Microsoft owns the Azure cloud-computing platform and the LinkedIn professional network.
Azure is Microsoft’s cloud-computing business, providing computing, storage, databases, networking, analytics, and AI services. LinkedIn became a Microsoft subsidiary after the software company completed its acquisition of the professional-networking service in 2016.
Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. Its early success came from software such as MS-DOS and Windows, while Office, Xbox, Azure, LinkedIn, and enterprise subscriptions later broadened its business.
Microsoft is regularly among the world’s highest-market-capitalization companies. Market capitalization reflects the value investors assign to its publicly traded shares; it is different from revenue, profit, assets, or the amount Microsoft has in cash.