Why you should consider the data centre industry
ARTICLES
If you are looking to plan your resettlement soon, here’s why considering a career in the data centre industry should be firmly on your agenda …
The data centre industry is facing a critical skills shortage, with job vacancies in the sector rocketing. According to recent surveys, there were more than 64,000 vacancies for UK technology jobs in the third quarter of 2021.
What is a data centre?
For those unfamiliar with the industry, a data centre is essentially a room, or large-scale industrial-sized building, that houses computer and storage systems. Major financial organisations and corporate businesses prefer to control their own servers, network and storage applications in their own dedicated enterprise data centres.
Additionally, there are other data centre facilities where managed services are undertaken for smaller and medium-sized enterprise businesses; there are also co-location data centres, where space and services can be rented, allowing businesses to establish their own data centre services.
These data centre capabilities are continually growing to meet business needs and to provide instant access to information, along with faster internet connectivity. This, coupled with the fact that more and more businesses and individuals are turning to cloud computing (housed in a data centre), means that the need for somewhere for all this data to be stored is of growing importance.
For businesses, a data centre supports mission-critical computer, server, storage and networking systems and infrastructure. For individuals, it provides services – for example, access to money from ATM machines, the ability to search the internet, access files and music, and so on.
The need to keep pace results in constantly evolving technological advancements across the diverse environments of the data centre, encompassing power, cooling, IT and project management – to name but a few of the key requirements.
These areas have seen an increase in demand for high-quality personnel to meet both the technical and management platforms, to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of a data centre’s capability to meet specific business demands.
In recent years, the challenges of constantly changing technology have increased, with not only the need to maximise the data centre’s effectiveness and productivity capability, but also to provide services in a more energy-efficient manner while reducing the levels of carbon emissions, which itself requires a greater technical and managerial support structure.
To support the IT infrastructure, the data centre requires extensive redundant, or standby, backup power supply systems, cooling systems, redundant networking connections and environmental controlled measures. To ensure a continual 24/7/365 mission-critical capability, it is essential that the planning, management and maintenance systems are deployed correctly across each and every single one of the designated data centre environments.
Working in the data centre industry
A career in the data centre industry is likely to suit those from a wide range of trades and management roles, especially if they have knowledge, skills and experience in network cabling (copper and fibre).
Many Service personnel entering the civilian market already have the desired power, HVAC, IT and cabling skills, qualifications and experience that the data centre industry desperately requires in order to address the industry shortfall. Also, through appropriate resettlement programmes, personnel have an opportunity to continue their education and expand their present skill set to accelerate into the data centre industry. In addition, for those who are looking for a new dynamic challenge, there is a wide range of data centre structured courses available, like those offered by CNet Training.
More about CNet
Known as the global leader in data centre education, and the originator of the Global Network Infrastructure and Data Centre Education Framework, CNet works closely with the world’s major multinational organisations. It offers a wide range of programmes to support the skills of all Service personnel wanting to enter the industry. Its baseline resettlement programme starts with a comprehensive introduction to network cabling (CNCI®), which can lead to progression to the data centre industry.
The programmes that make up the Global Network Infrastructure and Data Centre Education Framework are:
- Certified Network Cable Installer (CNCI®)
- Certified Data Centre Technician Professional (CDCTP®)
- Certified Data Centre Design Professional (CDCDP®)
- Certified Data Centre Management Professional (CDCMP®)
- Certified Data Centre Energy Professional (CDCEP®).
Find out more
For more information on the programmes available that can help you enter and progress within the data centre industry, visit www.cnet-training.com and visit this page for more information on CNet’s resettlement programmes: www.cnet-training.com/programs/resettlement
Get in touch
Tel: 01284 767100
ELCAS Provider Number: 1267
