.