EPI Data Centre Associate study plan
EPI Data Centre Associate · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Data Centre Design
Explain the purpose and key components of a data centre (power, cooling, IT, security) and how they interact.
Identify and describe the four tiers of data centre classification (Tier I–IV) and their redundancy and availability characteristics.
Compare raised-floor vs. slab-floor designs and their implications for cooling and cabling.
Calculate basic power loads (kW) and cooling requirements (tons) for a small IT load.
Your checkpoint
Create a one-page diagram of a typical data centre physical infrastructure with labeled components and a table comparing Tier I–IV characteristics.
Data Centre Design
Describe common cooling architectures (room-based, row-based, in-row, liquid cooling) and their use cases.
Explain electrical distribution paths: utility, transformers, UPS, PDUs, and busways.
Identify fire suppression and detection systems used in data centres (e.g., VESDA, clean agent, pre-action sprinkler).
Evaluate physical security measures: access control, surveillance, and perimeter defense.
Your checkpoint
Write a 500-word design brief for a 500 kW data centre specifying cooling, power, and fire suppression choices with justifications.
Data Centre Standards and Compliance & Data Centre Governance and Risk
List key standards and frameworks relevant to data centres (e.g., ANSI/TIA-942, ISO/IEC 22237, Uptime Institute Tier Standard, EN 50600, NFPA 75/76).
Explain the difference between prescriptive and performance-based standards.
Define governance structure: roles (data centre manager, operations, security, compliance) and responsibilities.
Describe risk management process: identify, assess, mitigate, monitor.
Your checkpoint
Produce a compliance matrix mapping at least 10 requirements from one standard (e.g., ANSI/TIA-942) to design or operational controls, and a risk register with 5 risks and mitigation actions.
Data Centre Standards and Compliance & Data Centre Governance and Risk
Interpret audit and certification requirements for data centres (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS).
Explain change management and configuration management processes.
Describe business continuity and disaster recovery planning (RTO, RPO) and how they relate to data centre resilience.
Outline incident response and reporting procedures.
Your checkpoint
Draft a 1-page change management procedure and a business impact analysis summary for a critical application, including RTO/RPO.
Data Centre Operations and Maintenance
Explain preventive maintenance schedules for power (UPS, generators, batteries) and cooling (CRAC/CRAH, chillers).
Describe monitoring and building management systems (BMS/DCIM) and key metrics (PUE, availability, capacity).
Outline safety procedures for electrical and mechanical work, including lockout/tagout.
Identify common failure modes and troubleshooting steps for power and cooling systems.
Your checkpoint
Create a monthly maintenance checklist for a data centre's critical infrastructure, covering at least 15 items across power, cooling, and safety.
Data Centre Operations and Maintenance & Data Centre Governance and Risk
Describe operational governance: SLAs, OLAs, vendor management, and performance reporting.
Explain capacity planning and its role in avoiding downtime and managing costs.
Outline security operations: physical access logs, CCTV review, and incident escalation.
Discuss energy efficiency and sustainability practices (e.g., renewable energy, free cooling).
Your checkpoint
Develop a capacity plan for a 100-rack data centre over 3 years, including power and cooling projections, and a vendor SLA scorecard template.
Data Centre Design & Data Centre Standards and Compliance & Data Centre Operations and Maintenance & Data Centre Governance and Risk
Integrate knowledge across all domains by analyzing a case study of a data centre outage or incident.
Review and consolidate key standards, design principles, operational best practices, and governance frameworks.
Practice answering scenario-based questions that require cross-domain reasoning.
Identify personal weak areas through self-assessment and targeted review.
Your checkpoint
Complete a timed 50-question practice exam covering all domains, score it, and write a personalized review plan for weak areas.
Data Centre Design & Data Centre Standards and Compliance & Data Centre Operations and Maintenance & Data Centre Governance and Risk
Revisit weak areas identified in week 7 and reinforce with focused study.
Memorize key facts, figures, and standard references (e.g., Tier definitions, PUE, RTO/RPO).
Simulate exam conditions with a full-length practice test.
Finalize exam-day strategy: time management, question interpretation, and stress reduction.
Your checkpoint
Achieve a score of at least 80% on a full-length practice exam and create a one-page cheat sheet of critical formulas and standards.
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain data centre physical infrastructure and design considerations without notes, and has completed the design brief.
Week 4: Can describe at least three major standards/frameworks and outline a risk management process, and has produced the compliance matrix and risk register.
Week 6: Can outline preventive maintenance for power and cooling, and explain governance and capacity planning, and has completed the maintenance checklist and capacity plan.
Week 8: Scores 80%+ on a full-length practice exam and demonstrates confidence in all domains, with a cheat sheet of key facts.