Align, a global provider of technology infrastructure solutions and Managed IT Services, has released “The Emerging Manager Report: Navigating Change Across Operational Due Diligence.” This research provides critical insights into how emerging fund managers are addressing challenges within the alternative investment landscape.\n\nThe report, developed from discussions and survey data gathered during Align’s annual Emerging Manager Summit, synthesizes the collective intelligence of leading fund managers, allocators, and service providers. It reveals key trends across four pivotal areas shaping the future of the industry: institutional readiness, cybersecurity priorities, outsourcing strategies, and artificial intelligence adoption.\n\nUnlike many industry studies, the Align Emerging Manager Report is ungated and features on-demand video interviews with senior representatives from TrustServe, Channel Capital, CohnReznick, SalusGRC, Corbin Capital, and N-ABLE, among others.\n\n”Every year, our Emerging Manager Summit brings together some of the brightest minds in alternative investments,” said Vinod Paul, President of Align Managed Services. “This report pulls back the curtain on those conversations, capturing what managers are doing, thinking, and prioritizing right now as they navigate one of the most complex operating environments we’ve ever seen.”\n\nPaul added, “It’s a true pulse check on where the industry stands today…what’s keeping managers up at night, where they’re building capabilities, and how they’re preparing to meet institutional expectations.”\n\nKey findings from the report include:\n\nInstitutional Readiness: While most firms express confidence in their preparedness for allocator scrutiny, the data reveals capability gaps that emerging managers must address to compete for institutional capital.\n\nCybersecurity Imperatives: Firms are increasing investments to counter evolving threats and meet more stringent regulatory demands.\n\nStrategic Outsourcing: Managers are adopting a deliberate approach to outsourcing, with the choice of which functions to keep in-house versus outsource becoming a key strategic decision.\n\nAI Integration Momentum: Firms are identifying concrete use cases for integrating AI into investment and operational workflows.\n\nThe full report and video interviews are available at www.align.com/emerging-manager-report.\n\nAlign Managed Services, a division of Align, specializes in technology infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions. Founded in 1986, Align serves Fortune 1000 companies and leading financial institutions, delivering strategic IT services. The Managed Services division focuses on the financial services vertical, offering solutions designed to meet the regulatory, operational, and security demands of investment firms, hedge funds, and RIAs. More information is available at www.align.com.