IBM announced plans to open a new Cloud Multizone Region (MZR) in Montreal, Quebec, to meet the evolving regulatory requirements of clients and leverage technology such as Generative AI. The facility will consist of three Availability Zones within a data center to provide availability, consistent cloud services, and greater resiliency for running mission-critical workloads.
Deb Pimentel, General Manager Technology at IBM Canada, emphasized that the new Cloud MZR in Montreal will empower businesses to utilize hybrid cloud and AI more effectively. By offering a trusted local cloud infrastructure, IBM aims to provide businesses in Quebec and across Canada with the tools to innovate and grow while adhering to strict data privacy and sovereignty requirements. The move is seen as a significant contribution to the province’s tech ecosystem, fostering digital transformation and economic development.
The IBM Cloud Transformation Report 2023 underlines the importance of a hybrid cloud approach to unlock the potential of Generative AI. With 64% of hybrid cloud users in Canada adopting a formal approach for using Generative AI, IBM Cloud offers a high-performance, AI-optimized infrastructure for IBM watsonx, featuring bare metal and virtual server Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) options.
Sharat Balachandran, VP of Research & Development at SmartWorks, a division of Harris Computer Systems, commended IBM’s commitment to providing services close to customers’ data to meet data sovereignty requirements. The Montreal MZR will reduce latency, enabling high-speed services to be delivered directly to users’ doorsteps while ensuring compliance with the latest regulatory requirements.
Scheduled for the first half of 2025, the Montreal MZR marks IBM’s continued expansion in Canada, supporting clients nationwide in managing regulatory demands and driving innovation. The establishment of the latest MZR in Montreal aligns with IBM Cloud’s mission to deliver cutting-edge data centers for enhanced bandwidth, resiliency, security, reliability, and automation capabilities.
Designed to address regulated industry requirements, the Montreal MZR will enable Canadian clients to deploy AI and mission-critical workloads with high security levels, assisting them in meeting data sovereignty and regulatory compliance mandates. In partnership with SmartWorks and other enterprises, the new MZR will provide renewable electricity and hybrid cloud capabilities to enhance scalability and reliability for customers.
With a focus on accelerating cloud adoption, IBM aims to offer highly regulated industries in Canada access to its enterprise cloud platform while helping them meet local regulatory requirements. Supported by a network of technology partners and fintechs, IBM Cloud for Financial Services is designed to drive financial institutions’ digital transformations with a strong emphasis on trust, security, compliance, and data sovereignty.
As IBM expands its presence in Canada, enterprises across the country can leverage the Montreal MZR to harness Generative AI with a secure cloud platform, addressing their latest regulatory demands. The move underscores IBM’s commitment to supporting Canadian clients in driving innovation with resiliency, performance, security, and compliance at the core of their operations.
