Preparation Guide

Edition 202003
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Preparation Guide EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN) 2

Content

1. Overview 4
2. Exam Requirements 3
3. List of Basic Concepts 7
4. Literature 8

Preparation Guide EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN) 3

1. Overview

EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN)

Scope
Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP®) is a certification within the EPI Data Centre Training
Framework (see Context) that validates a professional’s knowledge of and competences in key
components of data centres. CDCP is part of a larger structure of certifications for professionals
working in data centres.

Summary
Many enterprises rely on IT for the delivery of business-critical services. It is vital that the mission
critical data centre is designed, maintained and operated with high availability and efficiency in
mind.

The Certified Data Centre Professional knows the requirements for setting up and improving key
aspects of the data centre such as power infrastructure, cooling, security, cabling and safety to
ensure a data centre with a high level of availability. The certification also covers some of the key
operations and maintenance aspects of the data centre1.

The job tasks within data centres are described in the EPI Data Centre Competency Framework.
The required competences are derived from the job tasks and are related to the exam
specifications (DCCF Competence Matrix and Chapter 2 Exam Requirements.) The competencies
covered in the CDCP® certification are required for individuals who wish to go further to CDCS®
certification, as can be seen from the Framework in the figure below2.

All EPI Data Centre Management certifications have a validity period of 3 years. Technologies
change very fast in the industry and in 3 years, certain technologies become obsolete while new
technologies have emerged.

1 These tasks and focus areas have been chosen by representatives from professional practice in working data centres.
They represent the most critical knowledge and competences that enable an employee to design, maintain and operate a
data centre.
2 Experts from professional practice in working data centres have selected tasks from the DCCF Competence Matrix that

represent the essential tasks for Data Centre Professionals.

Preparation Guide EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN) 4

Context
The certificate Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP®) is part of the EXIN data centre
qualification program and has been developed in cooperation with EPI (www.epi-ap.com) EPI is the
owner of the intellectual property of the course content.

The CDCP® scheme is approved by the EPI Data Centre Management Scheme Committee on 15
June 2017.

The scheme committee represents entities from the data centre market, data centre training and
data centre qualification.

Preparation Guide EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN) 5

Target Group
The examination for Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP ®) is intended for a professional who
is:
• working in IT, facilities or Data Centre Operations.
• working in and around the data centre.
• responsible for achieving and improving high availability and manageability of the data
centre.

Specific data centre roles related to the CDCP certification 3:

9.01 Data Centre Manager 9.21 Electrical Engineer/ Designer

9.06 Risk Manager 9.22 Mechanical Engineer/Designer
9.07 Security Manager 9.23 Fire/Safety Systems Engineer/Designer
9.08 Business Continuity Manager 9.24 Security Systems Engineer/Designer
9.09 Environmental Health and Safety 9.25 Monitoring and Automation Systems
Manager Engineer/Designer
9.10 Sustainability Manager 9.26 ICT Technology and Network Engineer/
9.11 Data Centre Design Manager Designer
9.12 Solution Architect 9.27 Commissioning/Testing manager
9.13 Product Manager 9.28 Building Manager
9.14 Service Level Manager 9.29 Facilities Manager
9.15 Account Manager 9.30 Operation Manager
9.16 Project Manager 9.31 Floor manager
9.17 Site Manager 9.32 Data Centre Engineer
9.18 Civil engineer/Construction engineer 9.33 Service Desk Staff
9.19 Architect 9.34 NOC Manager
9.20 Structural engineer

Requirements for Certification

The exam is most suitable for participants with at least two years of work experience in a data
centre/facilities environment. Due to its practice oriented nature training is mandatory.

Requirements for certification

• Evidence of training of CDCP® by an EXIN accredited training provider, or evidence of a
comparable training.
• Successful completion of the CDCP® multiple-choice exam.

Resits
If the candidate fails the exam three times, it is mandatory to do the training again.

Certification is valid for a period of three years, after which the candidate needs to recertify.

