By Jacques De Jager, COO at Digital Parks Africa
IN South Africa’s volatile environment, daily disruptions to power, water, or connectivity are unavoidable. For data centres, success hinges not on avoiding these disruptions, but on preparation, agility, and precision – especially in the critical “Golden Five Minutes” after an outage begins.
Robust resilience starts with skilled personnel trained in scenario-based response. Consistent, proactive maintenance and operational redundancy are equally vital, particularly as local centres contend with diesel quality, power instability, and fibre diversity.
Outdated equipment poses major operational risks, making it essential to track performance trends and adopt structured technology refresh strategies. Vendor lock-in and geopolitical risk further necessitate a multi-vendor approach, demanding broader skills and careful diversification.
This industry doesn’t rely on traditional academic training. Every facility is unique, and operational competence stems from hands-on experience, complemented by specialised education through partnerships.
A multi-site infrastructure strategy spreads risk, ensuring continuity even if one location fails.
As the industry evolves, it demands more than technical excellence – it calls for human resilience, strategic foresight, and disciplined operations to keep pace with the demands of a connected world.
