Intranet briefly explained
Published on:
March 30, 2022
Reading time:
minutes
Almost everyone has heard of the Internet. But what is meant by the term intranet? At least it is not a spelling mistake. This article will go into the exact explanation.
What is Intranet?
An intranet is a network that (unlike the Internet) is not publicly accessible. Among other things, this means that the content cannot be accessed via a search engine. In most cases, companies and public institutions use the intranet to access content jointly or to make information available to all employees. Internal communication can also be handled via the intranet. Apart from this, the intranet can be tailored to the company in terms of its functions. Technically, the data is stored on a central server that is controlled by the company's computers - in this way, the devices are networked with each other.
The purpose of the intranet
Companies and government agencies often work with sensitive data - be it information from customers or internal business data that must not be made public. At the same time, there is a great interest in employees being able to quickly exchange electronic data with each other - despite spatial separation. The intranet offers the ideal solution to this problem. Secure communication and working with large data sets are no problem. The administrator should regularly take care of data backups, because this is the only major weakness of the intranet: If a server fails and data is lost as a result, it is irretrievably lost. These can then only be restored with a data backup.
The advantages of the intranet
Fast and easy communication is essential for companies. It should not matter whether employees are sitting across the table from each other or working on different continents. At the same time, data protection must be observed. This is where the great strengths of the intranet come into play. By storing data on the company's own servers, it does not have to be uploaded to external services. Central changes that are relevant for all employees can also be made in just a few steps. In addition, intranet functions and access can be controlled in detail and on a company-specific basis. Furthermore, employees usually do not need any training to use the intranet, as it is intuitive to use
Various applications
As already mentioned, the intranet is used in particular by companies and public authorities. In some companies, the intranet has partially taken over the function of a social network: From short chat messages to own profiles to forum discussions, the technical possibilities are (almost) unlimited. Particularly in large companies, the intranet is also intended to strengthen the sense of belonging. The uniform presentation of the various applications and the user interface increases the identity with the company.
Conclusion
The intranet, like the Internet, is a network through which multiple computers can share information. Unlike the Internet, however, the intranet is not publicly accessible. This makes it especially interesting for companies and public authorities. Through the intranet they can share important information, provide databases for joint work and improve communication between employees. The high level of security and the possible customizations to the company complete the profile of the intranet as a useful tool for modern data exchange.
All articles of the blog series about Social Intranet can be found here:
Checklist for a good social intranet
June 07, 2022
Increase employee engagement with social intranet
May 10, 2022
The social intranet and its special features
May 03, 2022
