When you work in a field such as data centers, you must know the different types of certifications available. Having a good understanding of the wide variety of data center certifications will help you see your skills, which skills your employer will be looking for, and the market demand for your area of expertise.
The Types of Data Center Certifications
Data centers hold much sensitive information; if there is some failure or disaster, this information could be leaked. Data centers need to be kept in top working order at all times, so it's essential to have a good understanding of the available data center certifications. By understanding this, you can ensure that the data center is doing everything possible to keep its customers' information safe.
These certifications are essential for any company or organization that wants to ensure its physical location can attract and retain customers or clients. They're also crucial for any business that relies on data center management software designed to help them optimize their system.
Here are three main types of data center certification:
1. Design Certification
This is when the data center has been certified by an accredited organization to meet specific standards and inspected by experts to ensure that the design meets these standards. The data center operator can then use this certification as a marketing tool when selling to clients, especially in industries where this certification is required.
2. Operational Certification
This is another certification that operators can get to market themselves as safe and reliable. The process includes on-site inspections of used practices, such as emergency preparedness, environmental protection, fire detection and suppression, and risk management. Generally, this certification is issued by The Uptime Institute.
3. Green Certification
Data centers are big power consumers, and when fossil fuels power them, that power is often derived from sources that are far away. But as awareness about the environmental impact of data centers grows, more companies are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Data center certification programs help companies measure their performance and set goals for improvement.
Of the three main certifications in the data center, some of the most common are:
Uptime Institute
Uptime Institute is a non-profit that offers a multitude of certifications for those working with data centers. These include certification for facility management, continuous availability, and more.
LEED Certification
This is the option if you're looking for a way to improve your green initiatives and sustainability within your data center. Several levels of LEED certification can help boost your business image as an environmentally friendly company.
ISO Certification
This certification is used to gauge how well you will maintain your operation. The International Organization awards it for Standardization, so it's very well-known in the industry. It's not enough to be compliant.
Organizations are also looking for assurance that their cloud or colocation provider is a good steward of the data they are entrusted with. Some common standards for data centers are ISO 27001 for security and ISO 50001 for energy management.
Energy Star
Energy Star certification from the United States government ensures the data center's power usage effectiveness (PUE) is equal to or less than 1.25. PUE measures how efficiently the facility uses electricity. A lower PUE means more energy-efficient servers, lower energy bills, and less environmental impact on the company.
PCI DSS
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements to ensure that all companies that store, process, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. The standard applies to any company storing, processing, or transmitting card data for domestic and international transactions. Although the standard is a group of standards with 12 requirements called "requirements" and six additional requirements called "security objectives," it's commonly referred to as one requirement: PCI DSS compliance.
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Conclusion
Data center certifications are a way of ensuring that your business or organization is following best practices when it comes to data center design and functionality. While the details of these best practices may vary from certification to certification, the goal is the same: you want to ensure that your data center is meeting quality standards, is secure against certain types of hazards, and has been designed in such a way as to be efficiently and effectively managed.
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