In the 1980s, a 19-year-old pre-med student at the University of Texas just happened to like computers – a lot. Michael Dell never made it to graduation and dropped out at the end of his first year to pursue a different dream, armed only with a $1,000 stake from his family and a love of PCs. No one could have predicted that Dell would turn his dorm room “business” into Dell Inc., a globally recognized leader in computing.

Dell merged with EMC Corporation in late 2016, and the new company was rebranded as Dell Technologies, which includes Dell, Dell EMC, Pivotal, RSA, Secureworks, Virtustream and VMware. According to Forbes, Dell Technologies (before completion of the merger with EMC) was the fourth largest privately held company in the United States and the world’s largest privately held technology company. With offices in more than 180 countries worldwide, Dell boasts more than 145,000 employees, with sales exceeding $74 billion in 2016. According to its investor relations website, a whopping 98% of all Fortune 500 companies use Dell Technologies products and services. Dell is also well represented in Gartner Magic Quadrant leader lists for products and services, including the Data Center Backup and Recovery Software, Managed Security Services, and Integrated Systems lists.

Computing products remain a staple in the Dell product portfolio. Consumers interested in laptops, workstations, tablets and desktops will find a variety of products available (along with peripherals such as monitors, printers and VDI appliances) to meet personal, SMB, enterprise or gaming requirements. Dell also offers solutions for networks, storage, servers, gateways and embedded computing, as well as a broad range of IT and business services.

Dell Technologies’ products and services currently fall under seven technology brands:

Within each brand, there are multiple products, services and solutions that cater to specific areas of interest for Dell customers.

VMware, Secureworks and Pivotal continue to strategically align with Dell Technologies’ core business areas. VMware continues to provide hybrid cloud, mobile computing and software-defined data center solutions. Pivotal offers analytic tools, next-generation software development methodology and modern cloud-native platforms, while Secureworks focuses on incident response and threat intelligence security. RSA helps companies manage and monitor their digital risk profiles and activities.

Dell certification program overview

In response to its merger with EMC, Dell and Dell EMC’s certification programs have merged into the unified Dell EMC Proven Professional certification portfolio. You’ll find that the website and certifications have a brand-new look and feel. Dell Education Services offers two CompTIA certs along with numerous Dell EMC certifications divided up by technology category or track, including Storage, Data Protection, Converged Infrastructure and Data Science. A recent search of the Dell certification website finds that Dell no longer offers Microsoft certification training courses.

If you’re not sure where to start on your certification journey, the new Dell EMC Proven Professional certification framework is a great starting point. Here, you’ll find certifications for four skill levels:

• Dell EMC Certified Associate (DECA): Entry-level or foundational knowledge
• Dell EMC Certified Specialist (DECS): Technology and role-specific skills
• Dell EMC Certified Expert (DECE): Advanced experience and skills in multiple technologies
• Dell EMC Certified Master (DECM): Subject matter expertise in complex scenarios and multiple technologies

The certification framework is hierarchical: The specialist certification takes the lower-level associate credential as a prerequisite, while the expert-level credentials take both the associate and specialist credentials as prerequisites. Associate and specialist certifications do not expire. Master and expert certifications expire after two years.

In Dell’s certification framework, you’ll find Dell EMC credentials across eight different tracks: Technology Architect (TA), Cloud Architect (CA), Enterprise Architect (EA), Implementation Engineer (IE), Systems Administrator (SA), Platform Engineer (PE), Technical Support Engineer (TSE) and Data Scientist (DS). The certification framework also maps credentials back to specific technology areas (cloud, storage, data protection, server, networking, converged infrastructure and data science).

There are also certification maps for role-based credentials:

• Plan and Design Roadmap: This offers four credentials at the associate level, seven at the specialist level, three expert exams and a single master-level (architect) exam.
• Deploy Roadmap: This certification path offers four associate-level credentials, 13 specialist exams and four expert exams. Currently, there are no exams at the master level. The roadmap also mentions CompTIA Server+, two product and technology exams, associate and professional exams in server and networking, VxRail Appliance, and PowerEdge.
• Manage Roadmap: This path offers a single master exam, five expert exams, 15 specialist exams and four associate exams. It also includes CompTIA Server+, VMware VCP credentials, two product technology exams, and associate and professional exams in server and networking.
• Support Roadmap: The Support Roadmap includes one associate exam, seven specialist exams and one expert exam. It mentions CompTIA Server+ along with associate and professional networking and PowerEdge exams.

