Beyond the deal: Private equity’s outlook for accelerating portfolio growth

Protiviti’s survey shows that 31% of executives view the inability to deploy AI at a competitive pace as a top challenge, matched by concerns about data and cybersecurity risks at 31%. Legacy IT systems and fragmented data environments further slow progress, making modernization essential before AI can scale effectively. Protiviti helps organizations build the foundations required for responsible, high-value AI transformation.

Operations and legacy IT infrastructure that fail to meet performance expectations remain one of the top near-term risks for leaders. Modern infrastructure is a prerequisite for AI integration, predictive analytics, and improved forecasting accuracy. Protiviti supports firms in modernizing data environments so they can improve scalability, reporting readiness, and long-term value creation

Cybersecurity is the number-one investment area for PE leaders at 47%, reflecting heightened exposure as digital operations expand. Data privacy follows at 36%, driven by increasing regulatory scrutiny across global markets

Revenue potential is the strongest near-term opportunity, selected by 69% of respondents, followed by ecosystem development at 62% and geographic expansion at 60%. PE-owned businesses stand out for their focus on technology enablement—using analytics, pricing optimization, and AI-driven tools to accelerate performance. Protiviti helps firms unlock these growth levers through targeted, technology-supported transformation.

AI deployments top the list of decade-long challenges at 40%, followed closely by customer and competitive pressures (39%) and ongoing security and privacy concerns (39%). These risks directly influence how effectively firms can meet future governance, reporting, and regulatory expectations. Protiviti helps leaders strengthen risk management, modernize controls, and prepare for the transparency required in public-company environments.