Microsoft operates the cloud-computing platform Azure, a major business behind its market value.
Azure provides computing, storage, databases, networking, analytics, artificial intelligence, and other services over the internet. It is used by businesses, governments, and developers that need infrastructure without purchasing and maintaining all of their own servers.
Microsoft launched Azure commercially in 2010, originally under the name Windows Azure. The platform expanded beyond Windows-focused services and became a broad competitor to Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud.
Azure contributes to Microsoft's market value because cloud infrastructure produces recurring business revenue and connects with products such as Microsoft 365, Windows Server, and GitHub. Azure is not a separate publicly traded company; it is a Microsoft business.