Certification candidates should register with Dell EMC TechDirect. From the TechDirect portal, candidates can access free exam prep materials, schedule exams, view exam results and print their certification transcripts. Candidates may also view their company’s competency status through the TechDirect portal.

Dell Partners whose employees have earned the Certified Deployment Professional badge may be eligible to earn the Services Competency for Deployment (or simply Deployment Competency) designation. To earn this competency, Partners must be at least at the Gold tier level and have two or more employees who’ve passed the associated exam. A formal application must be submitted to Dell requesting Deployment Competency designation. Deployment Competency designations are available for Server, Storage, Networking and Client Systems.

Dell EMC certifications

Because Dell has updated its certification portfolio, it’s well worth your time to peruse the new Dell EMC Proven Professional Certification Framework to understand the new certification flow. All certification tracks begin with selecting a technology concentration: Cloud, Storage, Data Protection, Server, Networking, Converged Infrastructure or Data Science. Next, candidates earn the DECA (associate) credential recommended for their technology track. From there, candidates select the applicable role-based certification roadmap (Plan and Design, Deploy, Manage, or Support) and follow the certification recommendations to earn the specialist, expert and master credentials available in that certification path.

Below, we’ve listed some examples of the many certifications you’ll find in the new Dell EMC program. We’ve chosen to present these certification examples by the available technology tracks.

Server

The Server technology roadmap is the only certification path where a third-party certification, the CompTIA Server+, serves as the associate-level credential.

• Implementation Engineer, PowerEdge Specialist (DECS-IE): Certification is focused on IT professionals working with Dell EMC PowerEdge Server technology and products. To earn the credential, candidates must first obtain either the CompTIA Server+ or the Dell Certified Associate PowerEdge credential and pass the specialist exam. The exam targets PowerEdge rack and tower servers, installation, configuration (server storage, iDRAC and Lifecycle Controller), and maintenance and troubleshooting.

Storage

• Information Storage and Management Associate (DCA-ISM): This credential validates a candidate’s knowledge of data center infrastructure, storage systems (file-based, object-based, software-defined, block-based and intelligent), security, replication management, backup, archive, replication, and storage networking technologies (Fibre Channel SAN, Internet Protocol SAN and Fibre Channel over Ethernet SAN).
• Implementation Engineer, SC Series Specialist (DCS-IE): This certification targets professionals working with Dell EMC SC Series storage products. Skills covered include Dell Storage Manager installation and configuration, SC Series hardware and cabling (including Fibre Channel and iSCSI), SC Series configuration, administration (Storage Manager and SC Series), and SAN HBA and switch configuration. To earn the certification, candidates must possess the Associate Information Storage and Management Version 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 credential and pass the specialist exam.
• Expert – SC Series (DCE): To obtain this expert-level certification, candidates must possess the Specialist Implementation Engineer, SC Series certification and pass the expert exam. The exam focuses on SC Series Storage product-related technologies, including hardware installation, storage array initialization, array configuration, failover testing, host confirmation and front-end storage networking configuration.

Networking

• Certified Associate – Networking: This credential targets professionals working with Dell EMC networking switches. Candidates should have at least one year of networking experience, with six months focused on installing and managing EMC networking switches, and be able to install, configure, and troubleshoot networking switches.
• Certified Professional – Networking: This credential targets experienced Dell hardware professionals. Candidates should have one to three years of experience, plus at least one year of direct experience managing or deploying Dell hardware solutions. Successful candidates will also understand deployment, cutover and integration planning, Dell tools for deployment, network configuration, and troubleshooting.

Cloud and Infrastructure Services (Cloud Architect)

• Cloud Infrastructure and Services Associate (DCA-CIS): This cert focuses on using cloud computing reference architectures to build cloud infrastructures, cloud technologies and processes, digital transformations, cloud services and applications, cloud security, business continuity, and cloud service management.
• Cloud Infrastructure Specialist (DCS-CA): This credential is the specialist level of the Dell EMC Cloud Architect certification. Candidates must possess either the associate level of the Information Storage Management (version 2.0 or 3.0) or the Cloud Infrastructure and Services (version 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0) credential and pass the specialist exam. The exam focuses on cloud-related topics, including design, management, available resources (such as network, storage and computing), monitoring, hybrid cloud and disaster recovery.
• Cloud Architect, Cloud Services Expert (DCE-CA): This certification is the expert level of the Dell EMC Cloud Architect certification. As with the DCS-CA, candidates need to possess either the associate-level Information Storage and Management (version 2.0 or 3.0) or the Cloud Infrastructure and Services (version 1.0 or 2.0) credential plus the DCS-CA and pass the expert exam. The credential validates a candidate’s skill in planning and designing cloud infrastructures, business transformation, ITaaS environments, cloud services, security, governance, and financial and organizational planning.

