Intranet vs Internet: A Guide for Enterprise Decision-Makers

Today, businesses rely on digital networks to operate efficiently and stay competitive. The internet, a vast public network connecting people globally, serves as a gateway to endless information and opportunities.

On the other hand, the intranet, a private and secure network accessible only to an organization’s employees, is tailored for internal communication and collaboration.

Understanding the unique roles of intranet vs internet is essential for enterprise decision-makers, as leveraging these networks effectively can significantly enhance business operations and productivity.

What Is the Internet?

The Internet is the most extensive network of computers in the world, commonly known as the World Wide Web. It provides access to information and services, enables communication, and allows transactions between individuals and organizations.
As a public network, the Internet is accessible to anyone with an Internet connection.

For example, a marketing manager might stay updated on the latest trends through Google searches, connect with potential clients via LinkedIn, share company updates on Twitter, analyze website traffic using Google Analytics, and collaborate with remote teams through platforms like Zoom.

What Is an Intranet?

An intranet is a private network that can be accessed only by authorized users in an organization. It is an internal secure network meant to boost communication, collaboration, and information sharing among employees. Most intranets are the avenues through which company news, policy, and procedure get distributed and opened to access the most critical and valuable tools and applications.

As a project manager, the intranet is the sole source of accessing internal documents, collaborating with team members on shared projects, booking rooms and equipment for meetings, receiving updates and announcements from the company, and submitting electronic expense reports and timesheets.

What Are the Differences Between the Internet and an Intranet?

This section considers the differences between the Internet and an intranet. It identifies the various aspects that differentiate them, ranging from accessibility, security, purpose, ownership, and infrastructure.

Understanding these differences will help organizations use and employ those networks effectively to enhance communication and collaboration.

Why Do Organizations Need an Intranet?

Depending on the specific needs of an organization, intranets find the following uses:

• Intranets serve as central archives. They are a repository of vital company data and information. 
• This system provides avenues for information sharing, allowing employees to interact and collaborate easily.
• It gives the employees personalized information specific to their roles within the organization.
• It makes employee directories and organization charts readily available. Corporate news improves internal corporate communication, making it easier for employees.
• It provides an easy way of accessing information. Employees find it easier to access policies, updates, and benefits by intranets.
• Social features on an intranet allow employees to create accounts and post content, receive status alerts, and browse a news feed, thereby facilitating engagement.
• Project management tools help users manage their projects by creating to-do lists, employee directorships, status updates, and resource availability.
• The automation of recurring duties is one of the parameters a company has managed to streamline.

The Advantages of Implementing an Intranet in Your Organization

Implementing an intranet can offer numerous benefits to organizations.

Here are some of the key advantages:

1.  Enhanced Communication

Now that the Intranets have brought a new dimension for communication, they have become a unique hub for employees to connect and an exciting platform to share information. Besides integrating top-down internal communications, this has also eliminated the silos of information that pervade organizations.

Now, through an integrated platform, employees do not need to rely on multiple fragmented communications through email or team chats; they easily access, look up, and share information and foster an enlightened communication environment. 

Further, with real-time updates and notifications, everyone is always kept abreast to reduce delays and miscommunication. This helps bring the whole flow of information into action, including bringing teams together with no location barriers to enhance project coordination and shorten delivery time frames.

2. Increased Productivity

Apart from enhancing communication, it provides various interfacing features through which redundant business processes are eliminated in a highly efficient manner, and administrative overhead is reduced to significant levels by automating most repetitive tasks in work processes.

Imagine no more having employees search through tons of emails to find critical documents. All information is centralized, so one access point will give access to all the essential information. Thanks to this easy availability of information, employees will be able to make decisions much quicker, perform their work efficiently, and ultimately enjoy increased overall productivity. 

And the intranet helps to rein in those who bombard us with endless email messages, further reducing their ability to distract and overload our minds with too much information. This environment of communication provides a clear path to concentration in maximum task time and minimum stress.

3. Stronger Company Culture

An important part of a strong and positive company culture engaged within the intranet is to facilitate social interaction and the exchange of knowledge, creating a sense of community and belonging.

It also recognizes achievements and links employees with shared interests. These create a much more engaging and inclusive work environment, whereby employees feel appreciated and valued.

Furthermore, they allow employees to communicate an organization’s values and mission statements and reinforce the message of a shared purpose and intention. They also involve interested employees in company activities and encourage participation, setting the tone for a more inspired and engaged workforce.

4. Enhanced Security

Due to the growing digitization in today’s world, data security has become the most important. Intranets ensure that the confidential data owned by the organization is protected quite vigorously. The user accesses this data, thus reducing the chances of data breaches and unauthorized access.

Moreover, firewalls and encryption have provided strong security measures that protect vital data from external threats. Employees are given access through control definitions, and security is higher to protect important intellectual property.

Also, employees have to build confidence in knowing that all sensitive data for the company and their work is well protected. Intranets lead to a safer world of work that facilitates the organization by enhancing its reputation and maintaining business continuity by reducing the risks of cyber attacks.

Choosing The Right Tool For The Right Job

Both intranets and the Internet are certainly important in the digital paradigm. However, they should serve different purposes and be engineered specifically for their uses.

The former connects any two or more people or businesses in the whole world. It gives them access to a deep well of information and knowledge for establishing online businesses and interactions with customers, as well as for all global social networking and community building. 

However, intranets are better used for internal linking, for example, internal integration and knowledge sharing, building a sense of community and belonging among employees, protecting company information, and controlling access to internal resources.

To Wrap Up

Understanding the differences between the internet and an intranet will allow an organization to choose the right digital strategy wisely. An excellent intranet could accomplish wonders in communicating, collaborating, and adding miles of productivity to the business. 

Complementing associated software, the EMPLOYEE App makes internal communications more contemporary and mobile-first. Adhering to the developing demands of modern-day remote and dispersed workers, it centralizes all necessary workplace information.

Furthermore, this platform empowers employees so that they can access the resources they need to perform jobs more positively. It simply bridges the existing tools by offering better employee engagement insights, thereby enabling communication and connection as well as a more productive and engaged workforce within.

Request a demo to learn more!

FAQs

What is the difference between an extranet and an intranet? 

An extranet is an internal network that gives limited access to authorized users, including external users, and is part of an organization’s internal networks. An intranet is a private, exclusive internal network system within an organization. On the other hand, an extranet involves extension beyond the boundaries of an organization.

Can an intranet be accessed from outside the organization’s network? 

Intranets are usually meant to be in a way that only internal organization members have access to. With the possible use of VPNs and other secure remote access technologies, authorized users can access the intranet from wherever they are physically located outside the local network.

How can I measure the success of an intranet? 

The success of an intranet is evaluated based on several factors, from the number of people adopting the system and the number of page views to search queries from possible users and satisfaction from employees through surveys.

Several modes of tracking these metrics can assist organizations in making decisions about the effectiveness of their intranets and help pinpoint specific areas of improvement. 

What are some common mistakes to avoid when implementing an intranet?

Some of the mistakes include: 

• Poor Planning and Design: A poorly designed intranet could be complicated and difficult to use and navigate. 
• Lack of User Training: There should be proper training concerning how an employee would use the intranet. 
• Ignoring Mobile Devices: For users to be able to access all intranets, they must also be optimized for mobile devices. 
• Neglecting content management: Successful intranets require regular updates and content maintenance to ensure the success of such infrastructural dedication.