Differentiate Between Intranet, Extranet, and Internet

Last updated on December 3rd, 2023 at 12:37 am

Intranet, extranet, and Internet are three distinct networking concepts that play crucial roles in connecting people and resources in today’s digital age. Each serves a different purpose and has unique characteristics. In this article, we will be looking at the following:

• Definition of extranet;
• Definition of the term Internet; and
• Definition of intranet.

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Definition of extranet

Extranet refers to a private network that allows organizations to securely share information and collaborate with external parties such as customers, suppliers, partners, or other stakeholders. It is an extension of an organization’s intranet (internal network) and provides controlled access to specific resources and services to authorized external users.

Definition of Internet

Define intranet

An intranet is a private computer network used within an organization or a group of organizations to allow communication, collaboration, and information sharing among its members. Each network uses different topologies to share resources.

Benefits of the intranet, extranet and Internet

The Internet is a worldwide network that connects billions of users worldwide. It offers a wide range of benefits.

Intranets and extranets are both used by organizations to facilitate communication, collaboration, and information sharing due to them being private networks. They also have a wide range of benefits that can help improve efficiency, productivity, and safety within an organization. Some of the key benefits of the Internet, intranets, and extranets are:

Internet:

• Global connectivity;
• Vast information resources;
• E-commerce;
• Social networking; and
• Collaboration.

Intranets:

• Internal communication;
• Document sharing;
• Collaboration;
• Employee training;
• Efficiency;
• Cost savings; and
• Security.

Extranets:

• External collaboration;
• Customer support;
• Supplier management;
• Enhanced partnerships;
• Remote access;
• Customization; and
• Scalability.

Level of privacy available on the intranet, extranet, and Internet

When it comes to the level of privacy associated with intranet, internet, and extranet, it goes in this order:

1. Intranet offers a high level of privacy.
2. Extranet offers a medium level of privacy; and
3. The Internet offers a low level of privacy.

Many different devices are used to connect computing devices on a network. Some of these devices are switches, modems, routers, and network adapters.

An in-depth explanation of the levels of privacy applicable to intranets, extranets, and the Internet

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the varying levels of privacy offered by different network types:

1. Intranet:
   • Intranets are private networks that are limited to everyone within the organization.
   • High Privacy: Intranets are typically highly private, as they are isolated from the public internet. Companies restrict access to resources and data on the intranet to authorized users within their organizations.
   • Access Control: We use access controls, such as firewalls, authentication, and authorization mechanisms, to ensure that only authorized users will have access to the intranet resources.
   • Secure Communication: Intranets often employ encryption and secure communication protocols to protect data in transit within the network.
2. Internet:
   • The Internet is the global network that connects computers and networks worldwide.
   • Low Privacy: The public internet is inherently less private because it is accessible by anyone with an internet connection.
   • Security Measures: To enhance privacy and security on the internet, organizations use various security measures such as VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), HTTPS for secure web browsing, and encryption for sensitive data transmission.
3. Extranet:
   • An extranet is a controlled extension of an organization’s intranet, allowing selected external parties, such as customers, partners, or suppliers, to access specific resources or services.
   • Moderate Privacy: Extranets provide a moderate level of privacy.
   • Access Control: Access control mechanisms are crucial in extranets to ensure that only authorized external users can access the designated resources.
   • Secure Communication: Secure communication protocols and encryption are used to protect data transmitted between the organization and external parties over the extranet.

Before you go

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