IBM (International Business Machines) ranks among the world’s largest information technology companies, providing a wide spectrum of hardware, software and services offerings.

IBM, frequently referred to as “Big Blue,” got its start in hardware and prospered in that business for decades, becoming the top supplier of mainframe computers. Over the years, the company shifted its focus from hardware to software and services. By the 2010s, IBM further modified its business mix to emphasize such fields as cloud-based services and cognitive computing. IBM Watson, a cognitive system, has become the company’s high-visibility offering in the latter technology segment.