Data Protection

• Data Protection and Management – Associate (DCA-DPM): This credential validates a candidate’s understanding of the data protection technologies, components and processes.
• Converged Infrastructure: Converged Infrastructure targets professionals who maintain, back up, configure, upgrade, troubleshoot, monitor and administer VxBlock Systems. Two credentials are available:
  • Converged Systems and Hybrid Cloud Version 1.0 – Associate (DCA-CSHC): This is a foundation-level certification that focuses on a candidate’s understanding of how to effect transformation using Dell EMC Converged Systems and Digital and IT Transformation.
  • Systems Administrator, Converged Infrastructure Version 2.0 – Specialist (DCS-SA): This credential validates a candidate’s knowledge of VxBlock Systems concepts, administration, security, resource management, maintenance and troubleshooting.

Data Science

• Data Science Associate (DECA-DS): A foundation-level credential for those just entering the realm of data science and big data analytics, this certification focuses on the tools and techniques commonly used in data analytics.
• Advanced Analytics Specialist (DECS-DS): This certification focuses on using advanced analytic methods to identify and recommend solutions for business problems. Methods include visualization, Hadoop (including Hive, HBase and Pig), natural language processing and social network analysis.

Dell third-party certifications

On top of its Certified Deployment Professional certifications, Dell Education Services has partnered with several third-party organizations in the past to provide certifications for CompTIA and Microsoft certifications. However, Dell has reduced the number of CompTIA cert courses that it offers and totally eliminated its Microsoft cert courses.

CompTIA certifications

CompTIA is a well-known, vendor-neutral certification provider. Dell has reduced its CompTIA certification training courses to just two online offerings: A+ and Linux+ certs. The cost for CompTIA training courses ranges from $550 to $650 for these topics.

According to Dell, 78% of all companies use IT deployment services. With such a widespread need, IT professionals specializing in deployment find a demand for their skills across multiple industry sectors. Some of the sectors that Dell serves are education, energy, financial services, government (federal, state and local), healthcare, manufacturing, retail, telecommunications, media and entertainment, and web development.

Popular job boards such as TechCareers, SimplyHired and Glassdoor reveal numerous jobs available for Dell-certified deployment professionals. Most of the listed positions focus on engineering roles for server, virtualization, networking, systems, integration, data security and the like. Other available roles include consultants, account executives, system administrators, IT managers and deployment managers.

Dell recommends and offers core training courses for each of its Dell EMC credentials. Interested candidates who register on the DirectTech website can also access free exam study guides. In addition, Dell offers many free e-learning courses at the foundation level on various Dell products and technologies, including networking, storage, data protection, big data and converged infrastructure.

Core recommended training for each solution track includes a basic, intermediate and advanced course. Prices vary, but candidates can expect to pay $2,500 to $5,000. Most training is a combination of e-learning activities that you complete prior to attending instructor-led training.

Dell also provides training for other certifications and training opportunities for end users and IT professionals in various disciplines, including these:

Fundamental or introductory courses typically cost $100 to $200, while advanced training courses may cost thousands of dollars (we found one course with a price tag of $10,000). Dell also offers onsite training courses, with most prices running at least double that of public courses. The most expensive onsite course we found topped $42,000.

Check out everything Dell has to offer on its Education Services webpage.

Ed Tittel

Ed is a 30-year-plus veteran of the computing industry who has worked as a programmer, a technical manager, a classroom instructor, a network consultant, and a technical evangelist for companies that include Burroughs, Schlumberger, Novell, IBM/Tivoli and NetQoS. He has written for numerous publications, including Tom’s IT Pro, and is the author of more than 140 computing books on information security, web markup languages and development tools, and Windows operating systems.

Earl Follis

Earl is also a 30-year veteran of the computer industry who has worked in IT training, marketing, technical evangelism, and market analysis in the areas of networking and systems technology and management. Ed and Earl met in the late 1980s when Ed hired Earl as a trainer at an Austin-area networking company that’s now part of HP. The two of them have written numerous books together on NetWare, Windows Server and other topics. Earl is also a regular writer for the computer trade press, with many e-books, whitepapers and articles to his credit.

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Job board search results (in alphabetical order, by certification)*

*Search results for the generic phrase “VCE data center engineer”

Regardless of which job board you use, you’ll find many employers looking for qualified people to join their data center teams. SimplyHired lists 114,000-plus data center jobs in the U.S., with more than 172,000 on Indeed, 50,000 on LinkedIn Jobs and 20,000 on LinkUp. With the right credential(s) in hand, one of these jobs is sure to be yours.

