Advantages And Disadvantages of Internet, Intranet, and Extranet. Application

Introduction

An internetwork is defined as two or more computer networks that are connected using switches, routers, or network routers. Each network has its own network address set which differentiates it from other networks on an internetwork. (Internetworks, Internet, Intranet and Extranet,)

Internetworks allow users at different geographical locations of a company to communicate, share data across the network. Most companies in Zambia find it difficult to function without an internetwork. Internet, Intranet, and Extranet are the different types of Internetworks used.

Internet is a distributed network of interconnected computer networks that transfer data using the standard Internet Protocol to link devices worldwide. They are linked by copper wires, fiber optic cables, and wireless links.

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An Intranet is a private computer network that is contained within an Enterprise. A typical Intranet for an organization mainly consists of interlinked Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks technology for network connectivity. The main use of the Intranet is to share organization information among employees, deploy business applications, enable project management and teamwork, simplify internal communications, and streamline business processes. It uses Internet Technology and offer similar benefits. (Business Uses of the Internet, Intranets & Extranets | Bizfluent, no date).

An Extranet can be viewed as part of an organization Intranet that is extended to users outside the organization, enabling businesses to exchange information over the Internet securely. The type of users that are authorized to access the extranet are suppliers, vendors, partners, and business associates.

Internet Use in Zambia

The Internet story is now just over 20 years old in Zambia. Over these two decades considerable progress has been made in ensuring that every person has access to it. Nonetheless, this achievement took place gradually, considering that Zambia was one of the first countries on the continent to have internet connectivity.

Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority has introduced the project ‘Connecting Learning Institutions’ which promotes access to ICTs for learning institutions in Zambian. This project has been useful in complementing the objective of the Zambian government to implement the Internet at all levels of the Zambian Educational System. A handful of primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions have already benefited. The project also included providing optic fiber connections under the Zambia Research and Education Network (ZAMREN) to public universities in the region. (Mambwe, 2015).

The internet in Zambia has also replaced many conventional ways of doing business communication by transmitting and exchanging information using websites or digital media. Compared to paper-based details, this has reduced cost, minimized duplication, and enhanced customer service. (Linton Ian, 2017)

Intranet Use in Zambia

Intranets have gone beyond merely making hypermedia knowledge accessible on Web servers or distributing it via network transmission to users. Often, intranets are used as the framework for the creation and delivery of essential business applications to support business operations and management decision-making across the inter-networked sector. For example, many businesses in Zambia create custom software such as order processing, inventory tracking, sales management, and business information portals that can be deployed on intranets, extranets, and the Internet. Many of those applications are designed to communicate with current company databases and legacy systems and to access them. (James A. O’Brien and George M. Marakas, no date)

In Zambia, at some hospitals, health care workers have to work together as a team to provide their patients with high-quality treatment, but with changing schedules for a shift, the work of individuals employees may also go unrecognized. Using their Intranets to concentrate on employee satisfaction and bonuses are increasingly useful to health care organizations. (3 Company Intranet Examples and Why They Work to Improve Company Culture, no date)

Health care Intranets offer a central location that makes all necessary documentation and forms accessible, speeds up patients care processes, and makes patients’ interaction more smooth. Digital document storage and information retrieval mean workers no longer have to go through paper file cabinets manually to locate the tools they need. Simply scan, pull-up, and print their appropriate forms. (4 Ways a Healthcare Intranet Can Benefit Your Healthcare Organization – IC Thrive, no date)

Extranet Use in Zambia

Financial services in Zambia, such as Finca Zambia, are promoting the use of Extranets to achieve greater business benefits. This has introduced a variety of forms, but each scenario has streamlined user management and policy management problems, decreased access costs.  Improved scalability, leveraged existing infrastructure, and positioned the organization to take advantage of emerging technology. (Financial Services Information Systems – Google Books, no date).

The infrastructure setup in financial services is set up in a way that, an extranet proxy server running a Windows, Linux, or Unix server behind the company firewall is setup. The client software is pre-configured and made available for download to end-users through a website.

Security in financial institutions uses 256-bit SSL encryption along with user-based authentication through hard token cards. Access control is defined as a very granular degree with the extranet administration tool. The complete solution enables the company to better retain and attract customers, improve service, increase revenue, and lock strategic partnership.

