The Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance) Researcher Council is very pleased to share Meeting the digital research infrastructure needs of the Canadian research community: Update on cloud computing.
In September 2021, the Researcher Council provided a list of priorities in a number of critical areas such as the National Infrastructure; the Self-determination and data sovereignty for Indigenous Peoples in Canada; Equity, diversity and inclusion; Professional support personnel; Research data management and stewardship practices; Education and training; Research software; and National and international engagement.
This document provides an update and a more detailed review of the priorities on the use of computing clouds, including their storage and services, by the research community. Computing clouds and cloud storage are critical resources used by many researchers. The Alliance offers a community cloud service that is operated by the national host sites (McGill University, Simon Fraser University, University of Toronto, University of Victoria and University of Waterloo). Currently, the Alliance does not offer commercial cloud resources but is considering them as an important service offering to the research community in the coming years. The current use of commercial clouds within the research community is done on an ad hoc basis, funded either by an institution or through grants held by individual researchers.
These priorities are based on the outcomes of a number of working groups and a national survey as well as the Alliance’s Canadian Digital Research Infrastructure Needs Assessment.
For more information, please contact research-recherche@alliancecan.ca.