Data center job roles start at the network technician level and advance through senior architect. Most of the certifications covered would fit well with an associate- or professional-level network engineer position. According to SimplyHired, the average salary for network engineer jobs is about $79,000, and $111,000 for senior network engineers. Glassdoor reports a U.S. national average salary of about $73,000 for network engineers, and their average for senior network engineers climbs to $94,000.

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Data Center

Cisco certifications continue to be some of the most recognizable and respected credentials in the industry. The CCNA Data Center certification is a great introductory certification for networking professionals who want to specialize in data center operations and support and have 1-3 years of experience.

Candidates for the CCNA Data Center certification need to understand basic data center networking concepts. These include addressing schemes, troubleshooting and configuring switches with VLANs and routers using Nexus OS, network and server virtualization, storage, and common network services such as load balancing, device management and network access controls.

The CCNA Data Center is valid for three years, after which credential holders must recertify. Recertification requires passing a current version of one of the following exams:

• Associate-level exam (except for ICND1 exam)
• 642-XXX professional-level or 300-XXX professional-level exam
• 642-XXX Cisco Specialist exam (does not include Sales Specialist exams or MeetingPlace Specialist exams, Implementing Cisco TelePresence Installations (ITI) exams, Cisco Leading Virtual Classroom Instruction exams, or any 650 online exams)
• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) written exam
• Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) written exam or current CCDE practical exam

Candidates can also sit through the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and the CCAr board review to achieve recertification for CCNA Data Center.

CCNA Data Center facts and figures

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Data Center

Networking professionals looking to validate their data center skills and achieve a competitive edge in the workplace can’t go wrong with the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Data Center credential.

Geared toward technology architects, along with design and implementation engineers and solutions experts, the CCNP Data Center identifies individuals who can implement Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) rack-mount servers; install, configure and manage Cisco Nexus switches; and implement and deploy automation of Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI). The CCNP Data Center is designed for candidates with 3-5 years of experience working with Cisco technologies.

When pursuing the CCNP Data Center, Cisco lets you choose either a design or troubleshooting track. Related data center certifications include the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA Data Center), for those with 1-3 years of experience, and the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center, aimed at professionals with seven or more years of experience.

The CCNP Data Center is valid for three years, after which credential holders must recertify. The recertification process requires candidates to pass a single exam to maintain the credential, or to sit for the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and the CCAr board review. Credential holders should check the Cisco website for the current list of qualifying exams before attempting to recertify.

CCNP Data Center facts and figures

JNCIP-DC: Juniper Networks Certified Professional Data Center

Juniper Networks, based in California and incorporated in 1997, develops and sells network infrastructure equipment and software aimed at corporations, network service providers, government agencies and educational institutions. The company has a large certification and training program designed to support its solutions, which includes Data Center, Junos Security, Enterprise Routing and Switching, and Service Provider Routing and Switching tracks.

The Data Center track recognizes networking professionals who deploy, manage and troubleshoot Juniper Networks Junos software and data center equipment. The single exam (JN0-680) covers data center deployment and management, including implementation and maintenance of multi-chassis link aggregation group (LAG), virtual chassis and Internet Protocol (IP) fabric, virtual extensible LANs (VXLANs), and data center interconnections.

The JNCIP-DC certification is good for three years. To renew the certification, candidates must pass the current JNCIP-DC exam.

JNCIP-DC facts and figures

VCE-CIAE: VCE Converged Infrastructure Administration Engineer

VCE, short for Virtual Computing Environment, was part of EMC Corporation, which Dell acquired in 2016. The VCE line of converged infrastructure appliances are still being manufactured and widely sold, and the company has a handful of VCE certifications geared toward designing, maintaining and supporting those solutions.

VCE certifications are now part of the larger Dell EMC Proven Professional certification program but have retained some independence. The program currently offers the VCE Certified Converged Infrastructure Associate (VCE-CIA), VCE Converged Infrastructure Administration Engineer (VCE-CIAE) and VCE Converged Infrastructure Master Administration Engineer (VCE-CIMAE) credentials. We focus on the VCE Administration Engineer in this article because it’s available to the public as well as Dell employees and partners, and it ranks well in job board searches.

The VCE-CIAE is a professional-level credential that recognizes professionals who manage and support Vblock Systems. The single exam includes syllabus such as system concepts, administration, security, resource management, maintenance and troubleshooting.

