Through the decades
Click a decade below to rediscover the moments that shaped us.
The 1970s
Disco lights, bell‑bottoms and the dawn of modern computing.
In July 1976, SAS officially incorporated with four employees. Their first creation, Base SAS® software, consisted of roughly 300,000 lines of code. Long before personal computers were household staples, SAS was already laying the groundwork for the industry as we know it today.
Did you know? SAS rewrote the entire SAS system in the C programming language in 1987. Explore the 1980s →
The 1980s
Walkmans, MTV and a world waking up to digital life.
In the 80s, offices were getting their first taste of personal computing, global communication was speeding up and industries were leaning into new digital possibilities. As SAS grew alongside that wave, the company expanded beyond mainframes to support minicomputers, meeting customers wherever they were in their tech journey. And in 1987, staying true to its R&D‑driven mindset, SAS took on a massive but forward‑thinking challenge: rewriting the entire SAS System in the C programming language to stay ahead of a rapidly evolving industry.
Did you know? SAS adapted the software to run on the internet in 1996. Explore the 1990s →
The 1990s
Baggy jeans, beepers and the World Wide Web.
As the World Wide Web opened to the public and the internet era began taking shape, technology felt full of possibility. Anticipating this shift, SAS adapted its software to run on the internet – well before most companies understood how the dot‑com boom would unfold. That early move toward web‑based capabilities set the stage for future transformations, ultimately paving the way for SAS’ evolution.
Did you know? SAS technology was selected by the U.S. FDA as the standard for new drug applications. Explore the 2000s →
The 2000s
Flip phones, file‑sharing and the rise of always‑on tech.
As the 2000s ushered in a more connected world, mobile devices quickly became everyday essentials and digital media transformed how people consumed information. Industries accelerated toward data-driven decision-making, and SAS strengthened its position by expanding through strategic acquisitions. Companies like DataFlux, Marketmax, IDeaS and Teragram brought new IP and deep industry expertise, broadening SAS’ portfolio and enhancing its ability to meet rapidly evolving customer needs.
Did you know? SAS entered the cloud era in 2016. Explore the 2010s →
The 2010s
Apps, clouds and a decade that never powered down.
As the 2010s ushered in an always-on world, mobile apps reshaped everyday life and cloud computing became the backbone of modern business. In the midst of this shift, SAS made a pivotal move with the 2016 introduction of SAS Viya — a cloud-friendly and now cloud-native AI, analytics and data management platform that marked a major leap toward the future.
Did you know? SAS has a long-standing commitment to sustainability. Explore the 2020s →
The 2020s
Ethical tech, clear values and a decade that demands accountability.
The early 2020s brought a global reckoning with how technology should be built and used. As conversations about fairness, transparency and trust in AI moved into the mainstream, organizations everywhere were rethinking not just what AI could do, but what it should do.
In this environment, SAS formalized its long‑standing commitment to responsible innovation through the SAS Data Ethics Practice, advancing its focus on ethical, equitable and sustainable AI.
Did you know? As SAS enters its 50th year, its focus is firmly on what’s next. Explore what's ahead →
Beyond
Agentic AI, cloud‑native everything and a world moving faster than ever.
As organizations step into an era defined by intelligent automation and real‑time decisioning, SAS is already building what comes next. The focus is on AI that’s transparent, fair and trustworthy by design. Cloud‑native, multi‑cloud capabilities are expanding to meet customers wherever they work. Industry‑first solutions, a growing partner ecosystem, and next‑generation decisioning technology are unlocking new possibilities.
And through it all, SAS stays people‑first, shaping a future of innovation built on purpose and possibility.
Did you know? SAS has earned consistent recognition as a world-class workplace. Check out the accolades →
SAS making headlines
Across five decades of technology innovation, SAS’ people-first culture has remained its most enduring constant. That commitment has earned SAS consistent recognition as a world-class workplace, including earning top honors on Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For list and hundreds of workplace awards worldwide.
Building what comes next
We’ve moved from advanced statistics, to pioneering analytics, to now data-driven AI, but our core remains the same: turning data into responsible decisions. See how SAS is shaping the future.
Did you know? AI adoption is accelerating, and SAS Viya unifies data, AI & decisions to keep you ahead. See how →