Unisys

Corporate brand

American information technology company providing enterprise computing, cloud, cybersecurity, digital workplace, logistics, and consulting services.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

Unisys is an American information technology company that provides enterprise technology, managed services, consulting, cybersecurity, cloud, digital workplace, logistics, and business-process solutions. The modern company was created in 1986 through the merger of Burroughs and Sperry, two major computer manufacturers whose histories extended back to nineteenth-century office-machine and data-processing businesses. The merger was one of the largest transactions in the computer industry at the time and created a major mainframe and enterprise-systems supplier. The name Unisys was selected through an internal competition from more than 31,000 proposals. It was formed from elements associated with “united,” “information,” and “systems,” reflecting the combination of the two predecessor companies. W. Michael Blumenthal became the merged company’s first chief executive and chairman. At formation, Unisys was a large proprietary-computing business with substantial exposure to mainframes, enterprise applications, hardware maintenance, and government and commercial information-processing contracts. As demand shifted away from proprietary mainframes toward open systems, packaged software, distributed computing, and later cloud infrastructure, Unisys changed its business mix. It continued supporting the installed base of its proprietary systems while expanding into high-end servers, systems integration, outsourcing, application services, infrastructure management, and consulting. The 1988 acquisition of Convergent Technologies added expertise associated with the Convergent Technologies Operating System and broadened the company’s technology portfolio. Unisys now presents itself primarily as a business-to-business technology-services company rather than a conventional hardware manufacturer. Its offerings span cloud and infrastructure services, application modernization, data and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital workplace services, enterprise computing, logistics technology, field support, and managed services. Its ClearPath portfolio supports large-scale enterprise processing and modernization for organizations that depend on mission-critical systems. Its Stealth cybersecurity platform is designed to segment and protect users, devices, applications, and workloads across enterprise and cloud environments. Digital workplace services cover employee experience, device management, collaboration, service-desk operations, workplace transformation, and unified endpoint management. The 2021 acquisition of Unify Square strengthened capabilities around collaboration environments such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, while the acquisition of Mobinergy expanded mobile and endpoint-management expertise. Unisys also expanded cloud consulting and managed-services capabilities through the 2021 acquisition of AWS consulting partner CompuGain. The company serves commercial enterprises and public-sector organizations, including customers in financial services, travel and transportation, logistics, healthcare, education, telecommunications, and government. Its work includes large-scale computing support, cloud migration, digital identity and biometrics, cybersecurity, infrastructure operations, and business-process services. One notable public-sector engagement was the 2013 enterprise-computing support contract announced with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Unisys maintains partnerships with major technology providers, including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, VMware, Oracle, Dell Technologies, Google, Lenovo, and ServiceNow. It has also pursued startup and ecosystem relationships, including participation in Plug and Play’s enterprise technology program from 2022. The company’s current strategic direction emphasizes cloud transformation, AI-driven operations, cyber resilience, digital workplaces, application modernization, and continued modernization of existing enterprise computing environments.

