Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights

Zendesk Shifts to Outcome-Based Pricing; CISA Faces Resignations Amid Budget Cuts and Cyber Threats

Apr 23, 2025

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Zendesk has made a significant shift in its pricing model by moving away from traditional seat licenses to an outcome-based pricing structure. This change, articulated by CEO Tom Eggemeier, means that customers will only pay when an AI agent successfully resolves a business problem. This approach aligns with a broader industry trend towards consumption-based pricing, where costs are directly linked to the value delivered rather than the number of licenses or usage. As organizations increasingly adopt AI technologies, this model could reshape the software landscape, pushing providers to rethink their value propositions and focus on delivering tangible business outcomes.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is facing challenges as two high-ranking officials resign amid budget cuts that threaten to reduce its workforce by nearly 40%. The agency's Secure by Design initiative, aimed at enhancing software security, may be impacted by these changes, raising concerns about the future of national cybersecurity efforts. Additionally, CISA has halted the use of certain threat-hunting tools, which could further hinder its ability to address cyber threats effectively. The situation highlights the critical need for managed service providers (MSPs) to adapt their business models to incorporate security measures that align with evolving regulatory and customer demands.

Kaseya and other companies are introducing AI-driven tools designed to enhance IT management and cybersecurity for managed service providers. Kaseya's Spring 2025 release includes features that automate workflows and improve user experience, while Cork Protection has launched a tool to help MSPs quickly assess cyber insurance policies. These innovations reflect a growing trend in the industry to leverage AI for operational efficiency and improved service delivery. As MSPs adopt these technologies, they can better position themselves to meet client needs and navigate the complexities of cybersecurity.

OpenAI has partnered with The Washington Post to enable ChatGPT to summarize and link to the newspaper's reporting, marking a significant development in the relationship between AI and journalism. This collaboration aims to enhance the quality of information provided to users while raising questions about copyright and the reliability of AI-generated content. Despite OpenAI's advancements in research capabilities, concerns remain about the accuracy of AI in complex tasks. The partnership underscores the ongoing tension between the demand for high-quality information and the challenges of integrating AI into content creation and dissemination.

Four things to know today

00:00 Zendesk Drops Per-User Pricing—Now It’s Pay When AI Gets the Job Done

03:56 Cyber Shakeup: CISA Faces Staff Exodus and Tool Loss While Pentagon Tightens Software Security Standards

06:52 From Cyber Orchestration to Frontline AI: New Releases Highlight MSP-Centric Innovation Across the Ecosystem

10:35 As OpenAI Partners with Major Newsrooms, Benchmark Reveals Deep Research Still Struggles with Accuracy

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