Internet and intranet: Differences you need to know

Jan 11, 2021, 18:14 IST

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The terms internet and intranet refer to networking protocols created between multiple computers.
The internet is a public network, while the intranet is a private network.
Regarding the volume of information and number of users, the internet's scope and application are unlimited, while those of the intranet is limited.

Internet and intranet are two popular terms we often come across in the domains of computers, networking, communication, and information technology. Though both these terms refer to establishing connections between computers, viewing and data processing devices, and servers, they have different meanings, scope, and applications. Most people get confused between these two terms and here are the differences between internet and intranet you need to know to understand and use them according to your needs.

Defining Internet and intranet

The internet is the networking portfolio that connects different computer networks simultaneously. We can understand the 'internet' as a public network enabling anyone to access the entire networked system. The internet has many users, and the users get to access unlimited amounts of information on it.

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An intranet is a limited version of the internet in which the networking portfolio is established between a predefined set of computers used by a private entity. Since it is a private network, no one outside the network's scope can access the intranet. Intranet has a limited number of users, and the users can access only a limited volume of information stored on the network.

Point of comparison	Internet	Intranet
Purpose	Connects different computer networks simultaneously	Connects a limited number of computers owned by private entities
Nature and scope	Public network and anyone can have access to the information available on the internet	Private network and only the limited number of users predefined by the organization have access to the information on the intranet.
Application	Called the network of networks as it links together public, private, finance, educational, business, government, and many other kinds of networks together.	Private network with limited scope enabling the company to store, organize, manage, and share the information under its disposal.
Protocol used	The global system that uses TCP/IP protocol suite for establishing a link between different kinds of electronic devices around the world.	Runs in a client-server environment within a local area network.
Volume of information	The volume of information found on the internet is vast and unlimited, which is available to a huge number of public users.	Intranet stores a limited volume of information made available to the limited number of users allowed by the organization.
Safety	Users can be exposed to risks	Safe for the users
Visitors	Unlimited number of visitors	A limited number of visitors approved by the entity owning the private network.
Nature of information	Links to an unlimited range of various sources of information and there is no way to predefine or control what is available on the network.	Contains the only group-specific information that is needed by the various stakeholders in an organization.

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