Intranet vs Extranet vs Internet: What’s the Difference?

They may sound similar, give or take a couple of letters, but intranets, extranets and the internet fulfill very different roles in the way we connect, share information and work.

The internet is the vast, open network we all rely on daily. An intranet is a private space designed for employees inside an organization. And an extranet sits somewhere in between, providing a secure environment where businesses can safely collaborate with partners, suppliers or customers.

Understanding the differences isn’t just a matter of terminology. Choosing the right platform impacts everything from security and compliance to productivity and collaboration.

Let’s break down what each one does, how they differ, and which option best fits your business needs.

Internet explained

So, we all know about the world wide web. The internet is the global system of interconnected networks that anyone can access. From communication, e-commerce, research, cloud services and entertainment, the internet underpins pretty much everything in modern society. What did we do without it?

• Open and public: anyone with a connection can access it.
• Unlimited reach: connects billions of people, devices and organizations worldwide.
• Business uses: websites, online services, digital marketing, cloud apps, customer engagement.

While it’s the backbone of connectivity, its openness can be risky. Sensitive information isn’t safe to share over the open internet without the right safeguards in place.

Intranet explained

An intranet is like a micro internet, reserved for employees within a specific organization. It provides a central hub where employees can access information, collaborate and stay connected.

• Access: restricted to employees (or authorized users) within the organization.
• Uses: keeping up with company news, storing documents and policies, onboarding materials, team collaboration, HR resources.
• Benefits: better communication, stronger employee engagement, improved productivity.

Modern intranets, such as Fresh built on SharePoint, go further: they integrate with tools like Teams and Viva Connections, making it easier for employees to find what they need and work efficiently.

Extranet explained

An extranet is like an intranet but with controlled access for external stakeholders. That means collaboration can be extended beyond employees to include partners, suppliers or customers.

• Access: limited to approved third parties alongside employees.
• Uses: supply chain management, joint project work, sharing sensitive documents securely.
• Benefits: closer collaboration, reduced reliance on email for comms, improved trust and transparency with external partners.

Extranets give you the convenience of working openly with others while maintaining control and security over who sees what.

Internet vs intranet vs extranet: How they compare

Internet, intranet, extranet: what sets them apart?

It’s easy to get the terms mixed up, but each network type has a clear role to play.

Internet: Open to anyone, anywhere. Best for public-facing services like your website, online marketing, or e-commerce. Real life use case: a retail brand using its website to reach customers worldwide.

Intranet: Internal and secure. Ideal for keeping employees connected with company news, policies and collaboration tools. Real life use case: a business rolling out Fresh Intranet so employees can find everything they need in one central hub.

Extranet: Controlled access for trusted outsiders. Useful for sharing data or working on projects with suppliers, partners or customers. Real life use case: a construction company creating a secure extranet for its contractors and project stakeholders.

Choosing the right one depends on your audience: go public with the internet, keep things in-house with an intranet or create a secure bridge with an extranet.

Making the right choice for your organization

Internet, intranet and extranet may sound alike, but they serve very different purposes. The internet connects you to the world. An intranet keeps your employees connected internally. An extranet bridges the gap with your external partners.

The right choice depends on who you need to collaborate with and how secure that collaboration needs to be.

Take a Fresh approach to your intranet

If you’re looking to ditch your dusty old intranet for a modern solution, Fresh Intranet combines the familiarity of SharePoint and Microsoft 365 with a customizable and user-friendly design, giving your people a secure place to connect, communicate and do their best work.