How to Manage Azure OpenAI Data Residency in Canada East (Quebec)

Select Language:

If you need to make sure that all data stays within Quebec when using Azure OpenAI, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you get it right.

First, choose the right region for your deployment. The Azure Canada East region is located in Quebec City, so deploying your Azure OpenAI resource there ensures that the physical servers are within Quebec.

Next, decide on the deployment type based on your compliance needs. If you want all data to stay within Canada East, opt for either Regional Standard or Provisioned Throughput (PTU) deployments. These types process all requests within the same region where they are hosted, keeping everything local.

Be cautious with Global deployments, such as Global Standard or Global Batch. These can route requests to other regions to balance capacity or improve performance. Because of this, they cannot guarantee that your data will stay within Quebec.

Another option is Data Zone deployments, which are designed to keep data within a larger geographic boundary rather than a single region. However, if your strict requirement is that “all data must remain within Quebec,” sticking to Regional Standard or Provisioned deployments in Canada East is the safest choice.

Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI also ensures protection regardless of deployment type. Your prompts and responses are kept private — not shared with other customers, not used to train OpenAI or Microsoft’s models, and are protected by Microsoft’s enterprise security standards.

To meet the strictest requirements:

1. Deploy your Azure OpenAI in the Canada East region.
2. Use either Regional Standard or Provisioned Throughput deployments.
3. Avoid Global Standard and Global Batch options.
4. Check your deployment details in Azure AI Foundry, under “Models + Endpoints” to confirm the deployment type.

In simple terms:

– Deploy in Canada East.
– Choose Regional Standard or Per-provisioned (PTU).
– Avoid global deployment options if data residency is critical.

Following these steps will help ensure that your data processing stays within Quebec, aligning with your compliance needs. If you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!