Candidates must recertify every two years to maintain a VCE certification. To renew, credential holders must pass the current VCE-CIA exam (this is the prerequisite for the VCE-CIAE certification), as well as pass the current VCE-CIAE exam or earn a higher-level credential.

VCE-CIAE facts and figures

VCP6-DCV: VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization

The VCP6-DCV is one of those credentials that sits firmly on the line between traditional data center networking and cloud management. As such, it appeals to a wide networking audience. In fact, the VMware website states that more than 100,000 professionals have earned VMware VCP6-DCV certification, making it one of the company’s most popular certifications.

VMware offers an extensive certification program with a rigorous Data Center virtualization track, which includes the VCP6-DCV. Candidates must thoroughly understand Domain Name System (DNS), routing and database connectivity techniques, and how to deploy, configure, manage and scale VMware vSphere environments and storage. VMware recommends that candidates have a minimum of six months of experience with VMware vSphere 6 before attempting the VCP6-DCV certification.

New candidates must take a VMware training course and pass two exams. Training courses start at $4,125; pricing is based on the specific course, delivery format and learning partner.

VMware requires credential holders to recertify every two years. Recertification is achieved by taking whatever exam is most current for the certification, earning a new VCP certification in a different solution track or advancing to the next-level VMware certification.

Note: VMware certifications are geared toward the VMware vSphere product, the latest incarnation of which is Version 6.5. As of April 2019, VMware is still rolling out various Version 6.5 exams. Currently, Version 6.5 exams are offered for the Professional and Advanced Professional (Design only) levels. We anticipate that Version 6.5 exams and credentials at the Associate, Advanced Professional Deploy and Expert levels will follow soon.

VCP6-DCV facts and figures

Beyond the top 5: More data center certifications

While not featured in the top five this year, the BICSI Data Center Design Consultant (DCDC) is a terrific certification, designed for IT professionals with at least two years of experience in designing, planning and implementing data centers. This vendor-neutral certification is ideal for data center engineers, architects, designers and consultants. Another good vendor-neutral certification is Schneider Electric’s Data Center Certified Associate (DCCA), an entry-level credential for individuals who design, build and manage data centers as part of a data center-centric IT team.

CNet’s Certified Data Centre Management Professional (CDCMP) and Certified Data Centre Technician Professional (CDCTP) are also worthy of honorable mention. Based in the U.K., these certifications don’t appear in a lot of U.S. job board postings but still deliver solid results from a general Google search.

IT professionals who are serious about advancing their data center careers would do well to check out complementary certifications from our featured vendors. For example, Cisco also offers a number of certifications in data center design and support, including application services, networking infrastructure, storage networking and unified computing. VMware also offers additional data center virtualization certifications worth exploring, including the VMware Certified Advanced Professional 6.5 – Data Center Virtualization Design (VCAP6.5-DCV Design) and the VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX6-DCV). Also, the Dell EMC Proven Professional certification program offers a bevy of data center-focused certifications, including the Dell EMC Implementation Engineer (EMCIE) and the Dell EMC Certified Cloud Architect (EMCCA).

Because of the proliferation of data center virtualization and cloud computing, you can expect the data center networking job market to continue to remain strong soon. Achieving a certification can be a real feather in your cap, opening the door to new and better work opportunities.

No matter the size of your organization, it is crucial to maintain an IT infrastructure that is capable of supporting growth and adapting to the changing needs of your business. The Dell EMC PowerEdge R650xs is a feature-rich 1U rack server that is designed for companies looking to innovate at scale with demanding and emerging workloads.

Equipped with the third-gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, this server promises to be an ideal choice for workloads that require high performance, virtualization, and a scale-out database. Let’s talk about how the Dell PowerEdge R650xs will help you innovate and adapt with confidence, thus facilitating growth. 

Powerful and scalable performance

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R650xs is a powerful 1U server designed for scale-out environments where resources such as processing power and storage capacity can be added to the system as needed. It has dual-socket capabilities, allowing for the addition of up to two 3rd generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors with up to 32 cores per socket. With support for up to 16x DDR4 RDIMMS at 3200 MT/s, the added processing power and cores can help to accelerate in-memory workloads or operations that are performed entirely in the main memory. 

Additionally, the PowerEdge R650xs includes several features that can Improve throughput and reduce latency, such as up to 5 PCIe Gen4 slots, OCP 3.0 support for cost-effective and energy-efficient network cards, and Dell’s SNAP I/O support for efficient use of shared storage resources. 

