Microsoft is the parent corporation of Microsoft Azure and the Windows operating system.
Microsoft develops Windows, a family of operating systems first released for personal computers in the 1980s, and Azure, its cloud-computing platform. Azure offers computing, storage, databases, artificial intelligence, and other services to organizations around the world. Both are businesses of Microsoft rather than separate publicly traded companies.
The company’s market value reflects a broad portfolio. In addition to Windows and Azure, Microsoft owns productivity products such as Microsoft 365, business software such as Dynamics, the professional network LinkedIn, and the Xbox gaming business. Its cloud and subscription offerings have become increasingly important to investors.
People sometimes treat Azure as a standalone company because it has a distinct brand and extensive infrastructure. Legally and financially, however, Azure is a Microsoft business segment, and Microsoft shares represent ownership in the entire corporation.