Skills pay the bills for most professionals, and this is equally true for data center personnel. Employers look out for expertise and how proficient an individual is in certain processes or with specific technologies. As technology and client expectations evolve, however, data center staffers can’t afford to remain stagnant in their capabilities. Certifications serve as a means to expand on knowledge and demonstrate experience. These are a few main certifications to look for in the best data center operators:
“Demand for security jobs has considerably spiked in response to an influx of information and tighter governance requirements.”
Certified Data Center Technician Professional
Whether the individual is a beginner in the industry or a veteran, this certification can be critical to helping maintain data center uptime and ensuring smooth delivery. The CDCTP was created by CNet Training for anyone responsible for day-to-day operations of mission-critical facilities. Participants not only learn the fundamentals and how to work in the data center, but there’s also an emphasis on business continuity and disaster recovery, compliance and monitoring, according to IT Certification Master. While these capabilities may seem basic, they will be essential to quickly resolving problems and minimizing potential risks.
A certification can make one candidate stand out from the rest.
Cisco
Certifications from Cisco are highly valued across the industry. The company provides a number of different classes, ranging from training for beginners to specialized sessions. It’s also worth noting that most of these certifications must be renewed after an established number of years. For example, people with the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Data Center Certification must take a renewed version of the exam every three years to revalidate their status, according to Tom’s IT Pro. This is an important aspect to these certifications as it ensures that professionals will have the most up-to-date knowledge and skills necessary to utilize evolving technology and keep data centers functioning well into the future.
Employers should look at what each of these certifications requires and the knowledge they provide. This will make it easier to find the best candidates for the job. The Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Design Specialist participant must already have a VMware certification to even enter the course, for example. This shows the dedication to advancing skills as well as what specialty the individual may be pursuing.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional
Protecting data has always been a major pain point for many organizations, but it’s especially prevalent for data center operators, who handle a wide variety of sensitive client information. It’s critical to ensure that server stacks are appropriately secured and that all compliance measures are being followed according to industry standards. For example, if a client is in health care, data center operators must abide by HIPAA regulations to safeguard patient files.
Demand for security jobs has considerably spiked over the years in response to a larger influx of information and tighter governance requirements. This certification can identify staff who can help improve the overall security posture and contribute to fulfilling compliance expectations.
With the demand for qualified professionals, there’s a general lack of available talent that can meet your needs. However, a certification can easily identify capable professionals as well as their expertise. The question is how to access these individuals and their skills.
Paramount Software’s IT staffing skills provide contract and contract-to-hire placements, giving you a chance to work with the individual before fully committing to adding them to your team full time. Our team has a variety of expertise, from application development to database design. Our competencies also ensure that you’ll be provided with workers who can bolster the timely delivery and support needed. Contact us to help find certified professionals to staff your data center.