It is designed for virtualization, medium VM density or VDI, and software-defined storage node (SDS) workloads such as data protection, data migration, or data optimization.

Addresses flexible storage needs

In terms of storage, the PowerEdge R650xs offers a variety of options to fit different needs. It can support up to 12x 3.5” SAS/SATA HDDs or SSDs, up to 16x 2.5” SAS/SATA HDDs or SSDs, and 8 NVMe drives. This provides a lot of flexibility for organisations that may need to scale storage up or down quickly. This also helps with better data protection, disaster recovery and data management. 

Increase Efficiency 

The Dell EMC OpenManage systems management portfolio has all the tools needed to efficiently manage the PowerEdge R650xs. Modern management tools provide better workload tracking and performance analysis, making complex IT enterprise management simple and intuitive. There are tools and automation that help you scale, manage, and protect your technology environment, freeing up resources that can be used for business growth.

Built-in telemetry streaming, thermal management, and RESTful API with Redfish let you monitor and manage the server remotely in an efficient manner. Intelligent automation allows for the integration of human actions and system capabilities to enhance productivity.

Full-stack management integration with Microsoft, VMware, ServiceNow, Ansible, and many other tools offers a number of advantages and makes it easier for different teams to collaborate and work together. It can increase efficiency by automating tasks and streamlining processes and provides a unified view of your entire IT infrastructure, making it easier to identify and troubleshoot issues.

Ironclad Security

Dell EMC and Intel solutions provide a comprehensive approach to ensuring the security and resilience of the PowerEdge R650xs. From the silicon and supply chain to asset retirement, these technologies help avoid vulnerabilities to ensure that your servers are safe and secure against emerging threats. With enterprise-class security, organizations of all sizes can minimize risk and have confidence in their cyber resilience. 

Dell offers continuous innovations that bolster cyber resilience, such as OpenManage Secure Enterprise Key Manager and Automatic Certificate Enrollment. Additionally, intelligence, automation, and recovery tools like iDRAC9 Telemetry, BIOS live scanning, and Rapid OS recovery, allow organizations to stay ahead of potential threats. 

Dell also verifies the authenticity and integrity of the firmware and hardware components in the supply chain using platform security features such as Secured Component Verification and Silicon Root of Trust (RoT). This helps ensure that the server is protected against cyber attacks and runs only authorized and trusted code.

A dependable partner

Dell PowerEdge R650xs is a powerful and versatile option for enterprises that can help accelerate transformation. This dual-socket 1U server is designed for scale-out environments, it easily adapts to changing resource needs, and benefits from Dell’s robust and comprehensive management portfolio, as well as enterprise-class security solutions. This combination of advanced technology and solutions allows for easy scalability and efficient management and security, making it a great option for organizations looking to innovate, adapt, and grow. 

To know more about the Dell PowerEdge R650xs rack server, check here.

[Sponsored]

Dell Technologies is the most recent large high-tech company to announce a major layoff, with the hardware maker saying Monday it is slashing 5% of its workforce.

In a regulatory filing, Dell attributed the job cuts to a "challenging global economic environment." Dell Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clark told employees in a letter that the company's previous moves to reduce its costs "are no longer enough. We now have to make additional decisions to prepare for the road ahead."

The cuts amount to roughly 6,600 people, with Dell saying it has about 133,000 workers globally in its most recent annual report, filed January of last year. The company previously paused external hiring, limited travel and cut spending on outside services.

The cuts will be completed by the end of April, according to the filing.

Dell shares fell 3.6% on Monday after the cuts were announced and are down 31% of the last 12 months.

Over the last year, Dell has lost ground to other computer manufacturers. As of the fourth quarter of 2022, Dell had roughly 16% of the market for global PC sales, down from just over 18% a year earlier, according to IDC. That trails China's Lenovo, the No. 1 PC maker with 23% of the market, and No. 2 HP with nearly 20%.

In its most recent quarter, Dell reported net revenue of $24.7 billion, down 6% from $26.4 billion in the year-ago period. Its net income from continuing operations fell to $241 million, down 93% from $3.6 billion a year ago.

A number of large tech players, including Google-parent Alphabet, Amazon, IBM, Meta, Microsoft and Twitter have laid off tens of thousands of employees in recent months after expanding rapidly during the pandemic. So far this year, U.S. tech companies have announced 67,000 job cuts, according to the website Layoffs.fyi.

—Irina Ivanova contributed to this report.

