Microsoft Turns 50: Honouring the Past, Building the Future
Celebrating 50 years of Microsoft innovation and our proud partnership along the way.
This month, Microsoft celebrated a huge milestone - 50 incredible years of innovation, impact, and evolution. What started as a small dream between two friends in 1975 has grown into one of the most influential companies in tech history.
As Northern Ireland's only Microsoft Direct Cloud Solutions Provider, we are immensely proud to have worked so closely with Microsoft for over half of that journey. The expertise we have gained from our close-working relationship with Microsoft is second-to-none, allowing us to deliver cutting-edge solutions, world-class support, and real innovation to our customers every day.
Founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft’s original vision was simple but ambitious: put a computer on every desk and in every home. Half a century later, that dream feels almost modest compared to the company's real impact - from shaping personal computing with Windows and Office, to driving the future of gaming, cloud technology, AI, and beyond.
To mark the occasion, Microsoft held a special anniversary event at their Redmond, Washington headquarters on the 4th of April. CEO Satya Nadella hosted a fireside chat with Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer, offering a rare, honest look back at the company’s defining moments, toughest challenges, and biggest wins.
But the celebration wasn’t just about nostalgia. Microsoft made it clear they’re focused firmly on the future, with AI taking centre stage. They announced exciting upgrades to their Copilot AI assistant that we all know and love, aiming to make technology even more personal and deeply integrated into the way we live and work. Executive VP Scott Guthrie emphasized how Microsoft’s next chapter is about building smarter, more adaptive solutions powered by AI.
Another big theme? Gratitude. Microsoft used the milestone to thank the millions of employees, partners (like us!), and customers who made their success possible. After all, innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum - it’s a community effort, and Microsoft knows it.
What’s inspiring is that even after 50 years, Microsoft still feels like a company with fresh ambition. They’re pushing forward in AI, cloud, security, and sustainability - areas that will define the next era of tech.
Being part of Microsoft's incredible story has helped us stay at the forefront of technology, and as they move into their next 50 years, we’re excited to continue growing, evolving, and delivering even more value to the businesses we serve.
Here's to the next chapter — together.
Happy 50th Microsoft!