A method of thermal management in a computing device using a management controller is provided. The method includes obtaining, via a virtual management controller, monitoring information of a thermally sensitive component untethered to the management controller. The monitoring information can include temperature information of the thermally sensitive component. The method also includes transmitting, via the virtual management controller, the monitoring information to the management controller via a system interface of the management controller. Finally, the method includes adjusting, via the management controller, operation of a thermal management component of the computing device tethered to the management controller.