Requirements for recertification

• A valid certificate of CDCP®. The expiry date can be found on the certificate.
• Evidence of training of CDCP® by an EXIN accredited training provider.
(Contact your Training Provider for a discount on recertification training)
• Successful completion of the CDCP® exam.

Recertification is required for the highest level certificate the candidate possesses.

3See EPI Data Centre Competency Framework for the mission, deliverables, main tasks and required competencies in the
roles and other possible requirements for the roles. These roles were chosen by representatives from professional practice.

Preparation Guide EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN) 6

Examination Details
Examination type: Multiple-choice questions
Number of questions: 40
Pass mark: 68% (27/40 questions)
Open book/notes: No
Electronic equipment/aides permitted: An electronic dictionary is permitted
Exam duration: 60 minutes

The Rules and Regulations for EXIN’s examinations apply to this exam.

Bloom level
The EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional certification tests candidates Bloom Level 1 and
Level 2 according to Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy:
• Bloom Level 1: Remembering – relies on recall of information. Candidates will need to
absorb, remember, recognize and recall. This is the building block of learning before
candidates can move on to higher levels.
• Bloom Level 2: Understanding – a step beyond remembering. Understanding shows that
candidates comprehend what is presented and can evaluate how the learning material may
be applied in their own environment.

Training

Any training leading to the CDCP certification must be given by certified trainers. It is expected that
the trainer uses a combination of lectures, question-and-answer sessions and exercises, based on
the practical assignments. In addition, the trainer must ensure that the candidate fulfills all
competence requirements in the practical assignments and the exam specifications in chapter 3
before giving proof of training to a candidate.

Contact Hours
The recommended number of contact hours for this training course is 14. This includes practical
assignments, exam preparation and short breaks. This number of hours does not include lunch
breaks, homework and the exam.

Indication Study Effort

14-20 hours, depending on existing knowledge.

Practical assignment(s)
Candidates must complete practical assignments and role-playing exercises during the mandatory
training by a certified trainer to show their competences as Data Centre Professionals. Factual
knowledge is tested in the exam.

Training Organization
You can find a list of our Accredited Training Organizations at www.exin.com.

Preparation Guide EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN) 2

2. Exam Requirements

The exam requirements are specified in the exam specifications. The following table lists the
topics of the module (exam requirements), the subtopics (exam specifications), the number of
questions of each subtopic in the exam and the weight given to the module.

Exam Exam Specifications Number of Weight

Requirements questions
1 Facilities of the Data Centre 34 85%
1.1 The Mission Critical Site 1 2.5%
1.2 Data Centre Standards 1 2.5%
1.3 Data Centre Location, Building and Construction 1 2.5%
1.4 Raised Access Flooring and Suspended Ceiling 3 7.5%
1.5 Light 1 2.5%
1.6 Power Infrastructure 6 15%
1.7 Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF) 2 5%
1.8 Equipment Racks 1 2.5%
1.9 Cooling Infrastructure 4 10%
1.10 Water Supply 1 2.5%
1.11 Designing a Scalable Network Infrastructure 2 5%
1.12 Fire Protection 6 15%
1.13 Physical Security and Safety 3 7.5%
1.14 Auxiliary Systems 2 5%
2 Operations of the Data Centre 6 15%
2.1 Operational Considerations 6 15%
Total 40 100%

