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Certified Data Center Associate
Course Code: EPI – CDCA
From the apps on mobile devices and computers to online shopping, streaming platforms, cloud storage, and even everyday banking - every digital activity is powered by data centers, the backbone of the modern world. Global demand for data storage and processing is doubling at record speed, with new data center facilities being built across every region in the world. This rapid expansion is fueling huge opportunities for skilled professionals. Careers in data centers and their supporting industries are not only exciting but also among the most future-proof in today’s digital world. Designed for higher education students, the Certified Data Centre Associate (CDCA®) program equips students with essential knowledge about data centers, their components and operations. These skills open doors across the entire digital economy, from data center and IT to mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering, cybersecurity, sustainability, and more. With CDCA®, students enhance their career opportunities with global technology companies, data centers, cloud providers, IT solution providers, equipment designers/manufacturers, consulting _rms, and outsourced service providers.
The primary audience is students in higher education institutions pursuing IT or engineering studies
There is no specific prerequisite for the CDCA® course other than a desire to learn
After completing this course, students will be able to:
− Understand the Big Picture: Explore the history, business importance, and future sustainability challenges of data centers.
− Know the Types: Learn the difference between colocation, enterprise, cloud, edge and hyperscale facilities.
− Master Site Selection: Understand the criteria for data center site selection.
− Apply Global Standards: Understand international standards and topologies that define quality and reliability.
− Explore Core Infrastructure: Gain knowledge on infrastructures from architecture to power, cooling, ICT, fire protection, monitoring, safety and security.
− Understand the Interdisciplinary Nature: Learn how multiple disciplines work together to manage, operate and maintain data centers.
− Focus on Sustainability: Understand the environmental impact of data centers and how renewable energy and efficiency metrics like PUE, WUE, CUE shape the industry.
− Plan Your Career: Discover career pathways in design/build, operations, governance, or standards and compliance
EXAM: Certified Data Centre Associate
Modules
- History of Data Centers
- Business organization
- Importance of a data center
- Elements of data center
- Causes of unavailability
- Listing of all areas and their function
- Listing of all key components and their function
- Walls
- Windows
- Doors
- Roof
- (Raised) Floor
- (Suspended) Ceiling
- Utility power
- Microgrid
- Transformers
- Generators
- Fuel systems
- ATS
- UPS systems
- Batteries
- Electrical switch gear
- Cabling/busbar systems
- Power rails/strips
- Lights
- Emergency lighting
- Chillers
- DX Systems
- Evaporators
- Make up water
- Chemical dosing
- CRAC/CRAU/HVAC
- Liquid Cooling
- STER – Seasonal Thermal
- Raised floor
- Non-raised floor
- Containment
- Racks
- Equipment mounting
- Typical data center equipment
- Servers, mainframes, high performance super computers
- Firewalls and security appliances
- Storage equipment (SAN, NAS, DLT etc.)
- Networking equipment (load balancers, routers, switches, gateways)
- Networking elements (MAN, WAN, LAN)
- Networking protocols
- Network cabling (fiber, copper)
- Cable trays and pathways
- TIA 606B labelling
- Enterprise data centre
- Comercial/Cofco data centre
- Wholesale
- Cloud data centre
- Edge data centre
- Hyperscale
- Standards and guidelines
- International vs. national standards
- List of standards
- Rating definitions
- Power infrastructure design considerations
- Cooling infrastructure design considerations
- Network infrastructure design considerations
- Detection systems
- Water Based Suppression Systems
- Gaseous Based Suppression Systems
- Fire Prevention systems
- Fire extinguishers
- Fire Safety
- Safety requirements
- Signage
- Environmental Monitoring
System (EMS)
- Building Management System (BMS)
- Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM)
- Liquid leak detection
- Notification Systems
- Perimeter security
- Physical protection
- Access control
- CCTV/VSS
- Operations team
- Duties of operations team
- Asset management
- Facilities Maintenance
- Floor management
- Monitoring and reporting
- Vendor management
- Security management
- Safety & Crisis management
- Document management
- Example of ratings levels
- Concurrent Maintainability
- Fault Tolerant
- Criteria for selecting the data center location
- Criteria for facility
- Predictions in 2010
- Current situation
- Outlook and commitments
- Environmental sustainability framework (ISO 14001)
- Standards and guidelines – ISO 50001 / ISO 30134
- The three scopes for GHG emissions
- Measurement and categories
- Baselining
- Trend analysis
- Reporting
- PUE - Power Usage Effectiveness
- WUE - Water Usage effectiveness
- CUE - Carbon Usage effectiveness
- REF - Renewable Energy Factor
- Life-cycle assessment
- 3 R’s for waste management
- Sustainable energy sources
- Power purchase agreements
- Energy attribute certificates
- Renewable Energy Factor (REF)
- Matching renewable energy supply and demand
- Sustainable energy storage
- Carbon trading