What is Intranet?

An intranet is a computer network that uses Internet Protocol technology to securely share any part of an organization's information or network operating system within that organization. It is the connection of computer networks in a local area. The term is used in contrast to internet, a network between organizations, and instead refers to a network within an organization. Sometimes, the term refers only to the organization's internal website, but may be a more extensive part of the organization's information technology infrastructure. It may host multiple private websites and constitute an important component and focal point of internal communication and collaboration. Any of the well known Internet protocols may be found in an intranet, such as HTTP (web services), SMTP (e-mail), and FTP (file transfer protocol). Internet technologies are often deployed to provide modern interfaces to legacy information systems hosting corporate data. An intranet can be understood as a private analog of the Internet, or as a private extension of the Internet confined to an organization. The first intranet websites and home pages began to appear in organizations in 1996-1997. Although not officially noted, the term intranet first became common-place among early adopters, such as universities and technology corporations, in 1992 Intranets have also contrasted with extranets. While intranets are generally restricted to employees of the organization, extranets may also be accessed by customers, suppliers, or other approved parties. Extranets extend a private network onto the Internet with special provisions for authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA protocol). In many organizations, intranets are protected from unauthorized external access by means of a network gateway and firewall. For smaller companies, intranets may be created simply by using private IP ranges, such as 192.168.*.*. In these cases, the intranet can only be directly accessed from a computer in the local network; however, companies may provide access to off-site employees by using a virtual private network. Other security measures may be used, such as user authentication and encryption. Intranet is a network based on the Internet that is accessed by the employees of an organization. An Intranet provides easy access to internal files and documents to the various employees of the organization, from their individual workstations. Sharing of data, made possible through the Intranet, not only helps in saving time of employees, but also allows employees from various levels to access data. It also contributes to a paperless office.

Benefits of Intranet
Most of today's modern businesses are adopting intranet technology due its competitive advantages in dealing with the corporate information essential for any business. The various benefits of intranet to business can be broadly classified as under: Communication: Intranet is extremely useful for communication and collaboration between the employees for successful functioning of any business organization. Intranet provides this to businesses in the form of tools like discussion groups, Intranet forms, and bulletin boards. Using intranet tools help in conveying and distributing necessary information or documents among the employees of an organization. This results in easy communication and sound relationship between the employees and top level management. Today, many business houses working on projects use intranet tools, discussion forms, chats, emails, electronic bulletin boards, etc. that help in communicating between different departments of an organization. Time Saving: All businesses know the importance of time. Using Intranet technology allows to distribute valuable information among the employees in a fast and efficient manner. Intranet saves time by interactivity, i.e employees can access information at a relevant times that suit them, rather than sending and waiting for email and email replies. Productivity: Intranet technology provides fast information to employees and helps to perform their various tasks with responsibility. An employee can access any data from any database of the organization without wastage of time. Employees working on projects can collaborate easily, ensuring better and faster results. Reduce Costs: An important benefit of Intranet is that it is cost-effective. This can be attributed to the fact that it is paperless. As Intranet supports online publishing, it definitely cuts down the printing and distribution costs as well. All the documents of the company can be published through the Intranet using web pages, as compared to spending money on printing documents. The information can be accessed from the respective workstations of the employees. Intranet results in reduced costs for corporate training, administrative and operational purposes. Incorporated and Distributed Computing Environment: Intranet supports an active distribution of stored information through different types of operating systems and computer types, from which the employees can access information. Intranet results in distributing information at a lower cost due to the web architecture feature of intranet. Increases Collaboration: As intranet allows all employees to access data, this helps build team work within the organization. Also certain contents of intranet like declaration section, help desk, FAQ, handbook of employee, etc., aids in collaboration among the employees.

Rich in Format: Intranet allows employees to view documents in various rich format applications as well as video and audio. Multimedia programs can be used with intranet as well, allowing for better communication and information being shared very fast. Apart from these benefits, Intranet also promotes equal corporate culture in information viewing. Intranet helps in maintaining good communication between different departments and also facilitates an immediate updation of operations. It provides teleconferencing software for interactive communication within the organization. Implementing Intranet in a business organization helps save significant time and money in the long run. Truly a boon to all business organizations, the benefits of intranet to business has made it a necessity rather than a luxury, for most organizations.

Composition of Intranet

Business Applications for an Intranet

Organizations everywhere are attempting to implement new, more efficient information technology solutions to common business needs. One of the key enabling technologies is an intranet: web-based applications running on the LAN to collect and display company information. This is one of the most versatile, cost-effective ways to support many business needs. Here are some examples of business applications that can be supported by an intranet (in conjunction with other server-side software such as a database):

Information Management:

Strategic Decision Support Enterprise resource management On-Line Analytical Protocol (OLAP) for data analysis Financial data reporting system Time & leave system Procurement and supply system Travel system Employee skills management, teaming Balanced Scorecard data collection and reporting Knowledge management, metadata development Y2K status database Performance-based promotion decision support

Marketing:

Promotional presentations (multimedia) Customer support Customer surveys

Workflow:

