I’ve read many articles lately about the advantages of having a dedicated server in Canada. The claim is that Canadian dedicated servers are more secure and safer than a reliable option elsewhere. How accurate is this claim? And why is a Canadian dedicated server better?

Let’s take a look.

The Argument

1. Canada is a peaceful place. Well, this much is true. It’s not very likely that the Canadian government will be overthrown, or that anyone other than Harper will be the Prime Minister in the near future. In fact, Canada is a pretty relaxed place. So, the likelihood that someone will bust down the door and steal a server are zero to none.

2. The weather is mild. I’m not too sure about this one. Canadian winters can be really harsh, and summers can be very humid. While Canada isn’t exactly a tropical hurricane type of place, there are some natural disasters (in the form of ice, ice rain, and snow or ice storms) that can take down the best building.

3. It’s close to the U.S. Okay – I’m not sure if that’s a comfort, but it is a true statement.

4. Most Canadian hosting centers are located in big cities. Yep! This one’s true.

5. Google likes Canada better. A Canadian company that hosts with a Canadian hosting company will get a better SERP result.

The Problems

The biggest problem with choosing a Canadian web hosting company is that there’s some speculation as to whether or not Canadian companies were giving information to the NSA. So, if you’re worried about the NSA and hosting in the United States, you may not be better off hosting in Canada. Then again, it depends on whether or not you have something to hide, and I’m guessing that most companies don’t.

Should You Host In Canada?

There are plenty of notable Canadian hosting companies like A Small Orange worth looking into. And the bonuses of hosting in Canada certainly outweigh the negatives (see the list above). But it does depend on how paranoid you are about the NSA. That news still hasn’t surfaced.

One more benefit to hosting in Canada is that there’s plenty of competition. Competition is a good thing in the hosting industry since that often means better packages and rates. You can choose from shared or dedicated, too, and it’s always good to have many options, right? Just make sure you make the right choice from the beginning.

Moving Is Hard to Do!

Moving a website can be hard to do! So, if you have any goal involving getting tons of users, choosing dedicated hosting is an excellent idea. Why bother moving a site when you can go with the right hosting plan from the start? The important thing is not to fall for any over-the-top promises and to always know exactly what your hosting company is capable of by reading many reviews.

You can check out this page’s information or visit SiteGeek.com for additional hosting details. SiteGeek lists hosting company data you won’t find anywhere else, and you can weigh in on your opinion of a hosting company (whether or not it’s in Canada!). As always,  we’re here to help you with your dedicated hosting questions and needs, so drop us a line if you need any help!