Kyndryl announced the launch of its Cloud Uplift service—formerly Skytap—in Microsoft Canadian data‑centre regions, enabling Canadian enterprises to migrate legacy workloads to Azure while keeping data within Canada and addressing regulatory and sovereignty concerns that have slowed cloud adoption in the country.
Cloud Uplift, acquired by Kyndryl in May 2024, is now available in Canada, the fifth geographic region and the fourteenth Microsoft data‑centre region where the service operates. It supports IBM Power, AIX, IBM i, and Linux workloads on Azure without re‑architecting or rewriting applications.
The launch expands Kyndryl’s hybrid‑cloud portfolio and positions the service as a low‑risk, self‑serve solution that reduces migration complexity and speeds time‑to‑value. It is a major operational milestone that strengthens Kyndryl’s partnership with Microsoft and aligns with its strategy to grow higher‑margin services and hyperscaler alliances.
Matt Milton, President of Microsoft Canada, said, "Together with Kyndryl, we're enabling Canadian organizations to move and modernize mission‑critical systems in Microsoft Canadian datacentre regions with confidence. With the ability to migrate as‑is workloads, organizations can move faster and start realizing value sooner."
Brian Medeiros, President of Kyndryl Canada, added, "Canadian enterprises need an approach that speeds up the modernization of their mission‑critical workloads while preparing them for what's next. Kyndryl Cloud Uplift provides a low‑risk, accelerated path to Microsoft Azure, giving customers the foundation to modernize, scale operations and access to AI innovation."
Kyndryl’s CEO Martin Schroeter highlighted the broader context, saying, "In the third quarter, we drove growth in Kyndryl Consult and through our alliances with hyperscalers and other leading technology providers. Our signings continue to reflect the vital role we play in the operation of customers' technology estates, our deep expertise in mission‑critical services and our innovation in AI, cloud and security." He added, "We are operating with a clear strategic mindset. We remain focused on delivering our multi‑year objectives, driving profitable growth and most importantly providing innovative and world‑class services for our customers."
The service launch addresses a key barrier to cloud adoption in Canada—data residency and regulatory compliance—by keeping data within Canadian borders while leveraging Microsoft Azure's capabilities. It is expected to accelerate migration for banks, telecoms, and manufacturers that operate in regulated sectors.
The launch is part of Kyndryl's broader strategy to expand its hybrid‑cloud portfolio, strengthen its partnership with Microsoft, and drive growth in higher‑margin services such as Kyndryl Consult, while managing the decline of legacy IBM‑related businesses.
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