Microsoft owns the Windows operating system and the Azure cloud-computing platform.
Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. It first became widely known for software used on personal computers, especially the MS-DOS operating system and later Windows. Windows became a central part of Microsoft’s business and helped establish the company as a major technology corporation.
Azure is Microsoft’s cloud-computing platform. It provides computing power, storage, databases, networking, analytics, and artificial-intelligence services to businesses, governments, and developers. Azure has become one of Microsoft’s most important growth businesses alongside productivity software and enterprise services.
Microsoft also owns or operates products including Microsoft 365, Xbox, LinkedIn, and GitHub. The company’s broad portfolio helps explain why it is frequently ranked among the world’s most valuable companies by market capitalization.