Dell is always a great place to look for laptop deals and with so many available right now, we thought we’d help you out. We’ve highlighted the absolute best Dell laptop deals going on right now as part of its sale. These include budget buys for students and those who just need something highly affordable, right up to gaming laptops and high-end productivity powerhouses. Whatever your budget or set of requirements, there’s something here for you. Read on while we take you through all the best Dell deals right now.

Dell Inspiron 15 — $380, was $450

The Dell Inspiron 15 is one of the best budget laptops around so it’s perfect for a college student or someone on a tight budget who still needs to get work done on the move. It has an 11th-generation Intel Core i3 processor along with 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage. That’s basic stuff but exactly what you need to be able to use Windows 11 Home in S mode. We’re big fans of the inclusion of a 15.6-inch full HD display with an LED backlight, narrow borders, and the means in which to reduce blue light emissions. Such attention to detail continues elsewhere as the Dell Inspiron 15 also has a numeric keypad, 6.4% larger keycaps than the previous model, and a spacious touchpad so it’s easier to work on. A lift hinge means you can raise your device to a more ergonomic level too for added comfort.

Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 laptop — $550, was $800

As one of the best laptop brands, Dell knows how to innovate while keeping costs down. That’s why the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is so well-priced while offering lots of functionality. It has an AMD Ryzen 5 processor along with 8GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. The latter is great to see as you have plenty of room to store all your most valuable files without any hassle. The killer feature is its 14-inch full HD touchscreen so you can move it into tent mode or presentation mode, as well as use it as a tablet. It even has pen support if you want to sketch out a design with a stylus rather than your finger. A 14% larger touchpad along with an aspect ratio 5.6% larger than a standard 14-inch display all add up to make the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 a well-designed system at a great price.

Dell G15 gaming laptop — $650, was $850

Gaming laptop deals can help you get a lot more for your money as this Dell G15 gaming laptop demonstrates. For the price, you get a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor along with 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage. We really wish there was more storage but if you only play a couple of games regularly, this will still do the job well. For the graphics card, there’s an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 which will work well enough with the latest games if you don’t mind tweaking quality and detail levels. A 15.6-inch full HD screen looks great thanks to anti-glare properties and it also has a high refresh rate of 120Hz so it can handle motion blur, even when the game you’re playing is extra fast. An Alienware-inspired thermal design keeps things cool no matter what you’re playing, while there’s always a turbo boost button for when you need a bit of extra power as you play. It may not be one of the best gaming laptops but at this price, you won’t complain.

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 — $1,100, was $1,200

This may be one of the more modest 2-in-1 laptop deals around but the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is a powerful and highly versatile system. It has a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor along with 8GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. Best of all is its 13-inch 3K screen with a fantastic resolution of 2880 x 1920 and 500 nits of brightness. It’s also a touchscreen with a 360-degree hinge making it simple to switch over to sketching out a design on the laptop in tablet mode or opt to showcase a presentation too. The system also has a great keyboard with larger keycaps, a spacious touchpad, and backlit keys so it’s excellent to use at all times.

Dell XPS 17 — $1,650, was $1,950

One of the best laptops you can buy right now, the Dell XPS 17 is a delight to use in every way. It has a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. Aimed at making your working life even more productive, its 17-inch full HD screen gives you plenty more space to juggle windows and work more effectively. It also offers 500 nits of brightness so it’s well-suited for use outdoors while anti-glare properties further help here. Impressively, it all fits into a 15-inch form factor so it’s more portable than you’d think. Robust in every way as well as powerful, the Dell XPS 17 is ideal for content creators who are serious about what they do.

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Demand for telemedicine has risen over the past two years from both patients and providers. McKinsey & Company estimates that telehealth implementation has soared to levels 38 times what it was before 2020, and 40% to 60% of consumers are open to broader virtual healthcare options. So, why aren’t more healthcare systems engaged in robust telehealth solution implementation initiatives?

The answer is likely rooted in three major misconceptions surrounding healthcare technology adoption. When healthcare organizations can bust their internally held myths around telehealth adoption, they can avoid the pitfalls common to telehealth solution implementation, implement successful change management, and better serve their communities.

The biggest stumbling blocks in telehealth project management

The chief misconception is that telehealth is solely the responsibility of the IT department. It’s not. Telehealth implementation should be a joint responsibility of IT, administration, and providers. Otherwise, a lack of teamwork between departments leads to siloing and lots of passing the telemedicine “hot potato” among those who don’t have all the information.

