What should we use as a small management device at remote sites?

A small fanless appliance or business mini PC is a good middle ground. For example, it can run Ubuntu with WireGuard, network-analysis software, and a remote console tool. Repurposed corporate desktops can also work, but use a clean supported installation and include the device in your normal security, backup, update, and monitoring processes.

A small NUC or repurposed business desktop works well as long as it is treated like real infrastructure. Keep it patched, monitored, documented, and secured rather than leaving a permanently logged-in Windows session exposed. If a site already has a server, a small jump-box VM is another sensible option.

For very small sites, a Raspberry Pi or similar low-power device can handle basic checks. Put it on a site-to-site VPN or an overlay VPN, then use it for connectivity tests, router status, bandwidth measurements, and local availability checks. A central dashboard such as Grafana can collect the results from every site.

Whatever hardware you choose, make sure there are at least two independent ways to reach the site. A remote-access tool over the normal connection plus an out-of-band option can save you when the primary route, VPN, or management service fails. Don’t create a device that becomes the only path back into the office.

If you mainly need monitoring, you may not need a management PC at all. An RMM platform can handle endpoint management, patching, and remote access, while a monitoring system such as PRTG, Zabbix, LibreNMS, or a hosted service can monitor the network devices and site connectivity. The ISP may also provide WAN performance statistics.