You must have heard of the Internet, even if you haven’t, you are using it right now, but what about the Extranet? The Intranet too? Such a long list of nets, right?

Imagine you’re at work and scrolling through TikTok, watching videos of your favourite celebrities as well as dance challenges (it’s not right, but I won’t tell if you don’t 😉). Suddenly, you need to check work emails for an urgent client call. Boom! You’ve just navigated two different digital realms, seamlessly switching between the vast internet and your company’s own private internet network – the intranet.

Hollup! There’s another player in this game: the extranet. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

The terms internet, extranet, and intranet get thrown around a lot. But what exactly do they mean and what are the key differences between these technologies?

To put it simply, the internet refers to the vast, publicly accessible global network that connects computers and devices worldwide. The extranet and intranet are smaller, private networks that link a specific group or organization. Let’s explore these in more detail.

The Internet

If you’re reading this article online, you’re using the internet! The internet is the vast network that enables worldwide communication and information sharing. When you connect any computer or smartphone to the internet via an ISP, it can instantly access websites, apps, email, and more hosted on other internet-connected servers globally.

Think of it as a party where everyone’s invited – like a ghetto party. You can see different things on the internet, from your grandma posting religious stuff, to Elon Musk tweeting about Mars. The internet is a sprawling network of connected computers, websites, and servers, all sharing information and opportunities.

No single entity owns or controls the entire internet. It is a decentralized web of billions of interconnected networks spanning the globe. This makes the internet incredibly powerful for accessing public data worldwide; however, it is less secure.

The Extranet

An extranet is a private, controlled network that allows limited external access. For example, a business may host an extranet to securely share information with authorized partners, vendors, or remote employees without exposing the entire network.

Away from the ghetto party, now, imagine you’re hosting a smaller party in the VIP section for your closest friends. This can be likened to the Extranet. It’s a smaller, more controlled network built on top of the internet, but with a bouncer at the door. Only authorized guests with a fancy keycard (think passwords and security protocols) can join the fun.

Extranets utilize internet protocols and infrastructure. However, they restrict access through firewalls, passwords, and permissions. A law firm could allow clients to access case files or submit documents via its extranet portal. Or a supplier extranet could enable approved vendors to directly interface with a company’s inventory and ordering systems.

The Intranet

An intranet looks similar to a website but its access is restricted within an organization, accessible only by internal employees or on-site users. Intranets efficiently share information, applications, and resources among the team.

Back to the ghetto party, remember you were at the VIP section with your closest friends, right? Now, imagine you and your partner decided you have had enough of drinks and party music, and want to get a room to do your private business (winky face). Whatever you do there is between you and your partner, or whoever you have as your third wheel.

Read also: 20 fascinating facts about the Internet and World Wide Web

A company intranet may feature pages with policies and procedures, employee contact directories, access to tools, or internal memos. Unlike the open internet or semi-restricted extranet, the intranet is fully private and inaccessible to external traffic. It’s like a hidden office building within the partying city of the internet, accessible only to employees via secure logins. Banks can use its intranet to share confidential financial reports or a hospital using it to manage patient records – sensitive information safely guarded within the company’s digital walls.

All these technologies have their different ways of benefiting the users, and also have their own level of security. That’s is why as a user of the World Wide Web, and maybe a Tech support professional, it is important to know which one suits your needs, and which one you should use. The internet connects public global users, the extranet permits limited external access, and intranets enable private in-house interaction. But they all utilize the same underlying network infrastructure and protocols.