I am involved in a group called the "Data Center and IT Ops Education Committee" which is currently being run by a gentleman by the name of Randy Ortiz. Randy is diligently working with several organizations, including Data Center Pulse to help lay the framework for data center education, training and certification.

Recently, Randy put out a survey that I participated in which asked a few key questions. Without going into details about the questionaire, a solid theme involved the types of training and education should be required by data center professionals.

In my opinion, "certified" data center professionals should have significant knowledge in several areas that are key to the design, creation, and maintenance of a data center facility, no matter the size. Data centers are more than just a room full of servers and network gear. The proper design, build and maintenance of a data center requires input from departments that historically have had very little reason to communicate. IT and Operations have always been responsible for the server and network equipment, while facilities has been responsible for the building. Each of those groups has historically operated in a silo, without giving or requesting input from other groups. Today's data centers are a new breed of environment that requires these silos to be broken down and each of these groups to "play nice" with each other.

"Certified" Data Center professionals should be the bridge between these groups. Let the Operations and IT organizations stay inside their equipment, and let the facilities groups maintain the facility itself. Data Center professionals should have the appropriate knowledge to communicate with all of the above mentioned organizations and act as translators when necessary to get the appropriate requirements fulfilled.

Effective data center professionals in today's market, certified or not, have knowledge in at least the following areas: power distribution and allocation, thermo dynamics, and infrastructure cabling. Those 3 concepts are key to the effective design, build and maintenance of a data center facility, no matter the size. While I agree that there are other skillsets not mentioned here, I think these are the top 3.

Randy...I urge you to push for standardized training and education in these 3 areas.

I am very open to comments, questions and input...as I am sure Randy is as well! Feel free to comment on this blog, or in the LinkedIN group "Data Center & IT Ops Education Committee".

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