What is an Intranet?

A private network utilized by a company might be referred to as an intranet. Its main objectives are to support safe staff communication, information archiving, and teamwork. Employees can create profiles, submit, like, comment on, and share posts using social intranet features that are common in contemporary intranets.

What is Intranet?

An intranet is a kind of private network. For example, an intranet is used by different organizations and only members/staff of that organization have access to this. It is a system in which multiple computers of an organization (or the computers you want to connect) are connected through an intranet. As this is a private network, so no one from the outside world can access this network. So many organizations and companies have their intranet network and only its members and staff have access to this network. This is also used to protect your data and provide data security to a particular organization, as it is a private network and does not leak data to the outside world.

Working of Intranet

An intranet is a network confined to a company, school, or organization that works like the Internet. Let us understand more about the working of the intranet with the help of a diagram, as shown below:

Here in this diagram, a company or an organization has created its private network or intranet for its work(intranet network is under the circle). The company or organization has many employees(in this diagram, we have considered 3). So, for their access, they have PC 1, PC 2, and PC 3(In the real world there are many employees as per the requirements of an organization). Also, they have their server for files or data to store, and to protect this private network, there is a Firewall. This firewall protects and gives security to the intranet server and its data from getting leaked to any unwanted user. So, a user who has access to the intranet can only access this network. So, no one from the outside world can access this network. Also, an intranet user can access the internet but a person using the internet cannot access the intranet network.

Why is Intranet Important?

Intranets play a crucial role in organizations by providing a centralized platform for seamless internal communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, thereby significantly enhancing productivity, streamlining operations, and fostering a culture of innovation and efficiency. Here are the reasons that increase its importance:

• Improves internal communication
• Connects employees across locations and time zones
• Boosts recognition and reward
• Simplifies employee onboarding
• Provides organizational clarity
• Encourages knowledge sharing

Features of Intranet

• Document management: The ability to store, organize, and share documents.
• Collaboration tools: The ability to collaborate on projects and tasks.
• News and announcements: The ability to share news and announcements with employees.
• Employee directory: The ability to find contact information for employees.
• Training and development: The ability to provide training and development resources to employees.
• HR resources: The ability to access HR-related information, such as benefits and policies.
• Support services: The ability to submit support tickets and get help from IT.

Advantages of Intranet

• In the intranet, the cost of conveying data utilizing the intranet is very low.
• Using intranet employees can easily get data anytime and anywhere.
• It is easy to learn and use.
• It can be utilized as a correspondence center point where employees can store data at whatever point they need and download files in just a few seconds.
• It connects employees with each other.
• The documents stored on the intranet are much more secure.

Disadvantages of Intranet

• The expense of actualizing intranets is normally high.
• The staff of the company or organization require special training to know how to use the system.
• Data overloading.
• Although the intranet provides good security, but it still lacks in some places.

Difference Between Intranet and Extranet

“What is Internet and how does it different from extranet” this question might be aries into your mind when we study about Intranet, communication and networks. Here we discussed about it properly.

Internet	Externet
Internet is the private network that used for communication with in the organization.	extranet is an intranet that grants access to those outside of an organization to certain information and applications.
Restricted to internal members of the organization.	Provides controlled access to external users, allowing them to interact with specific resources or information.
Facilitates internal communication, collaboration, and information sharing among employees.	Supports collaboration and information exchange between an organization and its trusted external partners, suppliers, or customers.
Typically has stronger security measures and access controls	Requires robust security measures to maintain data integrity and protect sensitive information shared with external parties.

Difference Between Internet and Intranet

As we talk about the Intranet, it is too obvious to compare it with the Internet and for that, we have to look on the differences of both.

Internet	Intranet
Internet is available to all computers and everybody has access.	Intranet is limited and available to few computers(members who have access).
The Internet has wider access and it provides access to a larger population with better access to its websites.	Intranet is restricted.
The internet is not as safe as Intranet.	Intranet is safe and secure when it comes to data security and Intranet can be safely privatized as per the user requirement

Similarities Between the Internet and Intranet

As we talk about the Intranet, it is too obvious to compare it with the Internet and for that, we have to look on the similarities of both.

Internet	Intranet
TCP/IP and FTP are the protocol of Internet.	Intranet uses TCP/IP and FTP .
internet sites are accessible to all and intranet hosted sites are available only to its members or staff’s with access.	Via web browser Intranet sites are accessible in the same as internet sites are accessible.
There is yahoo messenger or Gtalk available on the internet	Similarly, There is own instant messenger available in Intranet.

Uses of Intranet

An intranet software is mainly used by organizations as a tool :

• Intranet share organizational updates.
• Intranets become the center repository where important information. news and company data are stored. We can store files using intranet.
• Easy to communicate with employees. They create employee directories and organization charts readily available, improving internal corporate communications. Intranet connect employees of the organization
• Easy to access information. Using intranet collaborate with teams across borders
• Productivity increase using Intranet.
• Give employees a voice in the organization

Examples of Intranets

Here are some popular examples of intranet software used by various organizations across the globe:

• Microsoft SharePoint
• Google Workspace
• Zoho Connect
• Confluence
• Joomla
• Drupal

FAQs on Intranet

1. Can intranet work without Internet?

The fundamental technology that makes intranet connectivity possible is the Internet. Internal and intranet are typically kept separate to protect the security of the intranet. Employee computers must be connected to local area network(LAN) of company in order to access the intranet. These computers must be filled with web browser software, such as Safari, Firefox, or Internet Explorer. for security act as gatekeepers, firewalls are set up.

2. What is the purpose of Intranet?

An organization may employ an intranet for a variety of reasons. An intranet is primarily utilized for productivity. Its goals are to foster internal communication, enable cooperation, and link staff. An intranet can help organizations overcome social barriers, among other issues, depending on their organizational structure.

3. What is an intranet site?

An intranet can be thought of as staff website of a company that is not available to the general public via the Internet. Imagine an intranet as a space where staff members may “e-meet,” connect, collaborate, engage with the company, and get to know one another. Features popularized by well-known social networks are introduced in a social intranet.

4. Who can access the intranet network?

Members who have access to this intranet network. because intranet are used by different organizations and only members/staff of that organization have the access to this. 

5. Why intranet is more secured and safe, when it comes to data security?

Intranet is safe and secure when it comes to data security, because intranet can be safely privatized as per the user requirement hereas the internet is not safe as Intranet.

6. Which task can a company perform with intranets

A company can utilize intranets to accomplish a wide range of tasks. Below are some examples of the tasks that can be performed using intranets. The specific features and functionalities may differ based on the intranet platform and the company’s requirements.

1. Internal Communication
2. Document Management
3. Knowledge Sharing
4. Employee Self-Service
5. Training and Development
6. Task and Project Management
7. Company Policies and Procedures

Sample Questions on Intranet

Question 1: Who can access the intranet network?

(A) Anyone with internet access

(B) only internet users

(C) Members who have access to this intranet network

(D) No one

Solution:

The correct option is C, i.e., members who have access to this intranet network.

Because intranet are used by different organizations and only members/staff of that organization have the access to this. 

Question 2: Internet is limited and available to a few PCs (members who have access)? True or False?

Solution:

False because internet is accessible to all. It is not a private network.

Question 3: Which network is more secured and safe, when it comes to data security?

(A) Internet 

(B) Both internet and intranet

(C) Intranet

(D) None of the above

Solution:

The correct option is C, i.e., Intranet

Because intranet is safe and secure when it comes to data security, intranet can be safely privatized as per the user requirement whereas the internet is not safe as Intranet.  

Question 4: __________  is a private network and does not leak data to the outside world.

(A) Intranet

(B) Both internet and intranet

(C) Internet

(D) None of the above

Solution:

The correct option is A, i.e., Intranet

Question 5:  Internet and Intranet both uses __________ .

(A) yahoo messenger 

(B) Gtalk 

(C) Server for data storage

(D) TCP/IP and FTP 

Solution: 

The correct option is D, i.e., TCP/IP and FTP

Question 6: Internet is restricted whereas Intranet has wider access? True or False?

Solution:

False because intranet is restricted whereas the Internet has wider access and it provides access to a larger population with better access to its websites.