Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is a global technology company founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen and headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Initially gaining prominence with its MS-DOS operating system, the company introduced the Windows platform in 1985, which became the foundation for its expansion into personal and enterprise computing. Over the decades, Microsoft has evolved from a software-centric firm to a diversified technology leader with offerings spanning productivity applications, cloud infrastructure, hardware devices, gaming, and artificial intelligence.
In its Productivity and Business Processes segment, Microsoft develops Office 365, a suite of cloud-based applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams, along with enterprise solutions such as Dynamics for customer relationship management. LinkedIn, acquired in 2016, enhances the company’s reach into professional networking and recruiting services. The Intelligent Cloud segment, highlighted by Microsoft Azure, provides infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings that support computing, networking, analytics, storage and database functions for businesses worldwide.
The More Personal Computing division encompasses the Windows operating system, Surface devices, search advertising through Bing and gaming via the Xbox console and related services. Microsoft’s investment in artificial intelligence and machine learning has led to the integration of advanced features such as Copilot across its software portfolio, as well as research initiatives and partnerships to accelerate AI-driven solutions. Additionally, GitHub, acquired in 2018, serves millions of developers with collaboration tools, version control and security features for open-source and enterprise projects.
Under the leadership of CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has emphasized innovation, cloud-first strategies and sustainability efforts. The company operates in more than 190 countries, serving organizations of all sizes and sectors. With a focus on security, privacy and responsible AI, Microsoft continues to expand its global footprint through strategic investments, partnerships and acquisitions that strengthen its position as a technology enabler for businesses and governments around the world.
