What questions should I ask when comparing trade surveillance vendors?

To make an informed decision, go beyond the demo. Ask:

1. 1. False Positives: What percentage of alerts are automated or closed automatically?
      
   2. Configurability: Can we change procedures ourselves, or do we rely on your team?
      
   3. Data Integration: Can your platform ingest raw, unstructured data from multiple systems?
      
   4. Regulatory Coverage: Which jurisdictions and rule sets are natively supported?
      
   5. Audit Trails: Is every alert and user action logged and exportable for regulators?
      
   6. AI Use: Do you use deterministic (explainable) AI or black-box models?
      
   7. Implementation Time: How long does onboarding take — days, weeks, or months?
   8. Total Cost of Ownership: Are there extra fees for additional users, support, or rule changes?