What does a data center specialist do?
A data center specialist is in charge of overseeing the daily operations in information technology offices, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include installing and upgrading systems and networks, developing test structures for devices, troubleshooting issues, conducting research and analysis to identify areas needing improvement, and implementing solutions to optimize operations. They must also perform regular inspections on systems, executing repairs as required. Furthermore, it is essential to develop strategies to keep data safe and secure, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Data center specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real data center specialist resumes:
- Design and manage studies for alternative API qualification for commercial products.
- Used VMware VirtualCenter to reboot unresponsive virtual machines.
- Develop and utilize UNIX scripts for monitoring inbound/outbound transmission files.
- Monitor status of switches, routers, and servers within a data center.
- Issue temporary accounts for second-level support staff to access VMS or UNIX server.
- Share storage backups for the remote clouds are monitored through VEEAM and VMware.
- Map and cable switches to the servers as required using both copper and fiber connections.
- Perform installation and configuration, patch updates, OS upgrades, run cable infrastructure and document network.
- Support systems (power, HVAC, fire detection/suppression, security); respond to alarms in accordance with department procedures
- Perform mainframe account administration and coordinate with vendors for external storage services.
- Provide Visio diagrams outlining the complete layer-3 design and future improvements and implementations.
- Document over thirty data center using various network management tools and Microsoft Visio software.
- Experience in complex data center environment, design and implement public/private networks utilizing data servers with virtualization.
- Report job anomalies or failures to higher level resources according to establish escalation standards ensuring adherence to SLA.
- Create an intricate repository of control documents on Microsoft SharePoint in order to centralize all information relate to the organization.
Data center specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Data Center Specialists are proficient in Data Centers, Windows, and Cloud. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Data Center Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Centers, 10%
Managed corporate data centers including evaluating and modifying set-point temperatures, airflow and duct work resulting in substantial yearly energy cost-savings.
- Windows, 7%
Monitor windows servers utilizing established procedures monitoring programs.
- Cloud, 6%
Key workloads included ERP, Big Data, SAP & VDI across Cloud & Private Infrastructure.
- HVAC, 5%
Mentored and trained Apprentice Technicians in HVAC operations and preventive maintenance.
- Customer Service, 5%
Coordinated with Operations personnel to identify areas for improvement to better customer service and enhance problem resolution techniques.
- Linux, 4%
Implement and Perform services within the Mainframe, AIX, Unix, Linux, WinTel server and storage environments.
Most data center specialists use their skills in "data centers," "windows," and "cloud" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential data center specialist responsibilities here:
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for a data center specialist to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what data center specialists do because "computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic." Additionally, a data center specialist resume shows how data center specialists use customer-service skills: "supervised data center operations to ensure consistent customer satisfaction through proactive and prompt problem solving. "
Listening skills. Another essential skill to perform data center specialist duties is listening skills. Data center specialists responsibilities require that "support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation." Data center specialists also use listening skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated with vendors regarding technical issues, utilized vendor support processes and escalated when necessary, through the vendor support structure. "
Speaking skills. This is an important skill for data center specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how data center specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a data center specialist: "shared and presented data center trends and solutions with other company sales representatives. ".
