Modern datacentre infrastructure management (DCIM) is crucial

Organisations worldwide are racing to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, but there’s a catch. 

These advanced applications are placing unprecedented demands on datacentre infrastructure. The immense power consumption and cooling requirements of AI-capable servers are pushing traditional management tools to their limits and create an urgent need for infrastructure and operations (I&O) leaders to develop a more intelligent and resilient approach. 

This is where modern datacentre infrastructure management (DCIM) tools matter more than ever.

Massive increase in energy consumption

AI datacentres are fundamentally different from their predecessors. The hardware required for complex machine learning models is incredibly power-hungry. Servers designed for AI can have up to 10x the power requirements of previous architectures. 

This surge in energy use escalates operational costs and generates a tremendous amount of heat that must be effectively managed to prevent system failures and ensure optimal performance. The result is an environment where the cost of poor management can be catastrophic.

In this new landscape I&O leaders cannot rely on basic monitoring and manual interventions. The complexity and dynamic nature of AI infrastructure demand a more exacting solution. Modern DCIM tools provide this by offering a single pane of glass for datacentre operations. They enable staff to see precisely how their facilities are performing, plan for future needs and predict when and where maintenance should be performed to maximise uptime and prevent costly outages.

The power of predictive analytics

DCIM tools were originally developed for on-premises datacentres and were primarily focused on monitoring power cooling and physical assets within a single facility. They were largely reactive systems designed to track inventory and alert staff when a predefined threshold was breached. This approach is inadequate for the proactive management required by AI.

Today’s DCIM platforms have transformed from simple asset trackers into AI-powered strategic tools. They leverage machine learning (ML) to deliver real-time analytics, predictive maintenance alerts and intelligent energy optimisation. Instead of relying on static rules, these modern systems analyse vast datasets to identify subtle anomalies, forecast potential failures and provide prescriptive recommendations. 

They can even automate corrective actions, such as adjusting cooling parameters or generating a maintenance ticket, which transforms DCIM from a passive monitoring tool into an intelligent autonomous operations platform. This shift is crucial to I&O leaders to maintain the efficiency and resilience demanded by AI workloads.

Advanced visualisation technologies, such as digital twins, are also a cornerstone of modern DCIM. These virtual representations of the physical datacentre infrastructure enable operators to model and simulate changes before they are implemented, provide a shared understanding of the physical world and minimise communication errors between teams. This capability is invaluable when dealing with the complex cabling and physical layouts of advanced AI infrastructure and enables proactive capacity planning and scenario testing in a risk-free environment.

Managing a hybrid landscape

The architecture of modern IT is no longer confined to a single building. It spans on-premises datacentres, colocation facilities and a growing number of edge locations. Traditional DCIM tools offered limited visibility into these remote sites and created operational silos. Modern DCIM platforms have been engineered to manage this distributed landscape.

Cloud-based and multi-tenant deployments enable centralised oversight and seamless integration with broader IT monitoring systems. This unified approach provides I&O leaders a holistic view across their entire datacentre portfolio from the core to the edge. 

Whether it is a large colocation site, or an unmanned micro-datacentre designed for AI inference workloads, modern DCIM ensures consistent management and monitoring from a single dashboard. This allows I&O leaders to standardise deployments and maintain control over geographically diverse installations, ensuring efficiency and security across their organisation’s entire infrastructure.

Sustainability as a competitive advantage

Regulators and the public are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of datacentres and it is clear to see why. Gartner projects that datacentre energy consumption could double by 2030. In response, regulatory frameworks, like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), mandate that organisations track and reduce their carbon footprints.

The push for sustainability, however, is more than a compliance exercise; it is a competitive advantage. Efficiency gains translate directly into cost savings, while a strong environmental profile enhances brand reputation. Modern DCIM tools are central to achieving these goals by providing robust sustainability tracking modules.

Effectively tracking carbon

DCIM tools offer real-time dashboards to monitor key performance indicators, such as power usage effectiveness (PUE), carbon usage effectiveness (CUE) and water usage effectiveness (WUE). 

They simplify regulatory compliance through the automated generation of sustainability reports and audit logs. Furthermore, they incorporate predictive carbon management capabilities, which forecast the environmental impact of operational changes and suggest optimal strategies for lowering carbon emissions while maintaining performance. By embedding sustainability into the core of datacentre operations, modern DCIM helps organisations build a greener, more efficient and cost-effective infrastructure.

Today, datacentres have become the engines of innovation. Their ability to efficiently support demanding workloads and sustainably will help determine the pace of progress. Modern DCIM tools are the essential control system for these powerful engines, and provide the intelligence, visibility and predictive power needed to manage the complex and dynamic world of AI infrastructure. For any organisation serious about leveraging the full potential of AI, investing in modern DCIM is a necessity.

Gartner analysts will further explore datacentre power priorities and challenges at the Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies Conference in London in November.

Mark Jaggers is senior director analyst at Gartner