Preparation Guide EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN) 3

Exam Specifications

1 Facilities of the Data Centre

1.1 The Mission Critical Site
The candidate can…
1.1.1 provide information on the various layers in the business.
1.1.2 describe the various elements of a mission critical site.
1.1.3 outline the various causes and categories for downtime.
1.1.4 describe a simple method of calculating the cost of downtime.
1.2 Data Centre Standards
The candidate can…
1.2.1 list the semi-standards and guidelines.
1.2.2 describe at a high level the requirements of the rating levels.
1.2.3 describe the relation between international and national standards.
1.3 Data Centre Location, Building and Construction
The candidate can…
1.3.1 list various site selection criteria.
1.3.2 name two main hazard categories.
1.3.3 describe proximity best practices.
1.3.4 name the criteria for selecting a data centre building and describe the impact of
code requirements.
1.3.5 list areas which are part of the data centre and their requirements and best
practices.
1.3.6 list classic mistakes in data centre designs.
1.4 Raised Access Flooring and Suspended Ceiling
The candidate can…
1.4.1 mention the two main types of raised floors.
1.4.2 describe the main standards and general rules for raised flooring.
1.4.3 mention the reasons for using suspended ceilings.
1.4.4 describe the different loading factors for a raised floor.
1.4.5 describe the purpose of a SRG (Signal Reference Grid) and its requirements.
1.4.6 describe the sizing/dimensioning of the raised floor, computer room and
suspended ceiling.
1.5 Light
The candidate can…
1.5.1 describe the definition of light.
1.5.2 name the units of measure and recommended unit to use.
1.5.3 list the minimum and recommended light intensity levels.
1.5.4 list the requirements for the light fixtures, its connection and placement.
1.5.5 list the purpose and requirements for emergency light.
1.5.6 list the various types of emergency lights.
1.6 Power Infrastructure
The candidate can…
1.6.1 name the various components in a power distribution chain.
1.6.2 describe various redundancy levels and techniques.
1.6.3 indicate how to achieve proper power distribution within the data centre.
1.6.4 explain the difference between bonding and grounding.
1.6.5 describe how to apply bonding and grounding in mission critical sites.
1.6.6 outline PDU standards and form factors.
1.6.7 name the IP Protection grades.
1.6.8 name the main electrical power and power quality units of measure, tolerances
and their impact, causes and sources of power quality disturbances.
1.6.9 outline the differences between the UPS technologies.
1.6.10 describe various battery and battery monitoring technologies, their
application/usage and pro’s/con’s.
1.6.11 describe the thermo-graphics and their purpose.

Preparation Guide EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN) 4

1.7 Electro Magnetic Fields (EMFs)
The candidate can…
1.7.1 explain what an EMF is.
1.7.2 mention the two main different types of EMFs and units of measurements.
1.7.3 list the potential sources for an EMF.
1.7.4 name the norms and best practices for EMF and their recommended values.
1.7.5 explain how to reduce an EMF.
1.8 Equipment Racks
The candidate can…
1.8.1 outline the difference between 2-post and 4-post racks.
1.8.2 name the different 4-post rack types with their limitations.
1.8.3 recognize the various widths and depths of racks and their usage and impact.
1.8.4 name the various security measures available for racks.
1.8.5 clarify the various power rail/power strip, color, casters, security and other
considerations and their application.
1.9 Cooling Infrastructure
The candidate can…
1.9.1 describe the trends in heat loads and the problems they pose to mission critical
sites and their equipment.
1.9.2 describe the various air-conditioning types with their pro’s and con’s.
1.9.3 explain how to cool a data centre and its equipment and the requirements for air
volume displacement.
1.9.4 name the various units in which cooling capacity is measured and the applicable
standards and recommended values.
1.9.5 explain how to convert cooling units.
1.9.6 describe various techniques for high density cooling.
1.9.7 mention common cooling problems.
1.9.8 explain how to avoid cooling problems.
1.10 Water Supply
The candidate can…
1.10.1 explain the function of water for data centre operations.
1.10.2 list the options for creating a backup water supply system and its pro’s and
con’s.
1.11 Designing a Scalable Network Infrastructure
The candidate can…
1.11.1 explain the function of the network and planning for implementation.
1.11.2 mention the various copper and fiber network technologies with their pro’s and
con’s.
1.11.3 outline the complexity of SAN networks.
1.11.4 describe a method for connectivity planning.
1.11.5 explain how to achieve network diversity and redundancy.
1.11.6 list the various network connections.
1.11.7 explain how to achieve building-to-building connectivity.
1.11.8 name the installation best practices.
1.11.9 mention test and verification methods.
1.11.10 list the network monitoring requirements.