History

Unisys traces its corporate lineage to the office-machine and computing businesses that preceded the 1986 merger of Burroughs and Sperry. One important predecessor was E. Remington & Sons, associated with the development of an early commercially viable typewriter using the QWERTY keyboard layout in the nineteenth century. Over time, predecessor organizations moved from office equipment into tabulating, data-processing, computers, and large-scale information systems. Burroughs and Sperry became major suppliers of mainframe-class computers and related services. Their combination in 1986 created Unisys, at that time one of the world’s largest computer companies. The new name was selected through an internal naming contest and was intended to represent the union of information and systems businesses. W. Michael Blumenthal became the first chief executive and chairman. The company initially relied heavily on proprietary mainframes, enterprise applications, hardware, and maintenance contracts. During the late 1980s and 1990s, however, the computer industry began shifting toward open systems, distributed computing, personal computers, and standardized software. Unisys responded by adding server technology, systems integration, outsourcing, and technical services while continuing to generate revenue from its installed base. Its 1988 acquisition of Convergent Technologies added CTOS-related capabilities. Leadership changed several times during this transition. James Unruh succeeded Blumenthal in 1990 and led the company until 1997, when Larry Weinbach became chief executive. Joseph McGrath served as president and CEO from 2005 to 2008, followed by J. Edward Coleman, who held the CEO and chairman roles until 2014. Peter Altabef became president and CEO in December 2014. In the twenty-first century, Unisys increasingly positioned itself as an IT-services and enterprise-technology company. Its activities expanded across managed infrastructure, cloud services, application management, consulting, cybersecurity, digital workplaces, business-process services, and enterprise computing. The company retained expertise in mission-critical systems while helping customers modernize applications and move workloads toward hybrid and public-cloud environments. Portfolio management became an important part of the company’s strategy. Unisys sold its Medicare processing health-information-management operation to Molina Healthcare in 2010. In 2020, it agreed to sell Unisys Federal, its federal defense-contracting operation, to SAIC while maintaining a software-licensing relationship for certain federal customers. The company also developed and updated its Stealth cybersecurity platform, including visualization and dashboard capabilities for monitoring relationships among network endpoints, cloud environments, and edge systems. Unisys accelerated its digital workplace and cloud capabilities through acquisitions in 2021. Unify Square added software and services for managing enterprise collaboration and communications platforms, while Mobinergy contributed mobile-device and unified-endpoint-management expertise. CompuGain strengthened cloud migration, hybrid-cloud, cloud optimization, cloud-native, and data-governance services, particularly around the AWS ecosystem. The company also partnered with Vodafone on a Digital Factory initiative and joined Plug and Play’s Enterprise Tech program to connect with technology startups. Unisys has served customers in government, financial services, transportation, logistics, telecommunications, healthcare, education, and other sectors. Its work has included enterprise-computing support for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and participation in Australia’s biometric identification system. Alongside commercial activities, the company has promoted employee training through Unisys University and the UGrow program. It has also reported environmental and inclusion initiatives, including a carbon-reduction target achieved ahead of schedule and a later net-zero ambition. As of 2025, Unisys remains active under CEO Michael M. Thomson. Its business combines long-standing expertise in enterprise computing with consulting and managed services focused on cloud, AI, cybersecurity, digital workplace transformation, application modernization, logistics, and infrastructure operations.

2025
Michael M. Thomson becomes CEO
[1]Unisysen.wikipedia.org
Michael M. Thomson assumes the chief executive role on April 1.
2021
Digital workplace and cloud expansion
[1]Unisysen.wikipedia.org
Unisys acquires Unify Square, Mobinergy, and CompuGain, expanding collaboration, endpoint-management, and cloud capabilities.
2020
Federal business sale announced
[1]Unisysen.wikipedia.org
SAIC announces plans to acquire Unisys Federal, Unisys’s federal defense-contracting operation.
2013
IRS computing-support contract
[1]Unisysen.wikipedia.org
Unisys receives a major contract supporting computer systems used by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
2010
Medicare processing business divested
[1]Unisysen.wikipedia.org
Unisys sells its Medicare processing health-information-management service to Molina Healthcare.
2004
Business Blueprints consulting service launches
[1]Unisysen.wikipedia.org
Unisys introduces a business-process consulting service intended to help developers create high-level software models.
1988
Acquisition of Convergent Technologies
[1]Unisysen.wikipedia.org
Unisys acquires Convergent Technologies and its CTOS-related technology.
1986
Burroughs and Sperry merge to form Unisys
[1]Unisysen.wikipedia.org
The merger creates a major mainframe and enterprise-computing company.
1873
Predecessor business enters typewriter history
[1]Unisysen.wikipedia.org
E. Remington & Sons, part of the company’s longer corporate lineage, is associated with an early commercially viable QWERTY typewriter.

Products and positioning

A mission-critical enterprise technology and IT-services provider positioned between legacy-system modernization and newer cloud, cybersecurity, AI, digital workplace, and infrastructure-management requirements.

