CDFOM Certified Data Center Facilities Operations Manager Questions and Answers

When approving a new SLA (Service Level Agreement), the operations manager must verify that the organization has thecapabilityand resources to meet the service commitments defined in the SLA. Part of this verification is ensuring that the current staff mix and competency levels match the required service levels. Theskills matrixprovides a structured overview of staff roles, skill levels, competencies, and gap analysis.

Theskills matrixallows the manager to assess whether the team is capable of fulfilling the new service commitments before the SLA goes live.

Job descriptions(option B) define roles and responsibilities but do not show competency levels or gaps.

Training program overview(option A) shows what training exists but doesn’t directly show who can deliver the service now.

Resumes of staff(option D) are ad hoc and individual, not efficient for overall capability assessment.

Thus, optionC – Skills matrixis the best first reference.

EPI DCFOM-Aligned Reference Concepts (Paraphrased)

Capability assessment in SLM includes reviewing skills matrices to verify workforce capability.

Before approving SLAs, organizations must ensure operational readiness and resource competence.

Operational Expenditure (OPEX) includes all ongoing costs required to operate and maintain the data center on a day-to-day basis. These costs are recurring and necessary to keep the facility functioning effectively. Examples of OPEX include staffing costs, service contracts, maintenance materials, consumables, utilities, and recurring software licensing fees. Within EPI’s Facilities Management guidance, maintenance activities—such as replacing fans, belts, filters, and other wear-and-tear components—are classic OPEX items because they occur during normal operational cycles, contribute to sustaining facility uptime, and repeat regularly over the equipment lifetime.

However,acquisition of real estateis a capital-intensive investment made once during facility development and falls underCapital Expenditure (CAPEX), not OPEX. CAPEX involves large, long-term investments such as land purchase, building construction, major equipment procurement, or infrastructure upgrades. These expenditures are depreciated over years and do not represent operational overhead.

Therefore, the only option not belonging to OPEX isC – Acquisition of real estate. Staffing, maintenance material replacement, and annual software licenses are standard OPEX items essential for continuous operation, service delivery, and compliance with operational practices.

When customers are billed based on the actual consumption of services, this model is known asMeasured Resource Usage (MRU).

MRU charges customers according to:

Actual power consumption

Actual cooling usage

Actual rack utilization

Actual bandwidth or cross-connect usage

Actual resource usage metrics

This model aligns with transparency, fairness, and resource accountability.

Why other options are incorrect:

A – SBP: Charges based on predefined service definitions, not usage.

B – NFR: A single negotiated flat fee, regardless of usage.

C – TFR: Flat fee bands or tiers, independent of precise usage.

Thus,D – MRUis correct.

EPI DCFOM-Aligned Reference Concepts (Paraphrased)

MRU charges customers based on actual measured resource consumption.

Common in modern colocations to align costs with usage.

Standard warranties often provide limited support focused on parts replacement with no guaranteed response time, no preventive maintenance, and no rapid onsite intervention. When business requirements demand higher availability, faster recovery times, or enhanced repair capabilities, the standard warranty is insufficient. EPI’s facilities management principles recommend upgrading to aservice contractthat offers extended or enhanced coverage. This may include guaranteed response times, onsite labor, preventive maintenance, full system checks, expedited parts replacement, and comprehensive support that aligns with business-critical uptime requirements.

Option B is correct because it provides a structured, contractual method to bridge gaps between operational needs and manufacturer baseline support. The contract can be tailored to specific risks, SLAs, and operational priorities.

Option A (increasing staff standby) does not solve the issue of vendor response or parts availability. Option C (writing off the asset) is unnecessary and financially unreasonable. Option D (purchasing spare parts) helps but does not provide labor response, diagnostics, or SLA-backed service delivery.

Thus, the most appropriate and effective action is tonegotiate an extended service contract.

While not strictly internal to EPI’s core domain (which deals with data centre operations), this question refers to the external risk landscape, as identified by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The WEF’sGlobal Risks Report 2025shows thatenvironmental risks dominate the 10-year horizon, with extreme weather, ecosystem collapse, and climate-related disruption ranking highest.

Specifically,global climate change(or extreme weather/climate-related events) is rated as the most severe risk over the next decade. While water scarcity and air quality are significant, the WEF ranks climate change / extreme weather as the top long-term threat. Therefore, optionAis the most correct.

EPI DCFOM-Aligned Reference Concepts (Paraphrased)

Environmental sustainability forms a major component of data centre operations risk and resilience planning.

External macro-risks such as climate change must be integrated into facility resilience, power planning, cooling design, and business continuity strategies.

