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Characteristics

The internet is not the same as the World Wide Web and it is important not to get the two terms mixed up. The internet is the infrastructure provided to connect computers together across the globe using telecommunications systems such as telephone lines, leased lines, mobile phones and satellites. It uses the TCP/IP protocol for communication between devices. Any computer with an external communication link can connect to the internet, meaning that the internet can be referred to as an OPEN network.

Purpose

Once connected to the internet, users can gain access to a number of services for example:

Email

World Wide Web

internet relay chat (IRC - instant messaging)

File transfer

Software is required to access these services. While most services can be accessed using a web browser, there are dedicated software packages available for email (e.g. Qualcomm Eudora), file transfer (e.g. Ipswitch WS_FTP) and IRC (e.g. Microsoft Messenger). Remember in an examination that you should refer to the types of software and not the brand names. These services are available for communicating all over the world. For example, you might want to send an email to somebody in Japan, chat to a friend in the next street using IRC, visit the BBC website or transfer files to update your anti-virus software.

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Characteristics

The intranet provides the same services as the internet, but only within one authorisation. It is secure as it can only be used by authorised people within that organisation and will almost certainly require the use of a username and password to gain access. The intranet may be provided through a LAN or in a larger organisation it will be available through a virtual network within a WAN. Only computers that are part of the LAN or virtual network will be able to gain access to the intranet, meaning that it can be referred to as a closed network. The intranet uses the same TC/IP protocol as the internet.

Purpose

Users of an intranet have access to the same services as they do on the internet, but they can only communicate within their own organisation. Services include:

internal email

internal web pages

internal chat

file transfer.

As with the internet, software is required to access these services. These services are available for communication only within the organisation. For example, an employee might want to send an email to a colleague at the head office, chat to a colleague in the Birmingham office, find out about the Health & Safety policy from the internal web pages or download a piece of software that is licensed for use within the organisation.

Using an intranet means that users can provide information and communicate with others knowing that nobody outside of the organisation can gain access to that information. This means that sensitive documents, such as business plans, remain confidential.

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Characteristics

Users of an extranet have access to an intranet using a username and password from an internet-connected computer. Once connected to the extranet, the user has access to all the intranet services of the  organisation. Access is usually provided by logging on to a secure server from a web page, although some organisations will provide secure software that has to be installed before access can be provided to the extranet.

Purpose

These services are still only available for communication within the organisation, but employees and registered users can access the services from any internet-connected computer. For example, an employee working from home may want to send an email or chat to a colleague who is away working on business in a foreign country, find out the direct telephone number for a colleague or download files needed to prepare a report.

Using an intranet means that users can provide information and communicate with others knowing that nobody outside of the organisation can gain access to that information. Confidentiallity is maintained, but there is added risk that somebody could hack into the extranet because it is available from any internet-connected computer.