With the federal government laser-focused on modernization, cost control, and operational efficiency, agencies are under increasing pressure to make smart, outcome-driven technology investments.

The Apptio 2025 Public Sector Summit provided IT and finance leaders with strategies that empower them to connect every tech dollar to mission and business value.

At this dynamic, one-day event, leaders from across government explored how to maximize their technology budgets through data-driven decision-making. The Summit featured engaging keynotes and breakout sessions that highlighted real-world agency successes and practical advice to overcome inefficiencies and drive measurable results.

Jessica Alfaro, Vice President of Technology at Makpar, attended the event and came back with these key takeaways:

• IT Financial Transparency Is Mission-Critical: Agencies such as the Department of Commerce and the Department of Veterans Affairs are using Technology Business Management (TBM) to clarify IT spending and align it with services, contracts, and budget execution. Many began from scratch, developed custom playbooks, and are now advancing their maturity.

• TBM and FinOps Work Better Together: TBM provides the foundational framework, while FinOps extends it to enable real-time cloud cost management and optimization. Success depends on cross-agency collaboration, centralized data, and automation of planning and reporting processes.

• Agencies Must Respond Quickly to DOGE Demands: With growing demands for transparency and accountability, agencies must shift from reactive to proactive financial management. That means automating reporting, rationalizing vendors, and engaging in scenario planning to understand and explain changes in IT budgets.

• Data Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Useful: Agencies started with imperfect or nonexistent data but moved forward anyway. With tools like Apptio, they’ve built trust, reduced waste, and improved decision-making by continuously refining their data over time.

• AI is Already a Cost Center and Needs Financial Planning: As AI adoption grows, so do GPU costs and cloud workload complexities. Agencies must develop strategies for cost visibility across Kubernetes and cloud environments. FinOps is evolving to support this shift, emphasizing the importance of embedding cost awareness early in the development cycle (“shift left”) to improve ROI and reduce waste.

At the Apptio 2025 Public Sector Summit, it was clear that success in today’s federal IT landscape demands not only modern tools, but also a mindset of transparency, agility, and continuous improvement.If you would like to learn more about how Makpar can help your agency develop the most comprehensive innovation for enhancing efficiency and mission success, please contact us here.