Data Respons vs Cyient: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Data Respons (3.9/5) edges ahead of Cyient (3.6/5) overall. Data Respons is the better choice for nordic teams wanting scale with (so far) retained embedded specialist focus. Cyient is the stronger option for aerospace and defense programs needing embedded avionics engineering at scale. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Data Respons vs Cyient: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Data Respons | Cyient |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 | 1991 |
| HQ | Høvik, Norway | Hyderabad, India |
| Team size | 1,400 | 15,000+ |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | 1,400-person embedded specialist that has retained a genuinely focused practice through two ownership transitions, rather than being folded into a diversified engineering pool | Generalist-conglomerate scale (15,000+) with aerospace avionics as one named specialty within a much broader engineering portfolio, not the sole focus |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded Linux, C/C++, RTOS | Embedded C/C++, DO-178C-aware development, RTOS |
| Industries served | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime, Medtech, Defense & Security | Aerospace, Defense, Manufacturing |
Data Respons vs Cyient: overview
Data Respons
Data Respons, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Høvik, Norway, develops embedded systems across eight regulated sectors, employing roughly 1,400 people. At 1,400 people, it's larger than any true boutique on this list, but the practice remains genuinely embedded-focused rather than folded into a diversified engineering pool — a distinction worth checking directly given two ownership transitions in five years (AKKA Technologies in 2020, then folded into Akkodis), since integration into ever-larger parent organizations is the specific dilution risk a specialist-seeking buyer should watch for.
Cyient
Cyient was established in 1991 in Hyderabad, India as Infotech Enterprises Ltd and rebranded to Cyient in 2014. At 15,000+ engineers, this sits at generalist-conglomerate scale, with aerospace avionics as one named specialty (strengthened by the CERTON Software acquisition) among a broader Design-Build-Maintain engineering portfolio spanning multiple unrelated verticals.
Services and capabilities: Data Respons vs Cyient
| Capability | Data Respons | Cyient |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux (Yocto/BuildRoot) | ✓ | ✗ |
| FPGA programming (Verilog/VHDL) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware & PCB / electrical engineering | ✓ | ✗ |
| IoT connectivity & protocols | ✓ | ✗ |
| Edge AI / on-device ML | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cybersecurity & secure boot | ✗ | ✓ |
| Staff augmentation / team extension | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Data Respons vs Cyient
| Framework / platform | Data Respons | Cyient |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | N/A |
| AUTOSAR | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | N/A | N/A |
| Bluetooth | N/A | N/A |
| LoRaWAN | N/A | N/A |
| CAN bus | N/A | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
| Verilog | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Data Respons vs Cyient
| Criterion | Data Respons | Cyient |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Data Respons vs Cyient
| Dimension | Data Respons | Cyient |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime | Aerospace, Defense, Manufacturing |
| Best use cases | Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity, Medtech products requiring embedded engineering from a multi-sector specialist team with a long independent operating history | Avionics programs needing fly-by-wire or autopilot embedded software from a firm with a dedicated avionics-software acquisition, Defense engineering programs requiring DO-178C-aware embedded development |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Data Respons vs Cyient: pros and cons
| Data Respons | |
|---|---|
| + | Nearly 40 years of embedded systems specialization across eight distinct sectors, from maritime to medtech to defense |
| + | Nordic regional presence (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) plus Germany and Taiwan offices supports European and APAC delivery |
| + | Retains a genuinely embedded-focused delivery team despite two ownership transitions (AKKA in 2020, then Akkodis) |
| - | Two ownership transitions in five years (AKKA Technologies 2020, then folded into Akkodis) — confirm current team continuity directly, since parent-organization dilution is a real risk at this stage |
| - | 1,400-employee scale sits below the largest global engineering firms for very large concurrent programs |
| - | No public pricing or minimum engagement figures published |
| Cyient | |
|---|---|
| + | Named aerospace avionics specialization covering fly-by-wire, actuation, collision avoidance, and autopilot controls |
| + | Acquisition of CERTON Software added dedicated avionics software engineering depth to the practice |
| + | Rebranded from Infotech Enterprises in 2014 with over 30 years of underlying engineering services history |
| - | Rebranded from Infotech Enterprises Ltd in 2014 — buyers researching the firm's older track record should search under both names |
| - | Aerospace/defense weighting means less demonstrated relevance for consumer or industrial IoT embedded work |
| - | Exact current headcount and pricing figures vary by source and aren't officially disclosed |
Who should choose Data Respons?
A typical fit: maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity.
1,400-person embedded specialist that has retained a genuinely focused practice through two ownership transitions, rather than being folded into a diversified engineering pool. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime, Medtech, Defense & Security.
Who should choose Cyient?
A typical fit: avionics programs needing fly-by-wire or autopilot embedded software from a firm with a dedicated avionics-software acquisition.
Generalist-conglomerate scale (15,000+) with aerospace avionics as one named specialty within a much broader engineering portfolio, not the sole focus. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Aerospace, Defense, Manufacturing.
Decision matrix: Data Respons vs Cyient
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Data Respons |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Data Respons |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Data Respons (Not disclosed) vs Cyient (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Data Respons |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Cyient |
Use case fit: Data Respons vs Cyient
| Use case | Data Respons fit | Cyient fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity | Strong | Limited | Data Respons |
| Medtech products requiring embedded engineering from a multi-sector specialist team with a long independent operating history | Strong | Limited | Data Respons |
| Avionics programs needing fly-by-wire or autopilot embedded software from a firm with a dedicated avionics-software acquisition | Limited | Strong | Cyient |
| Defense engineering programs requiring DO-178C-aware embedded development | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Data Respons vs Cyient
Data Respons (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Software Development projects. 1,400-person embedded specialist that has retained a genuinely focused practice through two ownership transitions, rather than being folded into a diversified engineering pool.
Cyient (3.6/5) is worth a look if you need defense engineering programs requiring DO-178C-aware embedded development. If your situation matches that, Cyient is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Data Respons vs Cyient FAQ
Is Data Respons better than Cyient?
Data Respons (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Data Respons's strongest advantage: nearly 40 years of embedded systems specialization across eight distinct sectors, from maritime to medtech to defense. Cyient's strongest advantage: named aerospace avionics specialization covering fly-by-wire, actuation, collision avoidance, and autopilot controls.
How do Data Respons and Cyient differ in pricing?
Data Respons uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Cyient uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Data Respons or Cyient?
Cyient is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Data Respons and Cyient?
Data Respons's primary differentiator is: 1,400-person embedded specialist that has retained a genuinely focused practice through two ownership transitions, rather than being folded into a diversified engineering pool. Cyient's primary differentiator is: generalist-conglomerate scale (15,000+) with aerospace avionics as one named specialty within a much broader engineering portfolio, not the sole focus. They also differ in team size (1,400 vs 15,000+), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media vs Aerospace, Defense).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.