Microsoft owns the Azure cloud-computing platform and became one of the world’s highest-valued companies.
Azure is Microsoft’s cloud-computing service, offering computing power, storage, databases, networking, analytics, and artificial-intelligence tools. Its growth helped diversify Microsoft beyond the Windows operating system and Office software.
Microsoft’s market capitalization expanded substantially as investors valued recurring subscriptions, enterprise software, cloud services, and its strategic position in AI. The company has repeatedly appeared near the top of global market-cap rankings alongside Apple, Saudi Aramco, Alphabet, Amazon, and Nvidia.
Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. A common mix-up is treating Azure as a separate public company; it is a Microsoft business division, so its value is included in Microsoft’s overall market capitalization.