Enterprise computing
ClearPath
ClearPath is Unisys’s enterprise-computing portfolio for secure, high-performance processing of mission-critical workloads. It supports large-scale business operations, application modernization, system optimization, and transitions toward cloud-connected architectures. The offering is aimed at organizations that continue to depend on established enterprise applications while seeking incremental modernization rather than immediate replacement.
Cybersecurity
Stealth
Stealth is Unisys’s cybersecurity platform focused on micro-segmentation and the protection of users, devices, applications, workloads, and network environments. Its capabilities extend across enterprise, cloud, and edge settings. An updated version introduced visualization and dashboard features intended to help security teams understand endpoint relationships and monitor security conditions in real time.
Cloud services
CloudForte
CloudForte is associated with Unisys cloud transformation and managed-cloud services. It supports hybrid-cloud integration, migration, infrastructure management, modernization, and related security capabilities. The offering is designed for organizations that need to coordinate private infrastructure with public-cloud services and modernize applications without abandoning existing enterprise environments.
Digital workplace
Digital Workplace Services
Unisys Digital Workplace Services cover workplace transformation, employee experience, collaboration, device management, unified endpoint management, service-desk operations, and Workplace as a Service. The business was strengthened by the acquisitions of Unify Square and Mobinergy, adding expertise in collaboration-platform administration and mobile or endpoint management.
IT services
Cloud, Applications and Infrastructure Services
This service area combines application management and modernization, cloud migration, hybrid-cloud operations, infrastructure services, data and AI capabilities, cybersecurity, and managed services. It serves organizations seeking to redesign or operate complex technology estates across data centers, public clouds, private clouds, and edge environments.

Controversies

1998
Settlement over refurbished computer materials
Unisys agreed to pay the U.S. government to settle allegations that refurbished components had been supplied to federal agencies under contracts requiring new equipment. The company acknowledged providing reworked or refurbished materials during the early 1990s.
Source
1987
Space Shuttle safety and retaliation lawsuit
Two former workers sued Unisys and Rockwell Shuttle Operations, alleging that they were forced from their jobs and harassed after raising concerns about safety violations and inflated costs connected with space-shuttle computer-program work.
Source

2021Vodafone Digital Factory
International
Unisys and Vodafone launched a joint digital-services initiative involving AI, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain, and other technologies for Vodafone customers.
Outcome. Partnership-based digital transformation initiative.
Source
2021UGrow employee development program
Global
Unisys launched UGrow to provide employees with structured learning related to management, leadership, communication, culture, and core business skills.
Outcome. Expanded internal learning and career-development infrastructure.
Source
2009Unisys Innovation Program
India
Originally launched as Cloud 20/20, the program challenges engineering students to solve practical technology problems with mentorship from industry professionals. It is intended to build technical and career-ready skills and had attracted more than 55,000 participants by 2021.
Outcome. Expanded student engagement and technology-skills development program.
Source

Brand decisions

2025
Appoint Michael M. Thomson as CEOOther
Background
Unisys continued its focus on enterprise technology services and modernization.
Action taken
Michael M. Thomson assumed the CEO position on April 1 after serving as president and chief operating officer.
Source
2021
Build digital workplace and cloud capabilities through acquisitionsM&A
Background
Demand for collaboration management, endpoint security, cloud migration, and hybrid-cloud operations was increasing.
Action taken
Acquire Unify Square, Mobinergy, and CompuGain.
Aftermath
The acquisitions broadened Unisys’s digital workplace, endpoint-management, AWS consulting, hybrid-cloud, and modernization capabilities.
Source
2020
Sell Unisys Federal to SAICM&A
Background
Unisys sought to adjust its federal contracting portfolio while retaining relationships connected with its software.
Action taken
Agree to the sale of the federal defense-contracting operation to SAIC and establish a licensing arrangement for software supplied to federal clients.
Aftermath
Unisys reduced its direct federal defense-contracting activities while preserving a software role for some federal customers.
Source
2010
Divest Medicare processing operationStrategy
Background
Unisys continued to refine its portfolio around enterprise technology and IT services.
Action taken
Sell the Medicare processing health-information-management service to Molina Healthcare.
Aftermath
The divestiture narrowed Unisys’s portfolio outside its core technology-services activities.
Source
1990
Shift toward services and open-system serversStrategy
Background
The market for proprietary mainframe-class systems was declining as open systems and distributed computing gained importance.
Action taken
Expand into high-end servers, systems integration, outsourcing, and technical services while continuing to support the proprietary installed base.
Aftermath
Services and modernization became increasingly central to Unisys’s business model.
Source
1986
Combine Burroughs and SperryM&A
Background
Both companies were major suppliers of mainframe-class computers and enterprise information systems.
Action taken
Complete the merger and establish Unisys as a combined enterprise-computing company.
Aftermath
The new company became one of the largest computer businesses of its era but later had to adapt as proprietary mainframe demand weakened.
Source

