Embedding web servers have traditionally been used as an easy solution for managing equipment by using any standard browser. Unless a tunnel such as Virtual Private Network (VPN) is used, managing the equipment is limited to the local Intranet where the equipment is installed. However, setting up and operating a VPN solution is challenging, technical, and costly if IT personnel are needed for the VPN setup and maintenance.
A configuration-less alternative to VPN is to use a type of IoT solution known as IoT bridge mode. A device can act both as a web server for local use and as an IoT edge node for remote use. The following figure depicts such a setup.