A plenum pressure controlled cabinet includes a sideways cooled component mounted so as to define gaps between the cabinet and the component. Baffles block some of the gaps. A negative pressure maintained within the cabinet causes makeup air to be drawn into the cabinet through a gap not blocked by baffles between one side of the cabinet and a cool air intake of the component. Thus, cool air is provided to the cool air intake of the component. A plenum pressure controlled enclosure includes an equipment rack maintained at a neutral pressure, a plenum maintained at a slightly negative pressure or a neutral pressure, and a cooling unit. The plenum takes in air from the rack and expels it into the cooling unit. By controlling differential pressures in the rack and the plenum, air is efficiently drawn from the equipment rack and cooled utilizing the cooling unit.