DCA Certifications Scheme
www.datacentrealliance.org
Background Data Centres are the critical facilities that all citizens and businesses depend on for the digital services that support our economic and social well-being. In recent times the decisions we take on data centre reliability, security and energy efficiency have become increasingly linked to business success, or failure. In addition, the diversity of design to meet an ever changing range of applications has led to a more complex data centre marketplace to navigate. The DCA Certification Scheme will provide the customer or end client with clear identification of the resilience goal and an assurance that this resilience goal is realised by a valid strategy that is deployed and maintained through a process of independent inspection, renewal of certification and annual surveillance checks. In addition the process will also assure customers that operations, maintenance, energy efficiency and access control security policies are correctly maintained in-line with the resilience goal and the contents of the data centre.
What is the DCA Certification? The DCA Certification scheme reflects the wide ranging data centre industry standards landscape. When the Certification is applied to a facility it identifies and verifies its resilience class, site physical security, energy efficiency credentials and operational professionalism. Resilience Class Site Physical Security Energy Efficiency Operational Professionalism Power distribution Environmental control (cooling) Telecommunication and cabling Access control systems Auditable policy Strategic Management Maintaining an energy efficiency policy Accurate PUE and KPI reporting Maintenance Fire protection Staffing policy Training and development These four areas are the main focus for both design and operation, and therefore are used as critical indicators for buyers and customers of colocation, hosting and outsourcing service providers. The aim of the scheme is to improve decision making and provide a meaningful insight into the data centres fit-for-purpose business role, environmental impact, management culture and reliability.
How does it work? The golden rules of DCA Certification: Independent Transparent no conflict of interest Affordable for wide adoption Use real standards do not re-invent the wheel Easily understood by non-experts Trusted DCA Certifying Authority Creditation Board High level verification On site inspection (2-3 hours) Annual site surveillance visit Approved Auditing Firm Provides gap analysis Assists with any remedial work Applies for DCA Certification on behalf of client Customer Data Centre Requests a DCA Certification Chooses an Approved Auditor
How is it awarded? The requirements of the DCA Certification is reviewed annually by DCA members and based on recognised International and Regional Standards. This involves relevant compliance with non-data centre specific standards such as ISO and also specific data centre KPI s and best practices. If you are a member of the DCA you can get involved here www.data-central.org/group/certifications
What does it cost? DCA charges a fixed cost irrelevant of data centre size based on a not-for-profit administration and operation of the scheme. datacentre datacentre datacentre datacentre datacentre STRATEGIC ALLIANCE PARTNER alliance MEDIA PARTNER alliance ACADEMIC PARTNER alliance CORPORATE PARTNER alliance CORPORATE MEMBER alliance
Benefits of the scheme The DCA Certification scheme provides: A trusted mark of quality Reduce risk Lower costs Verification of compliance Improved clarity for buyers
Why you should get involved DCA certification is an industry led scheme therefore your data centre cannot get any higher authority than the industry s own seal of approval. The DCA certification scheme will inform your internal and external customers that your data centre has: Been audited by experts independently and is/will be checked on an annual basis A clear goal and strategy for reliability with a validated technical design to match this goal A recognised and deployed energy efficiency policy to minimise resource wastage A physical security & access control policy that meets the needs of the IT systems installed within The correct expertise and staff resources deployed to support and maintain these strategies Get Certified: www.data-central.org/?page=getcertified Become an Auditor: www.data-central.org/?page=applyauditor Find an Auditor: www.data-central.org/search/custom.asp?id=981
About Data Centre Alliance The Data Centre Alliance (DCA) is a not-for-profit international Industry association representing the interests of the data centre infrastructure sector. The main activities of the DCA include: Driving awareness of the data centre industry to the business world, the media, governments and the general public. Promoting the development and harmonisation of data centre standards. Leading the industry s research and development agenda. Addressing the data centre sectors skills gap Engaging collaboration with the industry s stakeholders Working on programmes to improve environmental sustainability Membership is open to all data centre operators both private and commercial as well as supply chain organisations which support the industry.
www.datacentrealliance.org
The Data Centre Alliance Knowledge Dock Business Centre University of East London 4-6 University Way London E16 2RD T: +44(0)845 873 4587 E: info@datacentrealliance.org www.datacentrealliance.org