Distributed development teamwork (detachments, partners) Process control Project scheduling and task tracking Calendars for people and meeting rooms Process monitoring and data collection Productivity monitoring Activity-Based Costing Business Process Improvement support Signature authentication, approvals and tracking

Communications enhancement:

Secure communications Security testing and monitoring Registration form Internet telephone

Video and teleconferencing Anonymous channel ("rumor mill") Threaded discussions Chat server Push technology Groupware, e.g. NetMeeting Web email

Document Management:

News CAD viewer & server File servers Forms server Document management, library Research support using Intelligent Agents and profiles Search tools Server statistics & reports

Training:

Online training Online testing and certification Collaborative training

In light of this huge range of applications, it is no wonder that intranets are becoming increasingly important in the life and growth of corporations. Government agencies, too, are beginning to add intranet technology to their existing networks to enhance communications and outreach. This trend can be expected to grow rapidly.

Extranet
An extranet is a computer network that allows controlled access from the outside, for specific business or educational purposes. In a business-to-business context, an extranet can be viewed as

an extension of an organisation's intranet that is extended to users outside the organisation, usually partners, vendors, and suppliers, in isolation from all other Internet users. In contrast, business-to-consumer (B2C) models involve known servers of one or more companies, communicating with previously unknown consumer users. An extranet is similar to a DMZ in that it provides access to needed services for channel partners, without granting access to an organization's entire network.

Relationship to an intranet
An extranet can be understood as an intranet mapped onto the public Internet or some other transmission system not accessible to the general public, but managed by more than one company's administrator(s). For example, military networks of different security levels may map onto a common military radio transmission system that never connects to the Internet. Any private network mapped onto a public one is a virtual private network (VPN), often using special security protocols. For decades, institutions have been interconnecting to each other to create private networks for sharing information. One of the differences that characterizes an extranet, however, is that its interconnections are over a shared network rather than through dedicated physical lines. With respect to Internet Protocol networks, RFC 4364 states "If all the sites in a VPN are owned by the same enterprise, the VPN is a corporate intranet. If the various sites in a VPN are owned by different enterprises, the VPN is an extranet. A site can be in more than one VPN; e.g., in an intranet and several extranets. We regard both intranets and extranets as VPNs. In general, when we use the term VPN we will not be distinguishing between intranets and extranets. Even if this argument is valid, the term "extranet" is still applied and can be used to eliminate the use of the above description."[1] In the quote above from RFC 4364, the term "site" refers to a distinct networked environment. Two sites connected to each other across the public Internet backbone comprise a VPN. The term "site" does not mean "website." Thus, a small company in a single building can have an "intranet," but to have a VPN, they would need to provide tunneled access to that network for geographically distributed employees. Similarly, for smaller, geographically united organizations, "extranet" is a useful term to describe selective access to intranet systems granted to suppliers, customers, or other companies. Such access does not involve tunneling, but rather simply an authentication mechanism to a web server. In this sense, an "extranet" designates the "private part" of a website, where "registered users" can navigate, enabled by authentication mechanisms on a "login page". An extranet requires network security. These can include firewalls, server management, the issuance and use of digital certificates or similar means of user authentication, encryption of messages, and the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) that tunnel through the public network. Many technical specifications describe methods of implementing extranets, but often never explicitly define an extranet. RFC 3457 [1] presents requirements for remote access to extranets.

RFC 2709 [2] discusses extranet implementation using IPsec and advanced network address translation (NAT).

Enterprise applications
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, several industries started to use the term 'extranet' to describe centralised repositories of shared data (and supporting applications) made accessible via the web only to authorized members of particular work groups - for example, geographically dispersed, multi-company project teams. Some applications are offered on a Software as a Service (SaaS) basis. For example, in the construction industry, project teams may access a project extranet to share drawings, photographs and documents, and use online applications to mark-up and make comments and to manage and report on project-related communications. In 2003 in the United Kingdom, several of the leading vendors formed the Network for Construction Collaboration Technology Providers (NCCTP) to promote the technologies and to establish data exchange standards between the different data systems. The same type of construction-focused technologies have also been developed in the United States, Australia and mainland Europe.[3] Specially secured extranets are used to provide virtual data room services to help manage transactions between companies in sectors such as law and accountancy.

Advantages

Exchange large volumes of data using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Share product catalogs exclusively with trade partners Collaborate with other companies on joint development efforts Jointly develop and use training programs with other companies Provide or access services provided by one company to a group of other companies, such as an online banking application managed by one company on behalf of affiliated banks

Disadvantages

Extranets can be expensive to implement and maintain within an organization (e.g., hardware, software, employee training costs), if hosted internally rather than by an application service provider. Security of extranets can be a concern when hosting valuable or proprietary information.

Intranets and Extranets

An "intranet" is the generic term for a collection of private computer networks within an organization. An "extranet" is a computer network that allows controlled access from the outside

for specific business or educational purposes. Intranets and extranets are communication tools designed to enable easy information sharing within workgroups.