Internet, Intranet, and Extranet
Internet is the world's largest computer network, the network of networks, scattered all over the world. It is considered the largest information highway by far. It was created as a project for the US Department of Defense to transfer data among widely separated computers. From a handful of computers and users in the 1960s, today the Internet has grown to thousands of computer networks that can connect millions of users. Example: www. In general, the users of the Internet can be categorized into three parts:
1. Getting Information
We can get information about people, products, organizations, and many other things from the Internet. Apart from this, we can use search facilities (i.e., search engines) to find topics and information within seconds. Getting information using the Internet has changed the way people live and act.
2. Provide Information
An organization or institution can set up its homepage and let people around the world know about its products and services. The Internet is the cheapest medium for advertising. Programs like distance learning are also possible through the Internet.
3. Compile Information
It is possible to conduct surveys and gather opinions from people around the world.
Intranet
Intranet is a term often used to refer to private connections of LANs and WANs that belong to an organization and are designed to be accessible only by the organization's members, employees, or authorized users.
Intranet is also a network of networks, but it is not public; it is a private network group owned by a particular organization. Only authorized and authenticated users of that organization can use these networks.
Intranet is based on Internet technology to build information systems within an organization or enterprise. It allows organizations to build groupware within a web environment at low cost using existing network infrastructure. Example: banks’ network.
It also uses the same protocols as the Internet. Intranet connects a set of clients using standard Internet protocols and inherits all the features of the Internet. It is useful for promoting business and education. It is private, and only authorized people can use it. If permission is given to access the intranet remotely, it is termed an extranet.
Extranet
An organization may use an extranet to provide secure access to individuals who work for a different organization but require access to the organization's data. It is private, and only authorized users can access it.
An extranet combines both the Internet and the intranet. It extends an intranet or internal network to other users over the Internet. Most extranets can be accessed via a web interface using a web browser and typically require authentication. Extranets are often used by companies that need to share selective information with other businesses or individuals.
Examples of Extranet:
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A company providing access to outside suppliers and contractors.
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A hospital providing a booking system to doctors for patient appointments.
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A local education office providing budget and personnel information to schools in its district.
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Banks’ ATM networks.
The intranet is only accessible from within the organization, while the extranet is accessible outside the company.
Conclusion
Internet, intranet, and extranet serve distinct but interconnected purposes in the digital world. While the Internet connects millions of users globally, intranets provide secure, private communication within organizations, and extranets extend controlled access to external users. Together, they enable efficient information sharing, collaboration, and business operations while maintaining security and privacy for organizations and users.