Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/257227
16 | THE DATA CENTER JOURNAL www.datacenterjournal.com Challenge: tRaining: Either it has low priority or the importance is undervalued within the organization. Why is training always put on the "to do" list but never the "priority list". Solution: Training can affect employee reten- tion. According to the American Society for Training & Development, 41% of employees at companies with inadequate training programs plan to leave within a year versus 12% of employees at companies who provide excellent training and profes- sional development programs. Working on data centers without appropriate background or data center management training is not an effective way to support your data center manag- ers. Hands-on training is one of the most important areas that businesses should invest in if they want their data center managers to provide immediate and long lasting benefits. is is because the correct train- ing grounds the managers in the proper ways of data center management. It also provides quick return on investment in the form of systems uptime and operational efficiency of the data center systems and subsystems. e importance of training can hardly be underestimated in a mission critical workplace. It can help new mission critical personnel master the specifics of ef- fective utilization of floor space for optimal use of racks and servers. Managers need to understand exactly in what way the cost gets affected by any of their data center management initiatives. For example, cooling of a data center is one of the most important areas for its optimal operation and training personnel with an emphasis on saving costs will help realize energy reductions on air condition- ing. It is imperative that businesses sponsor their data center managers for training on data center management systems. Training Cost Reduction An IBM training assessment and implementation, at an energy company with 1,000 employees, found that compa- nies can save significantly on labor costs with minimal investments in employee skills development. e study concluded that training which produced an average productivity improvement of only three minutes per day would save the company at least $240,000 per year. Assumptions: • Annual average employee salary was $40,000, or $20/hr. • 1,000 workers saved three min- utes per day, or one hour per month • Calculation: $20/month x 1,000 employees = $240,000 e best way to push through any new initiative is to demonstrate its impact to the organizations bottom line. Challenge: MonitoRing anD how to Make sense of the Data/alaRMs/aleRts. Daily system failures have under- scored the need for proactive response to potential data center uptime issues. To help facility managers and IT personnel control these issues, more and more operators are turning to DCIM's real-time, alarming/ alert engines. For example, DCIM's monitoring capabilities provide a high-level view of data center operations while also enabling a drill-down process to focus in on minute details such as temperature fluctuations in hot and cold issues. In addition, DCIM tools can also monitor generators and their power output. Just these two areas can provide a very useful, at-a-glance indicator. Proper monitoring also helps enable an effective "to do /action item." In the event of a pending issue, alarms can be sent via e-mail or phone, allowing proac- tive steps to be taken to correct problems before they become critical. In addition, continuous logging of all alarms and alerts empowers data center operators with a chronological, analytical review of events to strengthen the infrastructure and im- prove plans before they become critical. Challenge: Managing youR BuilDing ManageMent systeM (BMs) BMS integration addresses the com- plexity, flexibility and scalability features required for data centers. BMS integration optimizes these mission-critical facilities by proficiently incorporating and monitor- ing all the required physical components of the data center. Data center facility managers must work as a team with IT managers. BMS integration facilitates cooperation between these two departments. ey can work together to leverage investments, reduce costs and increase reliability. One way to accomplish these benefits is to follow strict maintenance schedules and complete all necessary and associated tasks. Data centers are complex, ever- changing environments that continually must meet increasing demands. As a result, they're a challenge to manage and opti- mize. BMS integration leverages monitor- ing and control to improve data center op- erations. In particular, a BMS helps reduce operating costs and increase performance levels for the data center facility. ConClusion: It's not just one initiative that will continue to move your organization forward in 2014 with clear defined action but several potential paths to success. From leveraging your partners, to making time for regular training, to understanding how new systems can be the key tool for the ever increasing amount of facility data – the potential to significantly impact your Data Centers operational just needs prior- ity and execution this year. Good Luck. n © 2013 Raritan Inc. These are just a few of Raritan's innovations. Go to www.raritan.com/coloredPDU to get our new eBook 5 Great Reasons To Choose Colored Rack PDU's. Meet the world's most powerful USB Port. Support for Wi-Fi networking, easy auto configuration and upgrades, cascading multiple PDUs, and a webcam. Make sense of it all with always-on Sensors. Sensor and metering that provide the most accurate billing grade kWh at individual outlets and sensor data from Temperature, Humidity, Pressure, Airflow, Contact Closure, Smoke, Water, and Asset tags. Color coordinate for greater control. Full-colored PDU options provide visual control of power feeds and easy identification. Colored secure lock cables for easier installation are also available. Innovators share two traits: uncommon vision and an unwillingness to compromise when a more effective solution is possible. It's those qualities that lead the world's most innovative companies to Raritan for their Intelligent Rack PDU solutions. See how the industry's most trusted high power expert can help you get the most out of your PDUs and data center. Extremely high outlet density Secure locking outlets Clear labeling on all power strips It's why the world's most innovative companies innovate with Raritan. RAR13034 DAtACenteR JouRnAl Full PAge BleeD T:10.875" T:8.375" RAR13034_PPD_Innovator_DCJournal_M2.indd 1 9/29/13 1:03 PM