This scenario reflects a classic misalignment between theService Level Agreement (SLA)that the data center guarantees to customers and theUnderpinning Contract (UC)or vendor contract that supports those services. EPI’s Service Level Management model stresses that all contractual layers must be fully aligned: SLAs (customer-facing), OLAs (internal agreements), and UCs (vendor contracts). If the vendor meets its contractual requirements but customers still experience slow response times, it means the vendor contract is not strict enough to support the SLA commitments.

For example, the SLA may require a 15-minute response time, but the vendor contract may only require a 2-hour response. In such cases, the data center cannot meet customer expectations, even when all parties technically meet their agreements. This mismatch is common in outsourced environments when capability assessment and contract alignment are overlooked.

Option A describes insufficient staffing, which would directly affect operations but is not indicated in the scenario. Option C assumes customers chose the wrong support tier, which is not stated. Option D deals with reporting clarity, not response speed.

Thus,misaligned UCsare the most likely root cause.

In the EPI Facilities Operations Manager body of knowledge, theLock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO)procedure is a mandatory safety control to ensure that electrical or mechanical equipment cannot be energized while work is being performed. A core principle emphasized in EPI safety training is:

“The person who applies the lock must be the same person who removes it.”

This aligns with international best practices for occupational health and safety, where LOTO ensures that the individual performing maintenance or repair has full control of the energy isolation device.

Why this is required:

Personal Safety ResponsibilityThe lock identifies the technician directly working on the equipment. Only they can confirm whether work is complete and the area is safe for re-energizing.

Risk PreventionIf someone else removes the lock (another operator, safety manager, or facilities manager), they may incorrectly assume that the equipment is ready to be restored, which can lead to severe injury or fatality.

Compliance With EPI Safety GuidelinesEPI emphasizes the principle of“single-person control”over hazardous energy. No supervisor or colleague may remove another technician’s lock unless a formal, documented emergency override procedure is followed — which isnot considered standard practice.

Clear Accountability ChainLOTO prevents ambiguity or miscommunication. The technician who placed the lock is the only one with full knowledge of the work status and hazards involved.

Why other options are incorrect:

A, B, and Cviolate the fundamental LOTO rule because they involve someone other than the applying operator removing the lock.

Oversight personnel (safety manager, facilities manager) monitor and audit the process, but they should not remove another person’s lock except under rare, emergency, escalation-approved situations.

EPI DCFOM-Aligned Reference Concepts

LOTO must ensure the isolation device is locked and tagged by the person performing the work.

Only the same individual may remove their own lock.

Removal by another party is only permitted under controlled, documented emergency protocols.

The process prevents accidental energization and protects worker safety.

EPI’s Permit to Work (PTW) system categorizes work activities based on risk levels to ensure safe execution and hazard control within the data center.

Welding operations involveopen flame, sparks, high heat, molten metal, and ignition sources, making them a high-risk activity.

In EPI safety doctrine,welding is explicitly classified under “Hot Work.”

Hot Work includes activities such as:

Welding

Cutting

Grinding

Brazing

Soldering

Flame use or spark-producing tools

Because of the fire ignition potential, aHot Work Permitis mandatory before welding can begin.

The Hot Work PTW ensures:

Fire watch personnel are assigned

Fire suppression systems are prepared or temporarily disabled with compensating controls

Surrounding area is inspected for combustible material

Correct PPE is used

Hot-work zoning, barriers, and extinguishers are in place

Post-work monitoring is performed

Therefore,Option D (A PTW is required for hot work)is the correct and EPI-aligned answer.

EPI DCFOM-Aligned Reference Concepts

The PTW system ensures hazardous activities are controlled.

Welding is classified as Hot Work.

Hot Work requires a dedicated PTW with fire-risk mitigation and supervisory approval.

A compliance document register ensures that the organization maintains oversight and traceability of all documents required to meet regulatory, legal, and service-related obligations. The register is essential for audits, governance, risk management, and operational continuity. According to EPI’s GRC framework, the minimum categories that must be included arelegalandservicecompliance documents.

Legal documents include regulatory requirements, statutory obligations, contracts, permits, safety regulations, environmental compliance mandates, and jurisdictional requirements. Service documents include SLAs, OLAs, underpinning contracts, service catalogs, and operational procedures required to fulfill service commitments. These categories represent the core compliance landscape affecting the organization’s ability to operate legally and deliver services contractually.

Options B, C, and D list other organizational elements that may appear in broader documentation sets but arenot fundamental compliance categories. Marketing, budgeting, staffing policies, and business culture documents do not constitute mandatory compliance obligations and are not required for inclusion in a compliance register.

Thus, the correct answer isA – Legal and service.

Thepublication processin document management ensures that:

Thecorrect, approved versionof a document is released.

It isdistributed to all required locations(physical or digital).

