1. A computer-implemented method to select a data node configured to satisfy a set of requirements for processing client data in a distributed computing environment, the method comprising: receiving a request identifying client data to be processed; retrieving a set of requirements for processing the client data; and analyzing the retrieved set of requirements and nodal data describing at least one of the data nodes, to select, by operation of one or more computer processors, a first data node of the plurality of data nodes as a delegation target, the first data node being selected based on having a higher suitability level for satisfying the set of requirements than a second data node of the plurality of data nodes.