Intranet - What it is, why it matters, and secure setup basics

Intranet

What it is

An intranet is a private network for a company or group. Only approved members can sign in to access internal tools, documents, wikis, chat, and apps. It helps teams share information securely without exposing it to the public internet.

Why it matters

An intranet centralizes work and keeps sensitive data inside the organization. With the right access controls, people get what they need fast while outsiders stay out.

How it works - quick tour

  • Identity & access: sign in with company accounts, SSO, and MFA

  • Private hosting: apps live on internal servers or cloud VPCs

  • Segmentation: separate zones for HR, finance, engineering

  • Secure access: on-site networks or remote via VPN/zero trust

Good practices

  • Enforce MFA and least-privilege permissions for every app

  • Keep systems patched and remove unused services and accounts

  • Use HTTPS everywhere, audit logs, and regular access reviews

  • Classify content and limit sharing outside the org

  • Provide clear navigation, search, and ownership so content stays fresh

    Glossary (A–Z)

    All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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