Microsoft assures Canadian government that expanded data centers will be protected against cyberattacks

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Microsoft President Brad Smith visited Canada on Tuesday to announce a planned CAN$7.5 billion ($5.4 billion) investment in Canadian data centers and to assure government officials that Canadian data will be protected from cyberattacks and other governments.

The planned expansion is “the most important commitment in Microsoft Canada’s history,” the company said on its website, “with a CAN$7.5 billion investment over the next two years”

But digital sovereignty is a Canadian government concern, as it is to other countries and organizations wary of cyberattacks.

“We’re launching a new five-point plan to promote and protect Canada’s digital sovereignty,” Microsoft said on its website. “And we’re combining this with ongoing and new work to invest in Canada’s people, ensuring they have access to the skills needed to succeed in an AI era.”

Both the Canadian government and businesses are concerned that the US government under President Donald Trump will access data through American tech giants, including Microsoft.

“Digital sovereignty has become a more important issue around the world,” Smith told the Globe and Mail. “What we’re seeing in Canada is two very distinct things. One is the change in the dialogue with the United States. The other is the increase in activity from around the world that’s targeting Canada.”

“Foreign interference poses one of the greatest strategic threats to Canada’s national security,” according to Public Safety Canada, the department of the Canadian government responsible for coordinating federal efforts to keep Canadians safe from a range of risks, including national security threats, crime and natural disasters.

“In order to embrace the full advantages of cyberspace, Canada must guard against those who would attack our digital infrastructure to undermine our national security, economic prosperity and quality of life,” it added.