Microsoft owns the Azure cloud-computing platform.
Azure is Microsoft's cloud-computing service, offering computing power, storage, databases, networking, analytics, artificial intelligence, and developer tools. It was announced in 2008 as Windows Azure and became commercially available in 2010; the name was shortened to Microsoft Azure in 2014.
Microsoft's broader business includes Windows, Microsoft 365, Xbox, LinkedIn, GitHub, and enterprise software. Azure has become a major contributor to the company's growth and is one reason investors value Microsoft as both a software business and a cloud infrastructure provider.
Azure is different from Microsoft 365: Azure supplies cloud infrastructure and platform services, while Microsoft 365 is a subscription productivity suite. Microsoft is also distinct from Amazon Web Services, its leading cloud competitor.