‘Data centers can’t afford to take chances with on-the-job training; they need trained talent’

Cloud and data centres are booming for many new-age digital-first companies. This is leading to a surge in certain businesses as well as demand for talent, Vinay Konanur, Vice President, Emerging Technology, UNext Learning, tells ET Digital in an interaction. Edited excerpts:

How does the growing adoption of cloud computing and edge computing impact the data center landscape?
Post-2014, India witnessed a rapid digital transformation driven by government initiatives, increased internet penetration, and the startup ecosystem. This gave impetus to the emergence of hyperscaler companies. This was followed by a push from e-commerce players, mobile and fibre penetration, among others. Recent statistics reveal that we are at the peak of a data centre revolution, with capacity estimated to rise to 17,000 MW by 2030 (from 1,400 MW at present, according to Jefferies).

This is largely driven by the migration of enterprises from on-premises data centers to the cloud; the sustained expansion of hyperscalers; data localization requirements; and the proliferation of edge computing due to the increasing demand for latency-sensitive use cases such as connected and autonomous vehicles, and more. If you notice, there has also been a significant rise in business models in this spectrum, such as the rise of data centers as a service and co-location offerings.

What are the challenges and opportunities in building and operating data centers in India?
India generates 20% of global data, and yet a 2023 report claims that it hosts less than 2% of data centers. This means that data is transmitted and stored overseas, but logic dictates that we must emphasize data localization.

The good news is that India has gradually emerged as a hotspot for companies to set up their data centres here, considering various factors like our growing digital economy in terms of smartphone and technology penetration, successful adoption of cloud and emerging technologies, emergence of various GCC players and more.

Furthermore, expanded government policy support and the prime position of second-tier cities to support the ongoing operation of data centers further favor the results. On the other hand, there are many challenges to address and mitigate. In operational terms, we have factors such as electricity requirements, water and sustainability initiatives as data centers need water-based perineal coolants, and real estate bottlenecks. But the most glaring challenge lies in finding, training, and retaining the right talent. Addressing this talent gap could be the most strategic lever that organizations exert to overcome the obstacles.What are the key areas where training and reskilling is required for the technology workforce?
The approach is multi-pronged. When we talk about setting up data centers, we need to envision re-engineering the infrastructure. From state-of-the-art cabling and cooling systems to the peripheral side of technology such as chips, GPUs, and servers, we need a 360-degree perspective in terms of talent management.

In this context, the areas of training, in no particular order, include cloud computing, data center infrastructure management (DCIM), automation and orchestration, network engineering, emerging technologies such as AI, ML, IOT, edge computing, cybersecurity, and more. These can improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.

Adopting industry best practices, capabilities and frameworks (e.g. ITIL, ISO 27001) helps scale operations to meet growing demand without compromising quality and performance, resulting in increased reliability and customer satisfaction.

Professional skills carry equal weight, with deploying the right talent in project management, ESG efforts and green initiatives, disaster recovery, data center design and construction, and technology leadership playing a vital role in ensuring faster recoveries.

How can educational institutions and industry collaborate to reduce the skills gap?
For enterprises to have deployable workforces, niche programs specific to data centers need to emerge from academia, including domain-specific problem statements, challenges, and outcomes.

Data centers cannot afford to risk offering on-the-job training, so having ready talent is critical. Institutions can collaborate with data centers, Gulf countries, and market players to understand concerns and obstacles, and thus conceptualize refined programs that align company visions with the aspirations of potential workers.

What role do certifications and professional development play in improving employability?
While the academic approach is a longer route, certifications and professional development programs bring agility in conceptualizing and developing data center-specific programs, ensuring faster program implementation cycles. These companies also focus on experiential learning modules and offer trial modules for companies to experiment and test newer workflows and systems. This ensures strong employability as learners not only get a theoretical approach but also practical exposure.

How do you see job growth and the changing nature of roles in this sector?
Our observations suggest that skills are in short supply. Successful data center operations require improved financial management, strategic planning, operational excellence, compliance and legal expertise, data center design and architecture, change and incident management, and sustainability and green IT.

From an industry perspective, the nature of the roles most likely to emerge are data center project managers, data center architects, data center financial analysts, change and incident management specialists, sustainability managers, and legal and compliance advisors.