5 Exciting purposes for the Raspberry Pi in enterprise IT

What is the UK’s bestselling computer of all time? Perhaps surprisingly, it’s not anything from Sir Alan Sugar — it’s actually the Raspberry Pi. This single-board, programmable computer was made by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and has since sold over 19 million units.

However, though the Foundation’s original idea was to help with the teaching of computer science in schools, many business uses have also been found for the Pi. Here are just a few examples of Pi-powered creations designed to excel in the enterprise.

Web server 

SEO consultant Daniel Foley has told The Enterprisers Project that, though multiple uses exist for the Raspberry Pi, “some of the best for businesses are using it as a web server or as a bot for social media.” 

He added: “Having this small machine as the backbone of your website is incredible, and having automated content sent to your followers so that related content can be shared even when no-one is in the office is incredibly powerful.”

Email server

Despite the persistent threat of phishing, many companies have continued to leave exploitable gaps in their email security. 

However, Computerworld staff writer Charlotte Trueman states: “You can set up an email server on a Raspberry Pi with relative ease, all you need is a memory card, a power supply, a static IP address and access to the Raspberry Pi via a keyboard and a monitor and an internet connection.”

Once this server has been built, you can secure emails by saving them solely onto the Pi.

VPN

Otherwise known as a virtual private network, this can add a further layer of security to your corporate operations by re-routing your traffic through a server sat in a different location to where you have your internet connection. 

Though both consumer- and enterprise-grade VPN solutions are available, the latter can be somewhat expensive — making a Pi-based alternative potentially the more cost-effective option.

You will, however, need a Pi as well as a Pi-compatible keyboard or monitor. A specialist online store like The Pi Hut could provide you with an array of hardware required by the VPN.

Wi-Fi router

Though your office is likely to already have a wireless internet connection as standard, you obviously won’t be able to take that with you on business trips.

Since the Wi-Fi offered in hotel rooms can be notoriously bad, you could build yourself a Pi-powered Wi-Fi router. You could then pack that in your suitcase in preparation for when you will next be in need of a reliable Wi-Fi connection on your travels.

Facial recognition system

Michael Yurushkin, the founder of BroutonLab, has revealed to The Enterprisers Project: “Our office uses a Raspberry Pi for face recognition, and it’s connected to an electronic lock to our door. It also notifies us if someone’s at the door.”

Nonetheless, Yurushkin concedes that this particular Pi creation is “not so much about security, as it was about us testing an AI model we built.” For your own business, the same project could remain enjoyably experimental.