Intranet

From Free net encyclopedia

An intranet is a private computer network that uses Internet Protocols, network connectivity, and possibly the public telecommunication system to securely share part of an organization's information or operations with its employees. Sometimes the term refers only to the most visible service, the internal website. The same concepts and technologies of the Internet such as clients and servers running on the Internet protocol suite are used to build an intranet. HTTP and other Internet protocols are commonly used as well, especially FTP and email. There is often an attempt to use Internet technologies to provide new interfaces with corporate 'legacy' data and information systems.

A very common use of the terms "Intranet" and "Extranet" is to design the "private part" of a website, where "registered-on-site people" can navigate. The "login page" and the authentication mechanisms enable them. Generally in the sense that Intranet is for "employee exclusive contents", and Extranet for "customer/supplier exclusive contents".

There does not necessarily have to be any access from the organization's internal network to the Internet itself. Where there is, there will usually be a firewall with a gateway through which all access takes place, along with user authentication, encryption of messages, and the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) that tunnel through the public network. Through such devices, company information and computing resources can be shared by employees working from external locations.

Increasingly, intranets are being used to deliver tools and applications, eg: collaboration (to facilitate working in groups and for teleconferences) or sophisticated corporate directories, sales and CRM tools, project management, etc, to advance productivity.

Intranets are also being used as culture change platforms. For example, in IBM's "Jam" programme, large numbers of employees could discuss key issues in online forums, and key ideas surfaced with the aid of text analysis tools.

Intranet traffic, like public-facing web site traffic, is better understood by using web metrics software to track overall activity, as well as through surveys of users.

Intranet User Experience, Editorial, and Technology teams work together to produce in-house sites. Most commonly, intranets are owned by the communications, HR or CIO areas of large organizations, or some combination of the three.

When part of an intranet is made accessible to customers, partners, suppliers, or others outside the company, that part becomes part of an extranet.

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Advantages of an intranet

Workforce productivity: Intranets can help employees to quickly find and view information and applications relevant to their roles and responsibilities. Via a simple-to-use web browser interface, users can access data held in any database the organization wants to make available, anytime and - subject to security provisions - from anywhere, increasing employees' ability to perform their jobs faster, more accurately, and with confidence that they have the right information.
Time: With intranets, organizations can make more information available to employees on a "pull" basis (ie: employees can link to relevant information at a time which suits them) rather than being deluged indiscriminately by emails.
Communication: Intranets can serve as powerful tools for communication within an organization, vertically and horizontally.

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