Essential Data Center Certifications to Know
In supermarkets in most countries, their products are FDA-approved to let customers know that their food is approved by the government and safe to consume for everyone.
Like food, data centers must obtain specific certificates before it’s safe for other businesses and enterprises to move in and operate there. Data information is valuable and highly sensitive as some contain information that is private, and certain levels of security must be met in the data center standards, both physically and virtually.
Data centers require more than just one or two of these certificates as they have strict standards to operate, and they tend to update every so often, depending on the specific certification program and standards followed by the data center.
Thus, when choosing a data center to operate or rent, it’s important to know what kind of certificates they have. The more certificates and updates the data centers have, the more reliable they are. Below is the list of certificates data centers must have (and their purpose):
Uptime Institute Tier Certification (by Uptime Institute):
This certification validates the reliability and performance of a data center’s infrastructure based on a four-tier system, ranging from Tier I (basic) to Tier IV (highest level of redundancy and fault tolerance). Each level of Tier certificate has its own criteria for data centers, including their SLA (Service Level Agreement) commitments. Common uptime targets are 99.9% (Tier 1), 99.99% (Tier 2), 99.995% (Tier 3), or 99.999% (Tier 4).
There are some cases where the TIER Design has a higher SLA grade than its general standard ones. For example, in Digital Realty Bersama (DRB), even though we obtain Tier III Certification, our SLA is actually 99.999% rather than the standard 99.982% and is higher than Tier IV.
ISO Certification
ISO 27001: This international standard focuses on information security management systems (ISMS) and ensures that data centers have implemented comprehensive security controls to protect sensitive information.
ISO 9001: This certification demonstrates that a data center has established a quality management system and adheres to stringent processes to deliver high-quality services and meet customer requirements.
ISO 14001: This certificate outlines the specifications for an environmental management system. Through more effective resource utilization and waste reduction, it aids organizations in improving their impact on the environment, giving them a competitive advantage and the confidence of stakeholders.
ISO 45001: This certification ensures the management of health and safety risks associated with the operations of the organization. Stakeholders can rest assured that the environment has a healthy workplace and a lower risk of injuries or illness.
LEED Certification:
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification recognizes data centers incorporating sustainable and environmentally friendly design, construction, and operational practices.
PCI DSS Compliance
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) ensures that data centers handling credit card information maintain stringent security measures to protect cardholder data.
TVRA:
TVRA certificate refers to a Threat and Vulnerability Risk Assessment. It is a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of potential threats, vulnerabilities, and risks that may impact a data center’s security and operational breach.
Some of these certifications mentioned above can also be updated, giving the data centers more clarity that they are still reliable to this day. That way, you’ll know that their quality standards match the needs of customers today.
Final Thoughts: Building a Future-Ready Data Center
The future of IT infrastructure depends on skilled, certified professionals who can bridge physical and cloud environments.
Whether you’re just starting or seeking to specialize, earning the right data center certifications will keep you relevant, credible, and competitive in the evolving digital landscape.
