Johannesburg, 07 Jan 2014
Data centres are usually designed and built by a team consisting of electrical and mechanical engineers, fire consultants, architects and structural engineers, in conjunction with a number of others who are experts in their specific domains. These teams should have the relevant experience and expertise to design and establish data centres. This is a highly specialised environment for this type of professional.
Over the past decade, technology has increased the levels of complexity while reducing the overall physical size of data centres - in relative terms. On average, the kilowatt load per rack unit is higher and is moving past 5kW, in some cases the 10kW mark. This has led to a reduction in the physical size of data centre white space. Environmental consciousness and sustainability has also moved onto the CIO's agenda and the current focus is on technology convergence.
These trends have created immense complexity in the design and build of current and future data centres. Many specialists in the design and engineering fraternity have taken the time and invested in training to better understand and navigate the challenges that ultimately impact the data centre design and operations. For many of us, this investment in knowledge expansion is a continuous exercise. The same applies to the operational management of data centre facilities, says Lee Smith of Dee Smith and Associates.
Traditionally, data centres were operated and managed by IT personnel who would normally originate from the IT environment. Whereas this is not by default an issue, the data centre facility environment in the 21st century has become increasingly specialised and complex. It now requires individuals and teams who are specifically geared, trained and prepared to manage this increased complexity. This has resulted in a demand for individuals with specialised facility knowledge and expertise in the data centre environment. It is paramount when dealing with increased levels of complexity.
Every person who holds a valid vehicle driver's licence is not suitably qualified to race a high-performance vehicle on the race track or in a rally. People who want to race must obtain specialised skills. They are assessed in a very different manner than your ordinary road user. High-performance drivers attend courses and training that are designed to teach them high-performance driving. So why is this not the norm for personnel who design, build and manage mission-critical data centres? Tens of millions of rand is spent to fund the design and build of a data centre. It is of benefit to have those who are best trained and carry a good track record in order to deliver. The same argument is relevant in the operational preparedness and management of the facility. However, the amount invested here is usually disproportionate to the value of the data centre assets under management and the annual total cost of operations.
In order to mitigate risk and to ensure the best possible result for your mission-critical data centre, the following guidelines can be considered:
*Refrain from employing merely generalists who cannot provide relevant qualifications and experience within the data centre environment
*Ensure that people have the correct fit for the tasks and responsibilities at hand
*Invest in people by providing them with relevant and accredited training that deals with the mission-critical data centre environment. Afford them the opportunity to attain specialised data centre design and management qualifications
*Afford them the opportunity to expand their knowledge base through a combination of training, self-learning, practical experience and by attending conferences and seminars relevant to the job
*Foster a culture of knowledge sharing, knowledge growth and collaboration
*Establish relationships with industry experts and stay in touch with them
*Use professional knowledge sharing platforms such as LinkedIn. There are numerous groups that focus on data centres that can be joined in order to leverage the knowledge and experience of others
*Create roles within the organisation that recognise these specialists. Provide them with a career path that demonstrates growth and improved self-worth
*Create visibility and recognition around these individuals who are accountable and responsible for designing and managing the mission-critical data centre - the heart of your organisation.
Designing and building a data centre today can cost tens or even hundreds of millions of rands. Managing these mission-critical data centres will cost millions more every year. The focus during the design and build phases is on data centre uptime or, in other words, the reduction and risk mitigation of downtime. It is what businesses expect and it's usually not negotiable. The same expectations are imposed on those who operate and manage data centres on a daily basis.
I am sure that most of us only need to look back over the past 12 to 18 months and we will all remember some incident somewhere that had an impact on a data centre environment in terms of downtime. What was the cost of this downtime and how did it impact the specific environment? Do you know the cost of your downtime?
Whether you are designing, building or operating a mission-critical data centre, the importance of relevant training and qualifications cannot be underestimated.
Please contact us to discuss your specialised data centre training and skills requirements, or visit our Web site at www.deesmith.co.za.
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