The emergence of MSPs is a predictable macroeconomic development, says Kraft Foods Senior Vice President and CIO Steve Finnerty, a 30-year IT veteran. Companies outsource whatever is most costly to them at the time.In the 1970s, Finnerty relates, hardware was expensive. So companies engaged in hardware time-share agreements, a precursor to outsourcing.By the 1990s, software had become a huge cost center. Hence the rise of ASPs.Now, it’s people that are costly. Companies can’t afford to maintain huge IT staffs, which is where MSPs come in, replacing the people you’d need to watch every server, router and box around the clock, making sure your applications or network don’t go down. “To me the [outsourcing] pendulum is following economics,” Finnerty says. “That’s the historical perspective I see. Moving from hardware to software to the people aspect of managing business processes.” Related content news Salesforce CEO Benioff shakes up executive team with new hires Six months after the company lost its co-CEO and announced it was laying off 10% of its global workforce, Salesforce’s top team is undergoing a major personnel change. By Charlotte Trueman Jun 07, 2023 3 mins Technology Industry Enterprise Applications opinion Cisco debuts bold portfolio of network, security, and observability solutions and previews generative AI capabilities for Webex and Security Cloud Cisco’s innovative technologies help connect the dots of its network- and cloud-based ecosystem. By Pete Bartolik Jun 07, 2023 4 mins Cloud Security brandpost Help wanted: IT tools and talent for building a multicloud estate Like all trade workers, IT leaders need the right tools and skills to succeed in a multicloud world characterized by application and data sprawl. By Chad Dunn, Vice President, Product Management, Dell APEX Jun 07, 2023 6 mins Multi Cloud brandpost A guide to hybrid cloud deployment for innovation without disruption How do organizations balance their on-premises preferences and requisites with the crucial need to innovate? By Ahmed Helmy, Global Vice President, Avaya Experience Platform Product Management Jun 07, 2023 3 mins Hybrid Cloud Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe