What is the difference between the internet and the intranet

Internal and external networks are two terms that have great value in the world of knowledge and information. The first term is known to everyone as a noun, the other is known to specialists, and most companies use it in their internal business to improve the way they work. What is the difference between the internet and the intranet

First: what is the internet

The internet is a global network that connects all types of devices, such as computers, mobile phones and tablets, by Wired and wireless connection. Information is transmitted through them in various ways such as: fiber-optic cables, microwave signals, via satellites, by major telecommunications companies

The data transfer process occurs by globally agreed protocols, supervised by the IETF group of internet engineers. These engineers issue a set of documents called RFC, they contain the approved protocols, and the number of these documents to date is more than 8,500 documents

How to transfer data between devices over the internet

Any device is connected with the internet by a telephone line, which is a pair of copper wires transmitting audio signals. The same line is used to transmit internet data, but at different frequencies than those used for audio signals. Currently, developed countries use optical fibers to transmit data in the same way, but in a newer way

The process of outward or inward transfer of data occurs by various types of DSL devices. One of the most famous of its types is the well-known ADSL, which transmits the signal through cables. By means of a Wi-Fi signal, the transfer is carried out after the process of separating the audio signal from the data. The data is then transmitted to your ISP, your home carrier, or by your company

Any service provider is connected with the other through the Backbone Provider, which is an interconnected but super-fast group of ISPs service providers. There are six of these giant providers around the world and they are called Tier 1 networks

What is a Packet and how to transfer information through it over the internet

When sending a 25 MB file via Gmail to a client in another country, the data of this file is divided into small units, and then sent to the desired destination. These modules are called packages. The reason for the division of this data has to do with the existence of billions of devices across the network, which send and receive data in its various forms at the same time

Therefore, it makes no sense for each device to wait until the other device has finished sending its data first at once, and then start the transmission process. Then the traffic rate can be throttled if many data are sent to one server

For example, if there are several people who want to send messages to one person at the same time, a bottleneck will occur in the area to which those messages are sent. The two previous problems are solved by splitting messages, and the work of many branches on the internet, to avoid a traffic jam of data and to ensure the speed of their arrival

Modules are transmitted by a globally fixed system by protocols. For example, when you split a message on your device, some new data, called a header header, is added to each unit of the message. When that module reaches the so-called router router or the DSL, another header is added to the module

The data of this header header changes during the transition over the network from device to device, to identify its destination and source, and many other important information, to keep it from errors that can happen to it during transmission

Each added header undergoes a lot of changes due to the protocols followed. For example, if you request page data on a website, the well-known protocol https is used, and a header is added in a different way. When you upload a file to your site using the FTP protocol, the header is used in another way that differs from HTTPS

Due to the process of moving between devices for this package, many different protocols have been created for each type of device, which are subject to a universal system called the seven-layer OSI 7 Layers Model. In this system, the headers are placed in a certain order for any sent Packet. For example, the router and DSL device are located in one of the seven layers, the third layer is called Network Layer, and when the Packet reaches this device, a specific header is placed for it

There is also a so-called Switch, it is used to organize data transfer in enterprises between multiple devices, it is located in the second layer Data layer, it has a different header and is also added. Also, when transferring data by an FTP application such as the famous Filezilla application, the fourth layer system uses Application layer to wrap the packet, or add a different header to it from other layers

Thus, there are different layers with different protocols, which regulate the process of data transmission. Any protocol is implemented by Socket Programming, to connect data via any two connection points over the network

What is an intranet

On the other hand, an intranet is an internal network within a single building of a company or organization. This network is used to deal between employees and work teams within the company, provides access to files and folders internally, has a firewall surrounding the system, to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the network

Why companies need internal networks

Every company seeks to organize its business, and therefore it needs to create an internal network, as this network contributes to increasing the cooperation of work teams for all types of companies. For example: design, development and programming teams can collaborate, communicate and work on single projects, and save their files in one place by internal networks

Hospital teams from multiple departments, such as the accounts department, can also collaborate to put all the company's accounts in one database, from which they calculate billing statements for customers, as well as issue payroll statements for employees, with doctors seeing the general cases of patients 24 hours a week, as well as nursing staff, etc

Carefully organized and planned internal networks protect the company's data, and do not expose it to any hacking and theft. Networks also contribute to the ease of searching, saving and backing up documents, which preserves data from loss and alteration

Among the benefits is also the ease of creating a store of FAQs for maintenance teams and company employees, so that it can be a reference to speed up the process of fixing errors, especially for popular programs such as Office programs. This store can also be used for self-maintenance of computers by employees

Infrastructure components required for network creation

To create an internal network, you will need to have an infrastructure for this network. This structure consists of at least one Router, switches with entrances to all the company's devices, along with the need for connecting cables for each device, and a way to extend those cables through the entire company for each device

The stretched cables can be replaced by connecting Access Point devices to each department of the company, and putting a wireless card to each device. But this method is unsafe for companies that need to ensure the confidentiality of their work and maintain it. You may also need a unified server or several servers to control the company's devices

Features of the intranet network

Make repetitive tasks easier especially for teams

One centralized database of the company

Share information over the network and facilitate collaboration

Improve internal communication between employees as well as with superiors

Provide access to information, the latest events and requirements

Easy organization and management of everything within the company, such as payroll, accounts, invoices, etc

Disadvantages of the intranet

In the absence of a network infrastructure since its inception, it will require considerable effort to create it and an even greater cost

Inspection procedures require constant maintenance, especially of the infrastructure, to ensure the functioning of the network and its non-obsolescence, and this needs a support team of professionals

You can always hire a professional programmer to help you establish your company's internal network, or perform regular network maintenance to ensure that it works efficiently all the time, ensuring continuity in the execution of tasks without worries

What is the difference between the internet and the intranet

The similarities and differences between the internet and the intranet converge, the intranet follows the same protocols used over the internet parent network but internally, but does not require an external service provider ISP and above. Therefore, the two terms are interrelated, since the second is an integral part of the first

In the end, the internet and the intranet have become indispensable necessities, the first gives you the information you are looking for, and the second is a must for companies that want to organize their affairs internally, to ensure safe and efficient work among team members