Data Center Architects are knowledgeable about the specific requirements of a company’s entire infrastructure. They take into consideration various needs that the company might have including power, cooling, location, available utilities, and even pricing. Data Center Architects are also responsible for the physical and logistical layout of the resources and equipment within a data center facility. A critical aspect of their professional duties, they specify where and how the server, storage network, racks, and other data center resources are physically stored. They are intimately involved in interconnecting the resources/devices and arranging of physical and logical security workflows.
The architect is responsible for advisory migration design work on software-defined computer storage network. They should play an active role in validating the technical requirements and associated architecture. It is them who must liaison with external suppliers to understand how certain solutions can be incorporated. The professional should work in collaboration with the other departments to develop proposals and high-level data center designs.
Job Description
Recently, Data Centers have typically experienced a great deal of advancement. These advancements include embracing many sophisticated technologies such as blade servers, grid computing, and virtualization. These technologies are essential because they serve the purpose of consolidating all critical functions. An experienced architect is needed to manage these technologies properly.
Data Center Architects are responsible for adequately securing the Data Center and should examine factors such as facility design and architecture. The architect must demonstrate the capacity to develop a robust server and storage architecture. They must also play an active role in manageability and operations of the data center.
Data Center Architecture is no longer relegated to an entry-level position. Today, a Data Center Architects have complex responsibilities including security, space, power and cooling requirements. They fulfill a critical role in the data center capacity planning and must also manage disaster recovery plans.
Within an organization, the architect has to justify the costs of controversial budget issues, such as space allocation, power, and other factors. They typically oversee not only the servers, storage, and network but also the security, power, and cooling for the data center. Architects will even defend the need for setting green data centers.
Educational Qualifications
The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering or a related field. They must have considerable expertise in data management, programming, big data developments, systems analysis, and technology architectures. For senior positions, candidates with a master’s degree are typically preferred.
Certifications
- Cisco Certified Network Associate Data Center (CCNA Data Center)
The Cisco Certified Network Associate Data Center certification helps the candidate to enhance their skills to install, configure and maintain data center technology. The individuals will have a good understanding of data center infrastructure, data center networking concepts and technologies, storage networking, unified computing, network virtualization, and other subjects
- Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center (CCNP Data Center)
This certification is specially designed for professional-level candidates who are interested in learning about data center solutions, technologies, and best practices to design, implement, and manage a modern data center infrastructure.
- Juniper Networks Certified Professional Data Center (JNCIP-DC)
The Juniper Networks Certified Professional Data Center certification will help candidates gain more knowledge about data center technologies and related configuration and troubleshooting skills. The individual will have a strong hold on Junos OS used in a data center environment.
- VCE Converged Infrastructure Administration Engineer (VCE-CIAE)
The VCE certified professional has more clarity and understanding of architecting, deployment, and operation of a converged infrastructure environment.
- VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP6-DCV)
VCP6-DCV certification validates the individual’s skills to administer and troubleshoot vSphere V6 infrastructures. It offers a strong hold on best practices to provide a scalable and reliable virtualization platform for your organization.
- Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP)
The CDMP certification is designed for IT professionals whose job tasks include storage management and administration. This is specifically aimed at non-technical business managers, including auditors, vendor sales and marketing personnel, and investors who desire to obtain competency in data management best practices and technology.
Salary
According to Indeed, a Data Center Architect salary is approximately $93,092 per year. An estimated 36 months is required to attain certification. As per Payscale.com, on an average, a Data Center Architect earns about $121,356 per year in the United States.
Career Opportunities
Adapting to advanced technology is the way to face intense competition. With digitalization leading the change, most businesses are opting for Data Centers, and in fact, they have come an important part of the technology forcing the businesses to hire professionals who are well versed with the data center technology. So, in the coming years, Data Center jobs are expected to witness a great rise.
How FieldEngineer.com is Beneficial
With cloud technology giving rise to Data Center Architects, businesses are in search of skilled on-demand professionals, FieldEngineer.com is a platform that provides professionals to showcase the skills that are beneficial to businesses. So, sign up and land a job as a freelance Data Center Architect.
