Corporate Intranets

The use of the World Wide Web, a feature of the Internet, originated as a way for individuals to share information across the network. Corporations have implemented this same technology on their LANs, and the term "local area network" has slowly been replaced by the more generic term "intranet." All the features of the Internet can now be implemented internally as secure, private corporate intranets. In addition, these private intranets can be connected to the Internet to provide users access to public information. Intranets, through an Internet connection, can also access other private intranets, as long as they have appropriate security access.

Lesson Summary

LANs are effective for small environments, but WANs are necessary to accommodate expanded network access. By connecting individual LANs to the Internet, a corporation can create an inexpensive WAN environment. Intranets provide network access to users within a group , to the Internet, and to other intranets, provided they have the appropriate security access.