The GAQM CDCP-001 exam is your gateway towards data center proficiency. It focuses on the crucial aspects of a data center, particularly on aspects such as cooling, cabling, racks, fire safety, and physical security. Moreover, it looks into your understanding of data design features and cabling strategies. To better prepare for the actual exam, here are the main details that you ought to know beforehand.

Target Audience

The GAQM CDCP-001 caters to a wide range of individuals, including system integrators, working personnel, and commercial customers who make use of data centers. In general, it accommodates data center operation professionals who need to develop their knowledge and skills further.

Exam Specifications

The formal evaluation comprises 40 questions in the multiple-choice format. Plus, you need to accomplish the test within the time limit of 1 hour. To pass the concerned exam, get at least 26 correct answers from the total number of questions, or roughly 65%.

Delivery Format

The CDCP-001 test is delivered online, hence the need to have a reliable internet connection and webcam. Plus, you are given the opportunity to take the test from the comfort of your home or anywhere you want. Do take note that this is a closed-book and proctored evaluation, which means you are not allowed to use external sources while taking the main evaluation. Finally, the exam voucher is priced at $128 and is valid for up to 240 days.

Corresponding Certification

Successful candidates of the exam obtain the Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP) certification. This is a vendor-neutral designation that follows an international standard in assessing your excellence in the key features of a data center.

Relevant Training Materials

Prepare for the exam in question strategically with the support of the official training resources and other relevant books from Amazon. The options below are beneficial to your CDCP certification quest. So, try to utilize all the recommendations and study for the main test smartly:

1. Official Content Overview

GAQM has created a detailed coverage of the important subjects through the CDCP-001 outline. You can download this PDF file from the official website. In all, there are 5 major modules that encompass the exam. In particular, the first section targets the basic features and functions of availability. Here, you get information on the five 9’s, the restrictions of 99.999%, and the factors affecting availability. It also tackles the A/C Power conditions, equipment failures, cooling issues, cost of downtime, and such. The second area gives you the specifics of the data center fire protection methods, including system objectives, the fire triangle, fire classes, fire detection devices, smoke detectors, combustion stages, and fire alongside suppression methods, among others. The third part pinpoints the fundamentals of data center cabling strategies. In detail, it emphasizes the cables, cabling installation, cable layout architectures, cable management, and cable maintenance protocols. Lastly, the fourth and fifth topics highlight everything you need to learn about cooling I and II such as heat transfer methods, gas law, heat generation, evaporation, compression, condensation, cooling-related devices, humidity control, humidification system, and short cycling.

2. E-Course

To fully understand the key areas mentioned above, maximize the given E-Course that runs for 10 to 15 hours. This is also a mandatory requirement for the CDCP certification. Furthermore, the training comes in two packages ― standard and premium. The most recommended is the premium option, wherein you are given 40 days to access the material. Plus, it comes with an exam voucher, which can be utilized via ProctorU Globally. At $175, you are also provided with a hard copy certificate and an official pin badge upon qualification of the exam. On the other hand, there’s the standard option at $80. This package only includes the E-Course, which can be accessible for up to 20 days.

3. Official practice test

After the E-Course, try to answer the official practice test, which is provided for free. This is helpful in improving your knowledge of the exam objectives. All in all, there are 8 questions structured into multiple-choice and true/false types. Each item has its corresponding answer to give you insights and make necessary adjustments with your preparation.

4. Data Center for Beginners by B.A. Ayomaya

Available on Amazon, this book is a great addition to your training references. It is a noteworthy tool to help you master the core principles and pertinent features of a data center. The content revolves around the process of how data centers are created, utilized, and applied in the digital world. Some of the major areas covered are data center standards and components, along with power, cooling, and energy efficiency. Thus, with the usage of basic terms, it’s easy for you to comprehend the subjects and acquire a solid foundation of a data center. Other books included in this series are Data Center Design Guide - Book 1: Power and Data Center Design Guide - Book 2: Cooling. It is highly suggested that you read the materials in this sequence to better grasp the topic measured in the official CDCP-001.

5. 2nd Edition of Data Center Handbook by Hwaiyu Geng

The last on our list of recommendations is another book from Amazon. This is an updated version of the top-rated Data Center Handbook, 1st Edition. The subjects underlined here are written and reviewed by the experts to deliver high-quality material. From the fundamental functions to the best practices, the context of a manual like this is very extensive to equip you with a wide range of knowledge. It also strengthens your command of data center design and construction as well as the technologies surrounding data center and operations. Here, you further recognize the stages of planning, designing, building, and operating a data center. As the latest edition, it comes with added insights, including the anatomy, taxonomy, and ecosystem of data centers, which are critical in enabling the IoT and artificial intelligent ecosystems.

Conclusion

Anyone who clears the GAQM CDCP-001 exam can significantly impact the organization they are in. With a validated skillset, they can complete their tasks effectively as well as improve the productivity rate. So, if you want to be adept in data center design and its related technicalities, this is the most practical path to pursue. All the needed information is right within your reach and it’s only a matter of hard work and dedication before you accomplish your professional goals.