Writing skills. A big part of what data center specialists do relies on "writing skills." You can see how essential it is to data center specialist responsibilities because "strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical data center specialist tasks: "experience sql script writing and sql database management. "
Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a data center specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what data center specialists relies on this skill, since "support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them." How this skill relates to data center specialist duties can be seen in an example from a data center specialist resume snippet: "researched data center infrastructure optimization solutions including communication of findings, recommendations for changes/improvements, concluding with planning and executing upgrades/projects. "
The three companies that hire the most data center specialists are:
- Meta110 data center specialists jobs
- Allied Universal
10 data center specialists jobs
- Microsoft4 data center specialists jobs
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Compare different data center specialists
Data center specialist vs. Senior information technology specialist
A senior information technology specialist is responsible for handling technology systems and network issues, ensuring the efficiency and optimal performance of the database by configuration and improving network infrastructures. Senior information technology specialists also design computer systems and applications to support business functions and operations, depending on the requirements and budget limitations. They create resolution reports for reference and recommend strategic techniques to prevent the reoccurrence of defects and malfunctions. A senior information technology specialist must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in responding to the end-users' inquiries and concerns about the servers.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, data center specialist responsibilities require skills like "data centers," "windows," "cloud," and "hvac." Meanwhile a typical senior information technology specialist has skills in areas such as "database," "project management," "lifecycle management," and "sr." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Senior information technology specialists tend to make the most money working in the energy industry, where they earn an average salary of $117,267. In contrast, data center specialists make the biggest average salary, $87,364, in the technology industry.On average, senior information technology specialists reach similar levels of education than data center specialists. Senior information technology specialists are 4.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Data center specialist vs. Technical support specialist
A technical support specialist is responsible for assisting customer's and businesses' concerns and system issues by performing troubleshooting and remote solutions. These specialists must have extensive knowledge of system applications, including software and hardware database to handle complex processes that might affect the end user's experience or the business' daily operations. Technical support specialists should maintain excellent communication skills to guide the client and business on solving network problems. They must also document concerns and progress promptly for reference and quality checks.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real data center specialist resumes. While data center specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "data centers," "windows," "cloud," and "hvac," technical support specialists use skills like "troubleshoot," "math," "customer satisfaction," and "phone calls."
Technical support specialists earn a lower average salary than data center specialists. But technical support specialists earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $60,838. Additionally, data center specialists earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $87,364 annually.technical support specialists earn similar levels of education than data center specialists in general. They're 3.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for data center specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.
Dean, Professor, New York Institute of Technology
-We will be witnessing a more widespread commercial deployment of 5G in 2020. With the implementation of the Standalone 5G devices based on the 3gpp release 16, we should be seeing the more robust mobile broadband deployment of 5G, wider availability of 5G smartphones, and a push towards an all 5G Network in select urban areas around the world.
-Significant growth in AI-based technologies, from face recognition and voice recognition to business intelligence and market predictions. As machines and deep learning algorithms get integrated into many applications, many industries will undergo substantial changes. AI systems will continue to interact with our phones; cars will interpret and analyze their surroundings and intelligently drive themselves. Online vendors will monitor our browsing habits, and Google decides what kind of search results to give us, based on who it thinks we are.
Data center specialist vs. Technology services specialist
Technology Services Specialists are information technology (IT) personnel in a company. They assist internal employees and external clients on everything related to technology. They may specialize in a specific item, such as software, hardware, or network infrastructure. Technology services specialists advise users on the usage of different tools. They should be able to troubleshoot concerns and conduct repair and maintenance activities. They should also know how to address the needs of their clients. Technology Services Specialists may sometimes man helpdesk tickets and respond to these tickets accordingly.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from data center specialist resumes include skills like "data centers," "windows," "cloud," and "switches," whereas a technology services specialist is more likely to list skills in "technical service," "patients," "customer satisfaction," and "project management. "
Technology services specialists earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $71,116. Comparatively, data center specialists have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $87,364.technology services specialists typically earn similar educational levels compared to data center specialists. Specifically, they're 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Data center specialist vs. Technical specialist
The role of technical specialists is to provide technical support for applications and programs to staff members and customers within an organization. They train staff and customers on products and apps and offer advice on the best practices for utilizing technical programs and applications. They also design training materials to teach other staff members the most effective methods of using its technology. It is also their job to reduce company costs by looking for ways to improve productivity and lessen expenses.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between data center specialists and technical specialists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a data center specialist might have more use for skills like "data centers," "windows," "cloud," and "hvac." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of technical specialists require skills like "patients," "project management," "customer satisfaction," and "c++. "
The technology industry tends to pay the highest salaries for technical specialists, with average annual pay of $92,419. Comparatively, the highest data center specialist annual salary comes from the technology industry.In general, technical specialists hold similar degree levels compared to data center specialists. Technical specialists are 2.2% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of data center specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
