Validating Operational Effectiveness for Existing Data CentersA data center operating environment is never static. Equipment and systems wear out and new hardware is deployed, practices and procedures evolve, and capacity demand fluctuates. Teams must adapt to organizational changes and personnel turnover. New technologies create ever-increasing complexity. The rate of change in today’s fast-paced economy increases the demands on managers and operators. How do you balance all of these dynamic elements in the face of budget, capacity, and performance mandates? How can you be sure that your business-critical data center—or global portfolio of centers—is being operated effectively? How do you reliably support 24 x 7 uptime performance and minimize your risk of errors and failures?

Management & Operations Stamp of Approval

The Management & Operations (M&O) Stamp of Approval encompasses a set of benchmarks and best practices that have been proven to support effective data center operations and reduce human error—the leading cause of data center outages. Regardless of the underlying design and infrastructure of a facility, well-informed management practices, systematic and documented policies and procedures, and effective training regimens, when applied and followed consistently, can insulate a data center from the majority of downtime risk.

Attaining the M&O Stamp of Approval assures stakeholders and the market that your data center satisfies industry-recognized criteria for excellence, risk management, and reliability. It is a stand-alone assessment of critical facilities management and operations practices of a non-Tier Certified data center, encompassing both day-to-day activities on the ground and upstream planning and decision-making. Earning this credential demonstrates your organization’s leadership and commitment to operational excellence.

Management & Operations Assessment and AwardThe M&O Stamp of Approval path begins with an on-site evaluation of the current practices in place at a data center. Uptime Institute experts review documentation and policies, interview personnel, and directly observe operations activities. The assessment process is a thorough, multi-day analysis to determine if appropriate management and operations behaviors exist and if they are executed effectively. It provides accountability for the operations team, service vendors, and leadership. The M&O Stamp of Approval is being leveraged by larger organizations with a globally distributed footprint to drive standardization and sustain operational excellence.

Key Areas AssessedThe M&O behaviors are divided into five categories, with criteria in each that have been identified as necessary for a site to achieve its full uptime potential, reduce its risk of errors, maintain efficient operations, and increase the opportunity for energy efficiencies.

“If you have your processes and content down, getting M&O is the gold standard. Everything else becomes easy. Compare that to owning an SSAE cert—you might not be anywhere near qualified to pass M&O.”

–John Sheputis, President, Infomart Data Centers™

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Visit www.uptimeinstitute.com for more information.

The five key M&O behavior categories are:

• Staffing and Organization

• Maintenance

• Training

• Planning, Coordination, and Management

• Operating Conditions

Uptime Institute’s M&O principles are built upon the fundamental conviction that operations and management issues are addressable, often without a major resource commitment, and represent the single greatest opportunity to reduce the risk of data center incidents and downtime.

Sites that meet criteria in all five categories are awarded the M&O Stamp of Approval. You’ll also receive a report of findings and recommendations on how the organization can align resource allocation with facilities performance to minimize human error and extract maximum value from your installed infrastructure.

M&O Stamp of Approval awards are valid for two years. Operational excellence is in large part about maintaining discipline and consistency over time and making continual adaptation to changes in the environment. Accordingly, Uptime Institute requires reassessment every two years.

“We sought a level of achievement to differentiate beyond what was expected or commonplace. Uptime Institute’s M&O Stamp of Approval requires a level of rigor and aptitude specific to data centers that digs into, and recognizes, our operational achievements.”

—David Meredith Senior Vice President, CenturyLink®

“This independent assessment of RBC’s maintenance and operations processes ensures an objective evaluation. A testament that we are on the right track for best in class in the eyes of our peers and stakeholders.”

—Stephan Abraitis, RPA, FMA Senior Director, Global Critical Environments,

Royal Bank of Canada®

Benefits of the M&O Stamp of ApprovalEarning the M&O Stamp of Approval validates the rigor and effectiveness of your data center management and operations. It helps:

• Provide a consistent and proven set of standards, processes, and measurements across an entire global data center portfolio

• Validate that you have appropriate measures in place to safeguard your facility from errors and failures—mitigating the human factors risk that accounts for the majority of unplanned downtime

• Protect your investment in data center equipment and systems and increase the market value of your data center

• Improve resource allocation and establish a more effective selection process for service providers

• For enterprise owners, it gives you and your stakeholders the assurance needed that effective operating practices and risk management measures are in place

• For colocation and managed service providers, it enhances the industry reputation of your data center by acknowledge accomplishment as witnessed through an independent and unbiased third-party.

Reduce downtime risk and validate the operational excellence of your data center. Contact the management and operations experts at Uptime Institute today and let The Global Data Center Authority® help you keep your operations on track.

Questions?Please contact your regional representative online: http://uptimeinstitute.com/contact-us, email us at: info@uptimeinstitute.com, or by phone at: +1 206.706.4149

For more information about the Management & Operations assessment criteria and a list of recipients of the M&O Stamp of Approval, visit the Uptime Institute website: https://uptimeinstitute.com/management-and-operations