The Certified Data Center Sustainability Professional (CDCSP) program teaches senior data centre operational and facilities management, team leaders and senior engineers how they can become more aware of sustainability within their mission critical facility. Andrew Stevens, CEO, CNet Training, discusses the new program in more detail.
International award-winning technical education company, CNet Training, has been designing and delivering professional network infrastructure education and training programs since 1996.
Today, CNet is the global leader in technical education for the digital infrastructure industry, comprising the data centre and network infrastructure sectors, and is the only industry dedicated education provider in the world to award both internationally recognised qualifications and professional certifications. These qualifications start at level 3 and culminate in the world’s only level 7 Masters Degree programme in Data Center Leadership and Management.
With sustainability being at the forefront of industry across the world, CNet has reviewed and updated the content of its Certified Data Center Sustainability Professional (CDCSP) program to reflect the latest sector needs and innovations.
Data usage commercially and personally is constantly increasing and with this continued growth in demand, the data centre sector needs to be doing as much as it can to become more efficient and more sustainable and implement strategies that can also address the ever-growing demand for its services. The Certified Data Center Sustainability Professional (CDCSP) program teaches senior data centre operational and facilities management, team leaders and senior engineers how they can become more aware of sustainability within their mission critical facility.
Here, Andrew Stevens, CEO, CNet Training, introduces the new Certified Data Center Sustainability Professional (CDCSP) program.
Can you give us an overview of the Certified Data Center Sustainability Professional (CDCSP) program?
The CDCSP program teaches how to create and implement a sustainability strategy for mission-critical facilities. The comprehensive program provides in-depth knowledge into the steps required to evaluate, analyse, plan, implement and monitor a sustainability strategy, balanced with operational capability for data centre facilities.
What can learners expect to gain from the program?
The CDCSP is designed to utilise existing data centre knowledge, skills and experience, and combine it with a greater understanding centred around technical collaboration and innovative approaches targeting sustainability within a data centre facility and the creation and implementation of a long-term sustainability strategy to support the business.
Increased awareness of the urgency to implement and maintain a sustainable future coupled with evolving legislation means that data centre operators are under great pressure to embrace sustainability strategies and improve their ‘green’ credentials rapidly and be able to evidence improvement to stakeholders. The program also teaches how to plan for transformation towards a credible sustainability life cycle, that demonstrates innovation and challenges business ethos while being sensitive to business risk and continuity.
During the program, the importance of implementing the correct strategic vision and business drivers required to establish a well-balanced and structured approach towards sustainability is explored. From initial business case and operational analysis of power distribution, cooling systems and IT hardware, and potential operational risk, to design innovation and implementing initiatives while appreciating both the business and operational challenges that may occur during this process. Maintenance strategies, continuous planning cycles and critical analysis against identified targets are also explored, in addition to the need to demonstrate proven ROI as well as identifying and capitalising on the business, customer, social and environmental benefits.
On completion of the program, learners will also be able to consider the requirements for compliance and have a full understanding of national and international regulations, codes and standards.
What is the benefit of the CDCSP for employers?
CDCSP qualification and certifications provides confidence to employers that their data centre technical and design team can demonstrate a positive corporate attitude to sustainability, harnessing the potential to gain competition advantages.
After completing the CDCSP, learners are confident in championing a sustainability legacy, reviewing all areas of the business process that affect the carbon footprint and begin work to reduce operational costs in all functional areas. Business will also benefit from the improved customer perception of the business due to strengthening attitudes for service providers that can demonstrate their sustainability credentials.
How does the CDCSP benefit the learner?
The program is designed to provide the learner with the skills and knowledge to be able to create and implement a sustainability strategy that attracts business and investment. Learners will be aware of the regulations, codes and standards affecting decisions when developing a sustainability strategy. On competition of the program, individuals will understand that waste reduction, be it energy, water and packaging materials, are the simplest way that the business can demonstrate its sustainability credentials. The CDCSP will also teach learners to recognise that true sustainability starts beyond the confines of the data centre walls, recognising the need to investigate the attitude to sustainability further into the supply chain.
How long is the CDCSP program?
It is a full five-day instructor-led remote attendance program. There is also a requirement of around 20 hours pre-class study provided that focuses on the following topics:
- Understanding sustainability and the business approach
- Technological and operational approach to sustainability
- Implementing sustainability
- The benefit of qualification and certification
On completion of the CDCSP program, learners gain an internationally and industry-recognised BTEC Level 5 Award Certified – Data Sustainability Professional qualification. Learners also gain official Certified Data Center Sustainability Professional (CDCSP) certification and can use the CDCSP postnominal title, the CDCSP logo and use of the CDCSP Digital Badge. Certifications are a commitment to life-long learning as they require re-certifying every three years via an online learning management system. This offers the perfect portal to ensure knowledge, skills and certification remain current and up to date to reflect the evolving needs of the industry.
What program do you recommend after the (CDCSP)?
Following the CDCSP program, learners are encouraged to continue their professional development by advancing their knowledge and skills to gain further official certifications and qualifications by progressing through The Global Digital Infrastructure Education Framework which maps education programs to career advancement throughout the data centre and network infrastructure sectors. While the programs flow perfectly from one to another, they are of equal value as stand-alone programs. Learners can enter the framework at any level depending on their experience.
Often CDCSP-certified individuals choose to explore data centre management and attend the five-day Certified Data Center Management Professional (CDCMP) program. This provides unparalleled knowledge, skills and competency to manage the complex technical environments of a data centre facility and the ability to optimise its effectiveness by driving efficiencies. Others decide to increase their knowledge of energy management and attend the Certified Data Center Energy Professional (CDCEP) – here, they learn how to create an energy efficiency plan for their data centre. This includes the creation, implementation, analysis and formulating recommendations with the ultimate objective of reducing energy use and cutting carbon emissions. The Certified Data Center Audit Professional (CDCAP) is another popular program following the CDCSP. The program gives learners the skills, knowledge and competency to create a strategic plan and undertake a comprehensive audit of data centre environments. For those who are ambitious, there is the prestigious Masters Degree in Data Center Leadership and Management. This is a three-year distance learning program where graduates join the world’s elite group of data centre professionals.
