The term "intranet" refers to what?

The term "intranet" refers specifically to a private network that is accessible only to an organization's members, employees, or others with authorization. It is designed to facilitate communication, collaboration, and information sharing within an organization. An intranet typically utilizes internet technologies and protocols yet operates within a closed environment, ensuring that sensitive data and internal communications remain secure and are not exposed to the public.

This concept distinguishes the intranet from other types of networks. For example, a global network for public access is synonymous with the Internet, which is open to anyone. Similarly, a network for external partners refers to extranet setups, where selected external users can access certain parts of an organization's network. Cloud-based resource sharing involves utilizing cloud services for sharing data and resources over the Internet, which again differs from the concept of a closed intranet system. Thus, the intranet serves a unique purpose in fostering internal collaboration while maintaining security and privacy.