You might think of this problem as similar to gifting someone a puppy they did not ask for and expecting them to take care of and nurture it. A puppy is great for people who like dogs, want a dog, aren’t allergic to dogs, and have the time and resources to care for a dog. However, a puppy that’s foisted on someone without their input during the selection process is at risk of being unwanted and neglected. The same can happen when tasking a single team with “gifting” a telehealth platform to the rest of the organization. Other teams that don’t have a stake in the selection or implementation of the project might not understand its importance within the ecosystem and might demonstrate resentment from being saddled with yet another mandatory workflow.

Overcoming this misconception requires telehealth platform implementation to have joint ownership across the organization. Any decisions around new telehealth projects should be made with honest, informed feedback from all stakeholders at every stage, from selection through implementation.

The second misconception that gets in the way of implementation is that telehealth is a product. Telehealth is a much wider solution than just a product. Instead of looking for a platform for video visits only, healthcare providers should see telehealth as a broader experience for patient care. Any number of products or processes can buoy this experience, but a single product or service doesn’t suddenly turn on the “telehealth switch.” To be successful, you must think of telehealth as a customized delivery method that considers all user perspectives and expectations.

The final telemedicine misconception is that telehealth usage should be part of a corporate-wide mandate. “You will start using telehealth on this date,” your company might say. Though mandates can be helpful, they don’t incorporate the empathy you need to get buy-in from your providers across the board.

Remember that for some employees, telehealth might feel like more work. Without proper training, ample practice, and the shared understanding that perfection is not a day-one expectation, users might revert to their in-person comfort zones. Consulting with stakeholders before deploying a telehealth initiative is a way to show inclusiveness and consideration for end users, as it offers the best chance for engagement across all worker strata in a healthcare facility.

Three tips for getting telehealth right for your organization’s benefit

If you don’t already have a robust telehealth platform in place, now is the time to start talking about it. Below are some ways to build telemedicine awareness, passion, and buy-in within your organization. Each one helps you avoid the pitfalls of the three misconceptions noted above and get the most benefit from offering telehealth to the community you serve.

1. Identify tech solutions that will integrate with your team’s existing workflows.

A massive worry among healthcare workers is that integrating a telehealth product — even if it’s terrific — will interrupt their daily processes and procedures. Thankfully, delays and frustration don’t have to be the norm. Solutions are available that can mesh with your team members’ existing workflows and minimize disruptions. It’s all about finding the right solution that integrates seamlessly with the way your teams work.

As part of your efforts, be sure to identify any open-minded, pro-change stakeholders to bring into the discussion. Do this by determining who will be first affected by any telehealth solution implementation. (Eventually, everyone will be, but focus on early adopters while you’re getting started.) Then, involve these stakeholders in the decision-making process. Aim to choose only telehealth solutions that will feel as intuitive as possible instead of disruptive.

2. Accept that change will be difficult and provide telehealth solution implementation the time it deserves.

People in clinical settings can have hundreds or thousands of workflows, processes, rules, and protocols. Keep organizational change management strategies in mind as you roll out telehealth platforms or products. Even a platform that integrates effortlessly into existing workflows might be met with dismay and friction. Allow for that necessary processing time in your patients and providers and provide new telehealth initiatives time to grow on them.

That doesn’t mean that you should allow employees to revert to old workflows or opt out of converting; successful implementation requires momentum. But don’t just spring new telehealth tech on your team. Lead them through a detailed, well-considered implementation process that eases them into the experience. Communicate early and often, respect your team’s time to adjust, solicit meaningful feedback, and, wherever reasonable to do so, adapt your solution from lessons learned.

3. Bring your training department into the mix.

Education is your most powerful ally for the success of any telemedicine initiative, so your training department will play an enormous role in any new telehealth strategy. End users will need support, which can come in the form of classes, workshops, and hands-on practice. Educated workers are less likely to be staunch in their dislike of new workflows, especially when they feel increasingly comfortable using telehealth products and platforms. Training personnel can also be critical in anticipating the learning curve and adoption, so early involvement is vital.

Providing regular training has the secondary effect of highlighting your empathetic leadership. Stakeholders will see that you want to provide them all the necessary materials and information to feel competent and supported.

Even after you’ve finalized your implementation and training plan, accept that you will have to make changes, particularly at the outset. You can’t plan for everything. Yes, your plan should be well-researched before any training starts, but know that your training materials might require customization and will necessarily evolve.

Telehealth will involve multiple systems within your organization, including technology, patient care, support, and others. Don’t pigeonhole the role of telehealth in your organization into solely the IT department’s responsibility. If you want to bring telemedicine to your internal and external users with real success, you need to treat it as a tool for everyone to own, use, and appreciate. Inclusiveness and collaboration will win the day.

Photo: elenabs, Getty Images