UPDATED: Nov 27 2024
Sometimes Microsoft’s data centers for Azure and Office365 are referred to by city name and other times by region or country. It can be very confusing to figure out which Data Center is where.
For instance, as per one of my customers legal requirements I needed to set a storage pool to keep data in Ireland but could not figure out which site was Ireland. I would have never guessed that Ireland is listed as NORTHERN EUROPE, but it is.
Colocation?
Note that Microsoft’s data centers are just for their services, like Azure and M365 and they do not provide co-location services. Colocation solutions have robust security measures to protect customers’ data and equipment like a Microsoft data center but allow you to keep your hardware on-site and provide on-demand physical access to that hardware.
Where are Microsoft’s Newest Data Centers?
Since 2021 when this article was originally written, Microsoft has significantly expanded its data center footprint globally. Here are the notable new data centers:
- Northern Virginia, USA: Microsoft is building its first data centers using cross-laminated timber to reduce carbon emissions.
- Mexico: Microsoft opened its first data center in Mexico.
- Kenya: A $1 billion data center package was announced for Kenya.
- France: Microsoft invested 4 billion euros ($4.3 billion) to expand its data center footprint in France.
- Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia: Expansion of Azure data centers in these countries.
- Canada: New data center locations are being constructed in L’Ancienne-Lorette, Donnacona, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, and Lévis.
These expansions are part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to enhance its global infrastructure and support the growing demand for cloud service.
| Zone | Region | Location | Status |
Americas | East US | Virginia | Operational |
| East US 2 | Virginia | Operational | |
| Central US | Iowa | Operational | |
| North Central US | Illinois | Operational | |
| South Central US | Texas (San Antonio) | Operational | |
| West Central US | Wyoming | Operational | |
| West US | California (Fresno) | Operational | |
| West US 2 | Washington State | Operational | |
| Canada East | Quebec City | Operational | |
| Canada Central | Toronto | Operational | |
| Brazil South | Sao Paulo State | Operational | |
Europe | North Europe | Ireland | Operational |
| West Europe | Netherlands | Operational | |
| France Central | Paris | Operational | |
| France South | Marseille | Operational | |
| UK West | Cardiff | Operational | |
| UK South | London | Operational | |
| Germany Central | Frankfurt | Operational | |
| Germany Northeast | Magdeburg | Operational | |
| Germany North | Germany North | 2019/20 | |
| Germany West Central | Germany West Central | 2019/20 | |
| Switzerland North | Zurich | 2019/20 | |
| Switzerland West | Geneva | 2019/20 | |
| Norway East | Norway | 2019/20 | |
| Norway West | Norway | 2019/20 | |
Asia Pacific | Southeast Asia | Singapore | Operational |
| East Asia | Hong Kong | Operational | |
| Australia East | New South Wales | Operational | |
| Australia Southeast | Victoria | Operational | |
| Australia Central | Canberra | Operational | |
| Australia Central 2 | Canberra | Operational | |
| China East | Shanghai | Operational | |
| China North | Beijing | Operational | |
| China East 2 | Shanghai | Operational | |
| China North 2 | Beijing | Operational | |
| Central India | Pune | Operational | |
| West India | Mumbai | Operational | |
| South India | Chennai | Operational | |
| Japan East | Tokyo, Saitama | Operational | |
| Japan West | Osaka | Operational | |
| Korea Central | Seoul | Operational | |
| Korea South | Busan | Operational | |
Middle East and Africa | South Africa West | Cape Town | 2019/20 |
| South Africa North | Johannesburg | 2019/20 | |
| UAE Central | Abu Dhabi | 2019/20 | |
| UAE North | Dubai | 2019/20 | |
Azure Government | US Gov Virginia | Virginia | Operational |
| US Gov Iowa | Iowa | Operational | |
| US Gov Arizona | Arizona | Operational | |
| US Gov Texas | Texas | Operational | |
| US DoD East | Virginia | Operational | |
| US DoD Central | Iowa | Operational | |
| US Sec East | Undisclosed | 2019/20 | |
| US Sec West | Undisclosed | 2019/20 |
4 Comments
Alain Michaud · March 5, 2025 at 8:59 pm
In the escalation of the trade war launched by President Trump against Canada and the retaliation of tarifs by Canada, how secure in my data on OneDrive if with an executive order, the president decide to block access to data for your canadian customer ? The fact that you installed servers in Québec city and Toronto, are our data protected from such an executive order?
Ian Matthews · March 10, 2025 at 5:06 pm
Hi Alain;
That is an excellent question that, of course, no-one can answer. However, I BELEIVE that Microsoft, Apple, and Google would fight very hard to avoid such an order and would make it very difficult in a long running court battle with the Government if such an order were to be created. I am not personally worried about this, but I understand why you might be.
Sarfati · May 23, 2020 at 6:25 am
i have a question about Azure Region and localisation computer. Does someone can connect himself from Spain and select a British Mail Account to seect South African Region ?
Following this situation, if i use my African old job mail to my actual localization (Spain), is it possible to found some issue in case for the Payment or Cost (Azure monitor price hight) ?
Ian Matthews · May 23, 2020 at 9:37 am
Hi Sarfati;
You can select whatever regions you want for your data center (exceping military and gov sites) regardless of what region you are actually in. I work from Canada, my largest customer is based in the US, but have to use an MS data center in Ireland because the company is listed on the Norwegian stock exchange and needs to officially keep their data in Europe!