The Global Data Center Industry makes a hugely important contribution to the global economy. Given that millions of dollars can potentially be lost through a single data center downtime event, the tendency is to focus on the obvious – footprint, power, cooling, connectivity, accessibility and so on. There is however, a key attribute that is often-perhaps surprisingly overlooked - The Skill sets of the staff within your data center. The depth of expertise and professionalism of the people who work within a data center can have a dramatic effect on what is a crucial piece of every company’s infrastructure. And therein lays a problem. The data center industry like other aspects of IT, suffers a skills shortage. Scratch below the surface and the issue becomes increasingly complex, the lack of IT talent is a global problem exercising business, academia and government alike.
In the Spotlight: Is Human Capital the Data Center industries most Valuable Resource?
1. In the Spotlight: Is Human Capital the Data Center
Industry’s Most Valuable Resource?
David J. Lee
Director
Datacenter Dynamics Performance
2. David J. Lee
Director – DCProfessional Development (DCD Group) London UK
David has more than 30 years of experience in International Sales
and Business Development in the IT market, having worked for over
10 years as Head of UK IT Sales for world renowned Rittal involved
in all aspects of data center and system design, installation and
operations. McKechnie Specialist Products for over 16 years in a
variety of roles, latterly as Head of IT International Business
Development based in Texas US and this experience has been used
to provide vision to businesses focusing on end users, vendors &
consultants in a variety of forums. David is a trusted advisor to a
variety of clients including FTSE 100, Fortune 500, financial services,
education, government and outsourced organizations.
3. • Data Centers - today & tomorrow
• Market drivers
• Evolution of Critical Environment Training
• The People Problem
• Human Factors
• Solutions
Topology…
Source: DatacenterDynamics Global
Census 2014/5
6. USA is the World’s Second Largest Internet User After China
(and one of the highest per capita)
Country Internet users Penetration
China 568,192,066 42.3%
United States 254,295,536 81.0%
India 151,598,994 12.6%
Japan 100,684,474 79.1%
Brazil 99,357,737 49.8%
Russia 75,926,004 53.3%
Source: Wikipedia
7. Data centers are
increasing in
number,
sophistication and
importance for
supporting the
needs of business
and society
n
A significant
proportion of
global growth
comes from
emerging economic
regions, such as
Asia and Latin
America
Growth will be
limited by
availability of
resources, including
power, water, space,
skills, materials,
money and
connectivity
Global Data Center Market Summary
Source: DCD Intelligence
10. • Mission Critical Equipment often contains potentially dangerous
electrical and stored energy.
• Only properly trained, qualified and authorized persons using
appropriate PPE are permitted to service and operate this type of
equipment.
• You should always observe and be alert to posted warning signs and
notices.
• Do not perform any work if you are not qualified and authorized.
Human error is the leading cause of downtime!
CRITICAL AWARENESS AND THE LEADING CAUSE OF DOWNTIME
11. • Lack of knowledge of documentation
• Lack of knowledge of proper procedures
• Low level of proficiency
• Improper placement of equipment and
switches
• Lack of motivation
• Inadvertence
• Fatigue
Human Factors in the Data Center…
12. Solutions to the People Problem…
• 4D skills / needs assessment
• Effective / continuous training & personal
development plans
• BICSI, CNET, EPI, UTI, DCPRO
• Team agility
• Make knowledge ‘central’
• Make knowledge ‘accessible’
• Staff retention
16. Data Center Workforce By Region
2014 2015
% Increase
2013 to
2014
% Increase
2014 to
2015
ASIA PACIFIC 139,750 150,950 8.0% 8.7%
NORTH AMERICA 109,500 119,500 9.1% 5.0%
LATIN AMERICA 72,250 77,200 6.9% 6.9%
EUROPE 204,500 212,150 3.7% 3.5%
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA 24,000 25,700 7.1% 9.9%
Source: DCD Intelligence
17. Highest Level of Data Center Qualification Achieved,
2012 to 2014
%CensusSamples
Source: DCD Intelligence
18. Consequences of Skills Shortage By Companies
Concerned On The Topic
Source: DCD Intelligence
19. Actions Taken In Response To Data Center Skills
Shortage by End Users
%
Source: DCD Intelligence
20. In the Spotlight: Is Human Capital the Data Center
Industry’s most Valuable Resource?