Updated July 28, 2023
Difference Between Internet vs Intranet
Internet is a global connection of multiple interconnected networks of computers that uses the standard TCP or IP. Every system has a unique IP that comprises a set of numbers and helps find the computer’s location. A specially designed computer, Domain Name Server, provides IP to locate the user. The Internet can be accessed all over the globe. Simultaneously, the Intranet of any system is connected across multiple computers that cannot be accessed by the world but are limited to certain areas. All the enterprise has its dedicated intranet connection to its employees to access the servers. Every computer linked in the intranet has its unique IP and is differentiated accordingly. The similarities and differences between the internet and intranet are discussed in this article.
Head to Head Comparison between Internet vs Intranet (Infographics)
Below is the top 7 Comparison between Internet vs Intranet:
Key Differences between Internet vs Intranet
Let’s discuss the major differences like applications, advantages, working, and limitations are explained in this section. below we discuss the top comparison between Internet vs Intranet:
1. Working
The internet is built by multiply connected computer networks that are not possessed by entities. It cannot be managed by an admin in the world who doesn’t own it. IP/TCP protocol is the important impelling agent of the internet that is used by linked networks apart from SMTP, HTTP, and FTP. At the same time, an intranet is a dedicated private network that employs internet protocols that can access and share an enterprise’s information that can be secured with staff. It works on the same server-client design, which can be executed on an IP/TCP protocol that is similar to the internet. The data enclosed in a company can be extracted with the guidance of browsers. It operates without the requirement to install a special program on the machine of the user.
2. Advanced Features
The internet’s significant features are its global network, which can connect billions of computers, and it is decentralized where every computer can work without any dependency and has different methods to access the internet. The intranet is accurate and rapid and has a strong firewall that saves the enterprise from external threats. It is simple to monitor and can be easily interacted with to share the views of the employee. Most web pages with large graphical videos, images process at a faster pace on the intranet.
3. Applications
The internet and intranet’s important applications are E-commerce, sharing of files, browsing different types of data, video, and voice conferencing, browsing and downloading patches, files, and programs. It enables the search option for the web address to access the chat options and search engine and shares company description with its policies, rules, and regulations. It enables the user to access product, employee database, customer information, and use the specific home pages and launches personal information with report submissions and telephone directories.
4. Advantages
The internet can be accessed from all parts of the world and enables the user to send a message from any location. It helps the user to receive or transfer the files between different servers. By implying the internet, the user can participate in any meetings, groups, mail chains, and discussion groups. It enables all the large, medium, and small-sized enterprises to sell the products in minimum investments. The published information is viewed worldwide and creates awareness for people with trending technologies and updated news worldwide. The world connects people so close, and like-minded people can interact via video calls, forums, communities, chats, and social media websites. But the advantages of the intranet are too limited. It requires minimum cost for deployment, and its dependent to open standards of enterprise and enables the connections with other systems. It provides easy access to external and internal information, which enhances the communication between multiple channels.
5. Disadvantages
The internet’s limitations enable everyone to speak about whatever they think without any censor board or limitations, which creates a bad influence on sensitive minds. Sometimes, fake results can be displayed by search engines and fail to give reliable news. The internet can replace in-person meeting and fails to realize the human touch. It also makes us lazier to find the nearby restaurant and best hotels. The operation of the internet is tiring. Whereas the intranet’s limitations can be constrained across certain bandwidth, sharing of information is a threat according to the company’s policy. The overloaded data lower productivity with unknown complexity.
Comparison Table of Internet vs Intranet
The table below summarizes the comparisons between Internet vs Intranet:
| Attributes | Internet | Intranet |
| Definition | The Internet can be accessed via all PC around the globe and offers better and wider access to websites with a larger population. But it is not safe like an intranet as it can be privatized safe as per requirement. | It uses fundamental protocols like FTP, TCP, and IP and accessible through a web browser but with limited and registered members. The websites can be accessed similar to the internet and have an instant messenger like Gtalk and yahoo over the internet. |
| Availability | It is available worldwide. | It is designed for a constrained set of users. |
| Components | It is comprised of multiple numbers of the intranet. | It is accessible only from the user with specific restrictions. |
| User | Most of the people in this world are using the internet in their day to day activities. | Only a minimum number of people uses an intranet. |
| Data | All types of information are available to the user. The Internet is a public network. | Information regarding that enterprise and its requirement is available. An intranet is a private network. |
| Applications | The web-based applications are available on the internet and intranet like Microsoft internet explorer, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, which has HTTP as an additional protocol. | Here the applications are software-oriented. It is similar to applications like document publishing, instant messengers, browsers, and residing on the local servers. |
| Examples | Nowadays, all the business became online, and it’s completely dependent on the internet to reach clients. | The best example of an intranet is Microsoft Sharepoint, including an active directory, sharing of files with internal features. |
Conclusion
The internet and intranet become essential things in this world. Without using the internet, nothing can be reached, and for an enterprise, a dedicated intranet is set up for safety precautions.
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