Microsoft

Overview

Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft has been a trailblazer in the tech industry from its inception. The company gained early recognition for groundbreaking software products, including the MS-DOS operating system. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Microsoft asserted dominance in the personal computer software market, with the Windows operating system achieving widespread adoption. Overcoming challenges and undergoing strategic shifts, Microsoft navigated through the complexities of the evolving tech landscape.

In 2000, Steve Ballmer took the helm as CEO, overseeing Microsoft's continued evolution. The introduction of the Xbox gaming console in 2001 marked the company's foray into the gaming industry. Core operating systems like Windows XP sustained Microsoft's influence in the software sector.

Under the leadership of CEO Satya Nadella, who assumed the position in 2014, Microsoft embraced a transformative strategy with a focus on cloud services. This shift propelled the rapid growth of Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing platform, establishing it as a prominent player in the cloud market. Azure offers a spectrum of services, including infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) solutions.

Recognizing the indispensable role of data centres in supporting cloud services, Microsoft invested significantly in expanding its global data centre infrastructure. The facilities are pivotal in providing scalable and reliable cloud computing resources to support businesses and individuals using Microsoft's services. Microsoft is committed to sustainability, with aspirations to achieve carbon negativity by 2030, including substantial investments in renewable energy for its data centres.

Microsoft's global data centre presence spans key regions across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company is currently intensifying its efforts in constructing and expanding its data centres, with ongoing projects in all three of the continents that it's active in. Microsoft's continued investment in AI is the force driving their current development of data centres at this scale. As well as constructing their own facilities, the company is taking up masses of space in hyperscale facilities being developed by other operators, indicating the speed with which their need for digital infrastructure is increasing.