Preparation Guide EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN) 5

 1.12 Fire Protection
The candidate can…
1.12.1 name the most common causes of fire.
1.12.2 describe requirements for fire suppression systems.
1.12.3 list standards for fire suppression and describe their content.
1.12.4 mention the fire detection systems and their operating principles.
1.12.5 describe the gas and non-gas based fire suppression systems available, their
operating principles, and their pro’s and con’s.
1.12.6 name the various classes of fire and correctly identify which handheld fire
extinguishers to use.
1.12.7 describe requirements for signage and safety and regulatory requirements.
1.13 Physical Security and Safety
The candidate can…
1.13.1 name options for physical security.
1.13.2 describe requirements for Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.
1.13.3 list the various entry control options.
1.13.4 name options for physical safety.
1.14 Auxiliary Systems
The candidate can…
1.14.1 outline the challenges and requirements for monitoring data centres.
1.14.2 describe the different monitoring systems.
1.14.3 describe notification options.
1.14.4 describe which factors to monitor.

2 Operations of the Data Centre

2.1 Operational Considerations
The candidate can…
2.1.1 describe the function of the service catalog.
2.1.2 outline the properties of Service Level Management.
2.1.3 explain the data centre organizational structure.
2.1.4 explain the requirements of a training program.
2.1.5 identify the roles involved in data centre safety.
2.1.6 describe the function of a security matrix.
2.1.7 outline the minimal content for maintenance agreements.
2.1.8 explain floor management activities.
2.1.9 explain monitoring activities.
2.1.10 list the steps of document management.
2.1.11 explain vendor management activities.

Preparation Guide EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN) 6

3. List of Basic Concepts

This chapter contains the terms and abbreviations with which candidates should be familiar.

Please note that knowledge of these terms alone does not suffice for the exam; the candidate must
understand the concepts and be able to provide examples.

For further information on the concepts of CDCP® we refer to the CDCP® Course Syllabus of EPI,
the course provider on www.epi-ap.com

(H)EMP Standards document policies

air conditioner techniques document procedures
apparent power documentation
applicable standards downtime
application areas electrical fields definitions
Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF’s)
backup water supply techniques emergency light, Emergency Power Systems
(EPS)
battery types EMF shielding solutions
best practices energy efficiency
bonding Environmental Monitoring System (EMS)
Building Management System (BMS) facilities maintenance
building-to-building connectivity facilities setup
bus bar trunking fire suppression
cable characteristics fire suppression systems,
cabling hierarchy fire suppression techniques
comfort cooling form factors
common mode noise generators
connectivity requirements grounding
conversion rates grounding of racks
cooling infrastructure high density cooling techniques
cooling requirements how to size and calculate load in the data center
cooling trends IP protection grades
cooling units isolation transformers
data center monitoring latent heat definitions
data center monitoring requirements light fixtures types and placement
data centre light standards
data centre building magnetic fields definitions
data centre construction network monitoring system requirements
Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) network redundancy
data centre location notification considerations
data centre operations notification options
detection systems Operational Level Agreement (OLA)
disability act and regulations operational safety practices
document management operational security

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 physical safety controls signage
physical security controls signal reference grid
pitfalls single phase usage
power cabling sources of EMF
power distribution option standards
power infrastructure static and dynamic UPS systems and criteria to
use
power infrastructure layout, from generation to Static Transfer Switch (STS)
rack level
power quality guidelines suspended ceiling
precision cooling suspended ceiling usage and requirements
raised floor TEMPEST Standards
real power testing structured cabling
recommended installation practices the correct one for application
redundancy levels and techniques thermo-graphics
safety three phase usage
scalable network infrastructure uniform, concentrated and rolling load definitions
sensible heat definitions verifying structured cabling infrastructure
Service Level Agreement (SLA) water leak detection systems
Service Level Management water supply

4. Literature

Exam Literature

During the CDCP® course candidates receive a Student Course Manual. For further information we
refer to www.epi-ap.com.

Preparation Guide EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP.EN) 8

Contact EXIN

www.exin.com