For an energy customer in Brussels, we are searching for a freelance Data Center Strategy Expert.
As Datacenter Expert, the consultant will be responsible for drafting a comprehensive data center strategy to guide the customer through its upcoming infrastructure transformations. This includes evaluating needs, exploring options, addressing constraints, and delivering actionable recommendations, possible scenario's aligned with our business ambitions and technical requirements.
The strategy will support the transition to the customers own hybrid cloud infrastructure, ensure robust application resilience, and account for the growing reliance on IT systems driven by real-time operations and increasing criticality of applications underpinned by AI.
Tasks
Needs Assessment:
- Align data center strategy with business objectives, including the transition to hybrid cloud and progressive application refactoring.
- Address capacity planning for increasingly resilient applications, extensive testing environments, and redundant production systems.
- Define a phased roadmap for integrating EDP zones into ETB systems, supporting the rising reliance on IT for real-time operations.
- Analyze trends such as the increasing complexity of energy systems and the push for critical AI-driven applications.
Options Evaluation:
- Evaluate and compare scenarios for co-location, building new data centers, developing in-house infrastructure or explore the co-creation scenario's.
- Provide insights into opportunities for edge computing in substations, leveraging virtual substation technology and the customers network backbone.
- Deliver a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis for each scenario, with a focus on risk mitigation and operational efficiency.
Sovereign Cloud Expertise:
- Develop a strategy to integrate sovereign cloud solutions into their own infrastructure.
- Assess the implications of sovereign cloud on security, compliance, data sovereignty, and cost management.
- Provide recommendations on the role of sovereign cloud in supporting critical applications and ensuring data resilience.
Constraints Analysis:
- Define redundancy, resiliency, and disaster recovery approaches for high availability and fast recovery.
- Analyze the impact of network topology on data center location, size, and associated investments.
- Assess infrastructure requirements to support the customers growing need for robust, scalable, and interconnected IT environments.
Deliverables:
- A strategic document (What, Why, How) including different scenario's with pros and cons
- A phased implementation plan detailing steps and timelines.
- Cost-benefit analyses for selected scenarios.
- Risk and mitigation strategies for operational resilience.
- A comprehensive financial plan for implementation.
Profile
Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of experience in data center strategy development and implementation.
- Proven track record in evaluating and executing options like co-location, building new data centers, and hybrid models.
- Proven experience in writing and evaluating tenders (Request For Proposals) for critical datacenter infrastructure.
- Deep understanding of sovereign cloud solutions and their implications for IT strategy, security, and compliance.
Technical Skills:
- Expertise in cloud infrastructure (including hybrid and sovereign cloud).
- Strong knowledge of edge computing, virtual substation technology, and network backbone design.
- Familiarity with the resilience requirements for critical IT applications in real-time operational environments.
- Ability to translate complex technical requirements into actionable strategic recommendations.
- Skilled in cost-benefit analysis, risk mitigation, and phased implementation planning.
- Exceptional ability to structure and present complex information for executive decision-making.
- Self-driven and capable of working independently while aligning with internal teams.
Additional Details
SENIORITY: Senior
START DATE: March/April
DURATION: 6 Months
EXTENSION: Yes
CONTRACT: Freelance
LOCATION: Brussels
ONSITE POLICY: 2 days per week
HOURS PER WEEK: 40
LANGUAGES: Fluent English and Dutch or French (native)
INTERVIEW PROCESS: 1 stage