Outdated versions are removed from circulation.

Staff always use the correct operating procedures and guidelines.

Why other options are incorrect:

A: Compliance is a by-product, not the objective.

B: Creation happensbeforepublication.

D: Archiving is part of the document retirement process, not publication.

Thus,Cis the correct answer.

EPI DCFOM-Aligned Reference Concepts (Paraphrased)

Publication ensures the latest controlled documents are available where needed.

Document control prevents use of outdated or incorrect procedures.

Equipment Life Cycle Management (ELCM) in the EPI framework refers toa structured process ensuring that all physical infrastructure and supporting equipment remain continuously fit for their intended operational purposethroughout their lifespan.

This involves:

Planning

Commissioning

Operation

Maintenance

Upgrades / Refurbishment

Replacement

Decommissioning

The objective iscontinuous serviceability, not simply determining life expectancy or cost.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A: Technical lifetime assessment ispart oflife cycle management, not the entire scope.

B: Budgeting is only one output of ELCM, not its purpose.

C: Economic lifetime is anothercomponent, but not the definition of full life cycle management.

Thus, the only correct comprehensive definition isD.

EPI DCFOM-Aligned Reference Concepts (Paraphrased)

Equipment life cycle management ensures ongoing fitness-for-purpose of all facility systems.

Covers concept-to-retirement management of assets.

EPI defines several maintenance contract models, each offering different levels of service and support. In the scenario described, long repair time caused unacceptable downtime. To reduce risk, the organization needs a contract that provides:

Faster response

Faster repair time

Better availability of spare parts

Preventive and corrective coverage

Minimum downtime guarantees

Acomprehensive maintenance contractprovides:

Full service coverage

Labor + parts

Priority response levels

Faster restoration times

Predictable maintenance costs

Better uptime assurance

Increased provider accountability

Why the other options are incorrect:

A (Time & Material): Slowest and most unpredictable; not suitable for critical cooling systems.

B (Basic contract): Limited coverage; still leaves long repair times.

D (Exclusive contract): Typically refers to dedicated on-site or embedded teams, but not the standard EPI contract step-up for improved uptime.

Thus,C – Comprehensive contractis the best option.

EPI DCFOM-Aligned Reference Concepts (Paraphrased)

Comprehensive contracts provide enhanced support, faster repairs, and full coverage.

Suitable for critical infrastructure like cooling systems.

Non-renewable energy sources are those that:

Cannot be replenished within a human lifespan

Exist in finite quantities

Are extracted from fossil fuels or geological deposits

Natural gasis a fossil fuel and thereforenon-renewable.

Why the other options are incorrect:

Wind energy— renewable

Tidal power— renewable

Hydropower— renewable

Thus,Ais correct.

EPI DCFOM-Aligned Reference Concepts (Paraphrased)

Sustainability planning considers renewable vs. non-renewable sources.

Natural gas is listed as a fossil fuel, hence non-renewable.

Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is the most widely recognized efficiency metric in the data center industry and is strongly emphasized within EPI's environmental sustainability and energy management teachings. PUE is designed to show how efficiently a data center uses energy, focusing specifically on how much of the total facility energy actually reaches the IT equipment. The correct formula is:

PUE = Total Facility Power ÷ Total IT Equipment Power

“Total Facility Power” includes all supporting infrastructure: cooling systems, UPS losses, power distribution losses, lighting, security, fire systems, and all auxiliary loads required to operate the data center. “Total IT Equipment Power” refers only to the active IT load such as servers, storage, and network devices.

A PUE value close to1.0indicates optimum energy efficiency, meaning nearly all facility energy is being consumed directly by IT operations. Higher PUE values indicate less efficient facilities where substantial energy is being consumed by overhead systems. This metric is essential for sustainability strategies, capacity planning, and continuous improvement. It allows benchmarking across facilities and helps operators set improvement targets by analyzing where energy losses occur. Because of its simplicity and clarity, PUE remains an industry-standard metric recognized globally.

Acapability assessmentevaluates whether the data center organization is capable of delivering the defined services.

Themandatoryactivity is to:

Create an inventory of skills, knowledge, and capacity of the workforce and resources.

This includes:

Current staff technical skills

Certifications

Experience

Availability (capacity)

Backup and contingency roles

Alignment with service demands and SLAs

Why other options are incorrect:

A: Security needs are part of service requirements, not capability assessment.

C: Availability requirements are determined during needs analysis, not capability assessment.

D: Safety requirements belong to statutory and compliance analysis, not capability assessment.

Thus,Bis the correct answer.

EPI DCFOM-Aligned Reference Concepts (Paraphrased)

Capability assessment requires determining skills, competencies, and available capacity.

Ensures the organization can meet defined services and SLAs.