Resilience is core to CIRA’s mandate – the safe, stable and secure operation of the .CA registry and its underlying DNS infrastructure – and is central to our mission to build a trusted internet. A resilient internet can operate at an acceptable level despite disruptions from cyber-attacks, extreme weather events, human error, and more. This means that Canadians can continue to access critical services and information online – especially in situations like extreme weather events, when they need it most.
Internet Exchange points
Canadian Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) are rife with untapped potential for improved connectivity, reliability and resilience.
What is an IXP?
The value of peering in Canada
For network operators and service providers
Reduce costs: Peering can lower the average per-bit delivery costs by reducing the need for transit and gain low-cost access to major content providers
DNS resolution resilience: Resolving DNS queries is critical for modern IT infrastructure. Having diverse paths via transit and through the IX to resolve TLDs like .CA is important
For individual internet use
Improved performance: Shorter distances between your service provider and the content you want means lower latency and faster load times
Better privacy: When your data is routed to Canadian IXPs instead of along a north-south route to the U.S., it stays within Canadian borders – and Canadian privacy laws.
For government and business
Improve access to your content: When you peer with internet service providers, your content will be delivered to home users at a cheaper, faster per-bit rate
Keep services available during disruption: If a major fibre disruption isolates a region from the broader internet, services connected to a local IX will still be available
Canadian Traceroute Database
Coming soon
Highlighting the route your data takes
So why does mapping the path your data takes matter?
Privacy: More people than ever before want to have eyes on and access to your data. By seeing where it goes, you can empower yourself to invest in the right privacy protections, like CIRA Canadian Shield
Data sovereignty: A lot of Canadian data travels to the United States and back. Visualizing this gets us one step closer to making sure that your data stays within our borders, with our laws, protections and rights
Security: The internet is global, and so are its threats. By seeing where your data travels, you can tailor your layered protections to the threats your communications face
Speed: Mapping data can show what faster paths are available
Points of failure: The CTRD can help identify single points of failure in a network, helping network operators and other decision makers prevent them by improving its robustness
Transparency: See how the flow of your data compares to others across the country and help build a better picture of the Canadian internet