A career as a data centre manager incorporates both transferable and technical skillsets.  Data centre managers are responsible for overseeing and delegating tasks to a team of workers in charge of computers and network appliances. This article will provide an informative guide of everything a beginner needs to know about the role, from the qualifications that are required to the day-to-day duties that data centre managers carry out.

Data centre managers are required to have a bachelor’s degree in a discipline such as information technology, computer science or management. Having a degree in one of these subjects areas shows employers that you are familiar with specific networking hardware, software and other computer applications.

Aspiring data centre managers can further improve their employability by pursuing training in specific applications such as Linux and cloud computing.

It is advisable to also have previous management experience as a project manager, preferably within a large data centre or similar centre environment.

As a beginner aspiring to become a data centre manager, it is necessary first to obtain a bachelor’s degree within a computing or management discipline. Having a degree demonstrates to employers that you have the required skills and knowledge that will be integral to the role of a data centre manager.

Having experience working within a data centre and a solid knowledge of computer hardware, servers and networking appliances will significantly help to increase your employment opportunities. It is also a good idea to obtain a certification in specialised software, for example, Cisco to help make yourself stand out from other candidates.

The following skill sets are required to be successful in the role of a data centre manager:

The job description of a data centre manager states that the role involves supervising a team of technicians and ensuring that computer servers and networks are up-to-date and working efficiently.

Other tasks that data centre managers are responsible for include:

After obtaining the necessary years’ experience in the role of a data centre manager, there are many opportunities to advance your career within either IT or management. For example, with the skills and managerial experience, you could progress into an operations manager role or advance into specific IT careers such as that of a computer network architect.