Microsoft brings its cloud to Canada

Microsoft Corp. is getting ready to plant its flag in Canada’s growing cloud industry, as the Redmond, Wash.-based company announced on Tuesday it will begin offering its commercial cloud services from Canadian data centres next year.

“Soon, the Microsoft Cloud will be truly Canadian,” Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner said in a statement. “This substantial investment in a Canadian cloud demonstrates how committed we are to bringing even more opportunity to Canadian businesses and government organizations, helping them fully realize the cost savings and flexibility of the cloud.”

Two locations, one in the greater Toronto area and one in Quebec City, will offer Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics CRM Online, addressing data-residency consideration for customers and partners. Microsoft is building out additional data centre capacity in both locations.

Microsoft Canada’s chief technology officer, John Weigelt, said that the locations were chosen after looking at the availability of green power, access to good network capacity, and at centres of innovation within Canada. “We’re sizing to meet the demands of the Canadian marketplace,” he said in an interview.

Janet Kennedy, president of Microsoft Canada, said that delivering cloud services from data centres on Canadian soil opens up significant new cloudbased possibilities for organizations that must adhere to strict data-storage compliance codes. “We’re very proud to be delivering the Microsoft Cloud right here in Canada, for the benefit of Canadian innovators, entrepreneurs, governments and small businesses,” she said in a statement.