Doing More with Less: Navigating Budget Cuts, AI Integration, and Innovation in 2025

Insights from Dario Sarmiento | CIOMeet.org

In a recent conversation leading up to CIOMeet, Dario Sarmiento offered an unfiltered view into the real-world pressures facing CIOs in 2025. His approach is practical, people-focused, and grounded in the evolving challenges of running corporate IT departments—especially in uncertain economic climates.

Doing More with Less

Scaling Back Without Falling Behind

One of the key themes Dario raised: budget tightening. After years of aggressive digital expansion triggered by COVID-19—remote access, cloud adoption, and enhanced cybersecurity—organizations are now in a “flattening” phase. That means less focus on net-new tools and more on extracting full value from existing investments.

Instead of launching new systems, Sarmiento is emphasizing a smarter use of tools already in place. “We've bought the licenses. Now it's time to refine how we use them,” he said. This includes better training, cleaner implementations, and shifting from implementation mode to optimization mode.

Cybersecurity Is Still the Top Priority

Despite budget constraints, security remains non-negotiable. Dario highlighted investments in platforms like Checkpoint and Varonis, with a shift toward refining configurations, surfacing vulnerabilities, and putting insights into action. Regular penetration tests, disaster recovery evaluations, and constant tuning of threat response protocols are all critical to the ongoing cybersecurity strategy.

AI: Not About Building, But Leveraging

Sarmiento made it clear: “We’re not in the business of building AI—we’re here to use it.” The goal isn’t to develop proprietary AI from scratch, but to integrate what's already being embedded into existing platforms.

For example, his team recently tested a meeting tool with AI-powered note-taking. It not only identified speakers but delivered a real-time summary of key discussion points. That kind of embedded intelligence—quietly improving productivity—is where corporate IT teams can start to show value fast.

Redefining Innovation: New Uses for Old Tech

With fewer dollars to throw around, innovation must evolve. “Innovation is not only about adopting new tech—it’s about using current tech in new ways,” Dario emphasized.

This includes:

• Revisiting unfinished internal requests that were deprioritized during years of rapid change.

• Cleaning up tech debt and simplifying environments.

• Finding efficiencies by realigning workflows with underused tools.

The IT roadmap for 2025 includes fewer flashy pilots and more “back to basics”—maximizing what already exists to solve problems more effectively.

Keeping Teams Engaged and Aligned

In times of budget cuts, burnout, and reevaluation, leadership is critical. Dario keeps his team aligned through extensive internal dialogue—revisiting past priorities, clarifying new goals, and getting input from all levels. He knows that fostering a culture of ownership starts with transparency and strategy that matches team capacity.

He also warns of one major risk: complacency. “Silence isn’t agreement,” he noted. Teams may stop raising issues, but that doesn’t mean the issues are resolved. CIOs must stay close to end users to avoid shadow IT and missed feedback loops.

Final Thought: Tech for Business, Not for Hype

Dario summed it up best: “Technology is only useful when it serves the business.” Whether navigating AI integration or security refinement, CIOs need to act as translators—connecting business needs with tech solutions in a way that’s cost-conscious, strategic, and scalable.

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