Abstract: A method for selective on-board processing of machine data includes receiving operation data associated with a machine and collecting the received operation data in an on-board processing unit of the machine. Required data associated with a data analysis task of the on-board processing unit may be identified and the received operation data may be analyzed based on the identified required data. The method may also include determining whether required data associated with the data analysis task is accessible by the on-board processing unit, based on the analysis. If any portion of the required data is inaccessible by the on-board processing unit, the inaccessible portion of the required data may be requested from an external system.