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The Internet and the World Wide Web have changed the way individuals access and utilize information. Web technology allows global access to all types of data including text, sound, and video. The primary reason for the popularity of Internet has been the simplicity and adaptability of Internet's open and standard protocols. It represents a major shift away from closed proprietary systems.
An intranet is a network that serves the internal needs of a business; it is essentially a private Internet. Intranet users are able to access the Internet, but firewalls keep outsiders from accessing private and confidential data. It makes use of the infrastructure and standards of the Internet and the Web. Intranets use low-cost Internet tools, are easy to install, and offer tremendous flexibility. Intranets have already been established by at least two-thirds of the Fortune 500 companies and many other organizations.
The extranet serves as a bridge between the public Internet and the private intranet. The extranet allows connection of multiple organizations such as suppliers, distributors, contractors, customers, and trusted others behind virtu al firewalls. These organizations can partner and share the network for transactions. Extranets provide a critical link between the extremes of the Inter net and intranet. Extranets enable commerce through the Web at a very low cost and allow companies to maintain one-to-one relationships with their customers, members, staff, and others. Some practical applications of intranets and extranets are included in Exhibit 1. Requirements
An intranet requires Web application development for its internal network such as appropriate Web servers. Quick response times require a direct connection to the server. Web browsers, such as Netscape's Navigator and Microsoft's Inter net Explorer, may be used to achieve crossplatform viewing and applications for a wide variety of desktops used within the company. The use of Web technology allows each desktop having a Web browser to access corporate information over the existing network. Employees in differ ent divisions of the company located in...