Difference Between Internet and Intranet

Key Difference between Internet and Intranet

• The Internet is a wide network of computers that is available to all, whereas an Intranet is a network of computers designed for a certain group of users.
• The Internet is a public network, and the Intranet is a private network.
• The Internet contains various sources of information, while the Intranet only contains group-specific information.
• The number of internet users is very high, but the number of users of the Intranet is limited.
• Anyone can access the internet, while the Intranet is accessible only by the organization employees or admin who have login details.

Here, I have analyzed the difference between the Internet and the Intranet and will comprehensively evaluate their pros and cons.

What is Internet?

The internet is a global system that uses TCP/IP protocol suite to link various types of electric devices worldwide. The Internet is a collection of interconnected devices that are spread across the globe. The Internet is a network of networks that consist of public, private, sales, finance, academic, business, and government networks. The internet is a type of network called a network of networks.

What is Intranet?

An intranet is a private network that gives employees in a company the ability to organize information, manage documents, and share calendars and to-do lists. It normally runs in a client/server environment in a local area network.

In Intranet, every computer is connected via the LAN and has something known as an MAC address. It is a number that allows you to identify the place where the computer is located.

What is the difference between Internet and Intranet?

Here are the important differences between the Internet and the Intranet that we’ve observed:

How Does the Internet work?

The Internet is a network built by the interconnection of a large number of computer networks that are not owned by any entity. It is not admin by any administration any person in the world can join it.

TCP/IP protocol is the main impelling agent for the internet used by the connected networks apart from other protocols like FTP, HTTP, and SMTP.

How Does Intranet Works?

An intranet is a private computer network that uses internet protocols and network connectivity to access and share enterprise information and operations securely with its staff.

It uses the same client-server model that runs on the TCP/IP protocol suite, which is very much similar to the Internet. Information within an organization can be retrieved with the help of browsers. It could also work without the need to install special software on the user’s machines.

Features of the Internet

In my professional analysis, here are some important features of the Internet:

• A global network which connects millions of computers
• The internet is decentralized
• Every computer over the internet is independent
• There are various ways to access the internet

Features of Intranet

Here are the important features of the Intranet that we have identified through our direct experience:

• Intranet is fast and accurate.
• Most websites with large graphical images, videos, and sound process fast on Intranet
• Your firewall protects it from external threats.
• It is easy to monitor with your organization
• Easy communication across the company from all levels
• Helps to share ideas and discussions

Applications of Internet

From my extensive use, here are some important applications of the Intranet:

• Download programs and files
• To send and receive E-Mails
• Voice and video Conferencing
• E-Commerce
• File sharing
• Browsing various types of Information
• Search the web addresses for access through the search engine and chatting

Applications of Intranet

Here are some key applications of the Internet that we have utilized:

• Sharing the detail of company rules/policies & regulations
• Access employee database
• Access product & customer data
• Sharing some common information
• Intranet also used for launching personal or department-specific home pages
• Submission of reports
• Corporate telephone directories

How Do You Distinguish Between the Internet and an Intranet?

Here is my final conclusion of Internet vs Intranet: The Internet and an intranet differ primarily in their reach and accessibility. The Internet is a worldwide network accessible to everyone. This enables access to public resources such as websites, applications, and online services across the globe.

In contrast, an intranet is a private network confined to a specific organization, accessible only to authorized members. While the Internet connects millions of devices globally for broad information sharing, an intranet is a secure platform for internal communication within an organization, safeguarding its data and resources from outside access.