Recent events

2021-12-14
Unisys completes acquisition of CompuGain[2]Unisys完成对CompuGain的收购finanznachrichten.de
Reported: 2021-12-14
Unisys acquired CompuGain for $87.3 million. The transaction closed concurrently with the signing of the acquisition agreement.
2021-05-26
SeComPass joins Unisys security partner program[3]SeComPass加入Unisys安全合作伙伴计划scoop.co.nz
Unisys announced that SeComPass joined its Security Global Channel Partner program to offer the Unisys Stealth suite in New Zealand.
Unconfirmed
Unisys adds embedded voice recognition to InteliServe[4]Unisys为InteliServe加入嵌入式语音识别功能itwire.com
Reported: 2021-05-04
Unisys added embedded voice recognition technology to its InteliServe digital workplace service, using PerVoice’s Audioma technology to support natural speech recognition and multilingual, omnichannel support.
2020-10-01
Unisys announces ClearPath MCP software for Azure[5]Unisys宣布ClearPath MCP软件登陆Azuregeekzone.co.nz
Unisys announced ClearPath MCP Software Series for Microsoft Azure, making its flagship software environment available in the public cloud.
2020-07-21
Unisys announces new Stealth(identity) software versions[6]Unisys宣布推出新版Stealth(identity)软件scoop.co.nz
Unisys announced the availability of Stealth(identity) Software-as-a-Service 2.0 and Stealth(identity) 2.7, the latest versions of its biometric identity management software.
2020-02-25
Unisys announces Stealth 5.0 availability[7]Unisys宣布Stealth 5.0软件推出scoop.co.nz
Unisys announced the availability of Stealth 5.0, an updated security software version that adds protection for data in container and Kubernetes environments.
2019-11-20
Unisys announces CloudForte for ServiceNow availability[8]Unisys宣布CloudForte for ServiceNow推出prnewswire.com
Reported: 2019-11-20
Unisys announced the availability of CloudForte for ServiceNow, a solution intended to automate and accelerate secure digital transformation and cloud operations.
2019-11-05
Unisys announces Stealth(identity) SaaS availability[9]Unisys 宣布 Stealth(identity) SaaS 上线prnewswire.com
Reported: 2019-11-05
On November 5, Unisys announced the availability of Stealth(identity) Software-as-a-Service, a cloud-based version of its biometric identity management software.
2019-10-29
Unisys wins Computable Service Provider of the Year Award[10]Unisys获得Computable年度服务提供商奖finance.sina.com.cn
Reported: 2019-11-03
Unisys won Computable's Service Provider of the Year Award for CloudForte for Microsoft Azure; the award was presented at a dinner in Utrecht on October 29.
2015-02-19
Unisys introduces third-generation Forward! platform[11]Unisys推出第三代Forward!平台finance.yahoo.com
Reported: 2015-02-19
Unisys introduced the third generation of its Forward! enterprise computing platform, with new automation and virtualization capabilities for mission-critical and tactical application workloads across hybrid clouds.

Sources14 sources

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