Intranet is a computer network specifically designed in order to meet the needs of one organisation, group or company. An Intranet setup is based on Internet technology and uses the same protocols that the Internet does – TCP and IP. While it can be, an Intranet network isn’t necessarily open to the general Internet, and in all but the rarest cases, it cannot be accessed from the outside.
Technipages Explains Intranet
Instead, it makes it possible for the organisation to make resources available all the way across the organisation. Because the protocols are the same, users can still use familiar web clients and email services in order to communicate among themselves. Employee manuals, telephone directories and more can be published this way, without the general public also being able to get to them. It saves the need for paper copies, as employees can access the content via the network easily.
In the rare cases that an intranet is open to strategic allies and partners, such as suppliers, customers, research labs or remote branches of an organisation, it’s not referred to as an Intranet, but rather an Extranet. This sort of opening is done extremely selectively and in most cases, not at all – Intranets are supposed to provide access to resources within a select group, and without outside sources being able to access it. Generally, it will be established via LAN and WAN technology – so local and wide area network tech.
The benefits are obvious – time can be used better and more effectively, while communication and use of shared resources can happen much more easily.
Common Uses of Intranet
- An Intranet is used within an organisation to allow the sharing of resources effectively and without giving the rest of the world easy access.
- While an Intranet may or may not be connected to the general Internet, this would be a one-way connection that doesn’t allow outside sources to connect to the network.
- While not every organisation employs an Intranet, their use can definitely be beneficial for employees and the company alike.
Common Misuses of Intranet
- By using an Intranet, employees have access to resources beyond those of the normal Internet.