A private network that belongs to a particular organization

The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a network of networks that consists of private, public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope, linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless, and optical networking technologies. The Internet carries a vast range of information resources and services, such as the inter-linked hypertext documents and applications of the World Wide Web (WWW), electronic mail, telephony, and file sharing.

Internet is different from the World Wide Web (WWW) as the World Wide Web is a network of computers and servers created by connecting them through the internet. So, the internet is the backbone of the web as it provides the technical infrastructure to establish the WWW and acts as a medium to transmit information from one computer to another computer. It uses web browsers to display the information on the client, which it fetches from web servers.

The internet works with the help of clients and servers. A device such as a laptop, which is connected to the internet is called a client, not a server as it is not directly connected to the internet. However, it is indirectly connected to the internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and is identified by an IP address, which is a string of numbers.

The internet is managed by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) located in the USA. It manages IP addresses assignment, domain name registration, etc.

The intranet is a private network that belongs to a particular organization. It is designed for the exclusive use of an organization and its associates, such as employees, customers, and other authorized people. It offers a secure platform to convey information and share data with authorized users. Confidential information, database, links, forms, and applications can be made available to the staff through the intranet. So, it is like a private internet or an internal website that is operating within an organization to provide its employees access to its information and records. Each computer in intranet is identified by a unique IP (Internet Protocol) Address.

It is based on internet protocols (TCP/IP) and is protected from unauthorized access with firewalls and other security systems. The firewall monitors the incoming and outgoing data packets to ensure they don't contain unauthorized requests. So, users on the intranet can access the internet, but the internet users can't access the intranet if they are not authorized for it. Furthermore, to access the intranet, the authorized user is required to be connected to its LAN (Local Area Network).

An extranet is a private network organization, which is actually the part of respective company’s intranet and its services are extended to users outside the company. It is a communication network that is based on internet protocols (TCP/IP). It provides controlled access to firm's intranet to its trading partners, customers, and other businesses.

An extranet service requires firewall server management in order to provide security and privacy.

The advantages of Extranet services are as follows :

    It makes business (services) swift and faster.
    It helps greatly in improving the business communication.
    It helps in reducing the cost (especially in terms of stationery stuff).
    It helps in improving the efficiency and confidence of the employees.
    It reduces some big physical barriers (especially the geographical distance).

Major Fields Using Extranet :

    Corporate houses
    Government offices
    Education centers

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 PCs of an organization (or the PCs you want to connect) are connected to each other through 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 own 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.

Let us understand more about intranet with the help of a diagram, as shown below:

Here in this diagram, a company or an organization has created its own 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 own 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.    

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.

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 and differences of both. There are many similarities and differences between the Internet and Intranet:  

Similarities between the internet and intranet:

• Intranet uses TCP/IP and FTP which are internet protocols.
• Via web browser Intranet sites are accessible in the same as internet sites are accessible. But internet sites are accessible to all and intranet hosted sites are available only to its members or staff’s with access.
• As there is yahoo messenger or Gtalk available on the internet, similarly there is own instant messenger available in Intranet.

Differences between the internet and intranet:

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

Sample Problems

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.

What is a private network accessible only to an organization's staff?

What is a private internal network setup by the organization for the use for their employees alone?

What is intranet and extranet?

What extranet means?