Internet vs. Intranet: what is the difference?

macfranc007 October 25, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Abigail Konkwo

Internet and Intranet are the two very similar words which possess almost similar meanings. Understanding the difference between Internet and Intranet will prevent you from confusing these words ever again.

What is Intranet?

Intranet can be called a ‘mini Internet’, which is an internal connection in any enterprise, based on the same principals as the global network. Typically, Intranet contains employees’ data, company partners, the information about company’s innovations and events.

The intranet is often erroneously referred to as an internal organization website. In fact, Intranet is much more complicated than that. The same Internet technologies are used in Intranet like hypertext, HTTP protocol etc. The main difference lies in their scale.

What is Extranet?

An extranet is a corporate web portal designed not only for use inside a company, but it is also appropriate for cooperation with external contractors, such as partners, clients, potential employees, service providers etc.

There is practically no difference between Intranet and Extranet. The difficulties come up only on the level of providing some corporate information to other companies.

Differences between Internet and Intranet

Difference between Internet and Intranet

First and foremost, the Internet is a bigger and more dynamical system. The intranet is a locked up network, cut off from the external world and it is only developed depending on the initiative that controls it. The Internet is not controlled by anybody, which is why its development happens naturally.
Intranet has no entertaining function. It only exists for data systematizing and processing of a company. Intranet fulfills a communicative function, as well. Meanwhile, Internet fulfills them both and even more.
Internet and Intranet have different goals. The Internet is a global network which has no frames in sharing information. Intranet has only the resources that employees might need.
The intranet is run by one server, which manages all its tasks. The Internet has multiple servers all over the world due to the scale of stored data.

In conclusion, the Internet is much bigger than Intranet. The intranet is always under control, unlike the Internet. Internet develops freely while the Intranet's development is completely stipulated by the company policy.

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