Amazon Launches its First Cloud Data Center in Canada

Amazon Web Services has launched its cluster of cloud data centers in Montreal, Quebec. Known as AWS Region, the cluster enables Canadian enterprises to run their workloads and store their data inside their country.
The AWS Region is comprised of two physical data centers in two different places so that any natural disaster that might affect one cannot affect the other. Each Availability Zone (center) has independent power, cooling, physical security, and is connected via redundant, ultra-low-latency networks, Amazon stated in a press release.
Several Canadian firms – including National Bank of Canada, British Columbia Hydro, TMX Group, the University of Alberta, Shaw Communications, and Kik Interactive – have welcomed the move. Until yesterday, most of these customers stored their data in centers located in a foreign land.
This is Amazon’s first cloud region in Canada and sixth such infrastructure in North America, with other cloud regions located in Northern Virginia, California, Oregon, Ohio and AWS GovCloud (US).
The company said it also provides two Amazon CloudFront edge locations in Toronto and Montreal for customers looking to deliver websites, applications, and content to Canadian end users with low latency.
“Our Canadian customers and APN Partners asked us to build AWS infrastructure in Canada, so they can run their mission-critical workloads and store sensitive data on AWS infrastructure located in Canada,” said Andy Jassy, CEO, AWS.
Cloud platforms not only help businesses increase revenue and improve customer support but also help governments create a technology ecosystem that will expand and deepen over time.
“The digital economy is now the economy itself. Virtually every sector of the economy is propelled by digital technologies, which are being enabled by cloud computing,” said Navdeep Singh Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development in Canada.
Aside from launching the cluster, AWS has also offered a training and certification program for Canadians willing to learn the latest cloud computing technologies, best practices, and architectures. Additionally, its AWS Educate program promotes cloud learning in the classroom and has been adopted by more than 500 institutions worldwide.
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