How to create a backend script without setting up a dedicated server?

Backend
1

I’m trying to figure out if there’s a way to create a backend solution without having to set up and maintain a full server.

Here’s what I’m working with:

  • There’s some data I need to access that’s protected by login credentials (it’s behind an IBM Portal system)
  • I want to grab this specific data and display it in a news feed on our internal company website
  • The portal can be reached from both inside and outside our network
  • I need something that can handle the login process, fetch the data, and return it for display
  • I can’t mess with the existing IBM Portal security settings just for this one piece of content
  • I really don’t want to spin up another server or service if I can avoid it (we have a web server but I can’t use it for this, and getting approval for new infrastructure is a nightmare)

Basically I need this to work like a standalone script that I can call via HTTP but keeps the authentication details safe and hidden from users. Is there a way to do this without a traditional server setup, or am I stuck needing to build a proper API service?

Any suggestions would be really helpful!

2

have you looked into serverless functions? something like AWS Lambda or Vercel could be your answer - you can manage auth and fetch data without the need to deal with servers. what’s the tech stack you’re using? that might help me give better suggestions!

3

if ur using netlify, def check their functions! super easy to set up and it handles serverless stuff without any hassle. just make sure to keep those ibm creds in env vars to keep them safe!

4

Google Cloud Functions could be perfect for this. I built something similar for a legacy system that needed authentication. The function stores login credentials securely in environment variables, authenticates with your IBM Portal, grabs the data, and returns JSON. Your company website can call it via HTTP without exposing any credentials to the frontend. The function handles the auth session internally, and you only pay when it runs - no server maintenance needed. Since the portal’s accessible from outside your network, this should work great with minimal infrastructure.