No, DCIM tools consist of a collection of software applications (outlined above), data collection tools, and a dashboard. The data collection is generally done by devices like meters, power protection devices, embedded cards, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and sensors, which gather data and forward it to management software for processing.

The other component of DCIM is a dashboard. Critical information from the DCIM software and data collection tools needs to be aggregated and presented so IT managers can visualize the data in a way that is meaningful and actionable. Dashboards can be configured for different needs, for instance to focus on the performance of the IT equipment versus the physical infrastructure (cooling, power, security).