Application Service Providers (ASPs) emerged in the mid-1990s as early pioneers of managed services, delivering business applications through a hosted, one-to-many model rather than installing software on every customer's own servers.
From ASP to SaaS
The term ASP is rarely used today — it evolved into Software as a Service (SaaS) — but the foundational idea persists: deliver applications to many customers from shared, centrally-managed infrastructure. That same one-to-many model underpins how modern MSPs operate.
Why It Still Matters
Understanding the ASP lineage explains why MSPs are well-positioned to host and manage applications securely. For any hosted application, evaluating its security and compliance posture is essential — something Cyber Verify helps MSPs do for their clients.