What Is an Intranet?

An intranet is similar in many ways to the Internet — but restricted to users within a single company. (Intranets that extend outside the company are known as extranets.) Intranets use Web servers to distribute information, and users view intranet content with the same Web browsers they would use

on the Internet. Intranets also use standard Internet protocols, such as TCP/IP and HTML, to transmit and publish information as well as for transferring files, email, newsgroups and other network resources.

Just as people use the Internet to publish and share information, companies use intranets to share information among their employees. Intranets are much cheaper to build and easier to manage than other kinds of private networks.

Intranets can solve many of the communications problems that plague businesses of every size. They provide quick access to everything from company handbooks to downloadable insurance forms; employees can find whatever information they need, whether they're at home, at work, or on the road. Companies can save money by putting documents onto an intranet and allowing employees to print them as needed, rather than printing thousands of copies in advance. Even something as simple as a corporate phone directory works better as an intranet document, since employees can instantly make changes and view updates without waiting. Increasingly, both large and small companies are putting mission-critical business practices on their intranets, often realizing huge savings.