Internet Advantages

1. Source of Information: The internet is the best source range of information. Now even college students of colleges and Universities in most cases rely on the internet not only on their assignments, additionally to maintain themselves to be up to date. There is no better source of information than the internet.(Advantages & Disadvantages of Internet | Internet Merits & DeMerits, ).We can discover present-day trends, we can speak to a specialist except without a doubt visiting them, and we can additionally get expert assistance through the internet.
2. Communication Forum: the internet is a faster verbal exchange of communication. Families and friends can maintain close contact easily. Platforms for applications like Skype, Zoom, and Blue Jeans allow the use of video conferences with absolutely everyone In the world who also has access to the Internet. (Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet, no date).
3. Source of Entertainment: Online games, chat rooms, and music are becoming the most common source of entertainment. Games are reachable online free with no cost, chat room are reachable to talk about any topics, leisure web sites are accessible online through the internet.
4. Cloud Computing and Cloud Storage: The Internet connects your computers, servers, and internet-enabled gadgets to cloud services like cloud computing and cloud storage. With cloud computing, a system can have access to more powerful computer systems and supercomputers to perform complicated tasks in which you or your enterprise work on different tasks.

Cloud storage synchronizes information across any of your internet-connected devices, so you have got the right of entry to your documents from anywhere, take for example Dropbox and Google Drive. It makes a backup of information easier and safer. So if you are using a cloud storage backup service and your home or workplace burnt down, you would no longer lose all your valuable data.

Disadvantages of the Internet

1. Cyber Bullying: Cyberbullying is a serious crime that most people typically ignore, simply because it’s “Virtual” and not physical, yet little do people know it has almost the same effect as physical abuse, as it is the most common cause associated with depression, leading to suicide. These days everybody has a smartphone that helps them stay connected to the internet all the time making it very easy to get exposed to cyberbullying. Cyber Bullying typically takes place on Internet Social Network sites such as Facebook, Twitter Instagram etc., Where you will easily find people connected online who wouldn’t miss an opportunity to harass others. (Top 10 Disadvantages of the Internet & How to Avoid Them | Thetic Blog, no date).
2. Being Exposed to Hackers, Viruses, and Identity Theft: Since not everyone in the world is technical, hackers can hack a non-technical user easily without knowing anything about them. You might have been told earlier that working on the internet is unsafe, frequently leading to some mishaps where hackers may trick you into downloading a fishy file that can access all of your private data. To beat hackers, it’s crucial that you know and protects yourself against cybersecurity. One of the most common hacking done is to gain access to personal data or Facebook messages, emails with the ultimate aim of stealing their identity to learn more about the victim.
3. Being prone to spam: The best thing about the internet is that the internet allows you to connect with everyone and everyone in the world, which is great for businesses to reach their customers easily. Because of that, people have already begun manipulating the internet with spam messages and selling data to other businesses who give unwanted promotional deals in return that can fill your email inbox. (Top 10 Disadvantages of the Internet & How to Avoid Them | Thetic Blog, no date)

Advantages of Intranets

1. Workforce productivity: Intranets helps users find and access information more easily and use programs that are important to their positions and responsibilities. Using a web browser interface, users can access data stored in any database that the company chooses to make accessible from anywhere inside the workstations of the company at any time and subject to security requirements enhancing the ability of employees to perform their jobs quicker, more effectively and with trust that they have the correct information. (Advantages of Intranets, no date)
2. Time: Through Intranets, companies can provide workers with more information on a “Pull “basis i.e workers can connect to relevant information at a time that matches them. Instead of being indiscriminately deluged by email. (Advantages of Intranets, no date)
3. Communication: Intranets can act as an important communication medium vertically and horizontally within an organization. Intranets are useful from a communications point of view to communicate strategic projects that have a broad scope across the organization. The type of information that can be easily shared is the intent of the initiative and what the initiative seeks to accomplish, who drives the initiative. In presenting this information on the intranet, workers have a choice to stay up to date with the organization’s strategic direction.

Disadvantages of Intranets

1. Information Security Risk: Although Intranets software does have security settings, it very susceptible to hacking or damaging. There is a risk that data will be hacked and privacy violated. That puts your company and its work at considerable risk. (Advantages and Disadvantages of Intranet for Businesses | LS Intranet Blog, no date).
2. Less Personal Interaction: with the introduction of digitized workplace via Intranet, there is likely to be a decline in the face to face experiences the staff has because the world operates primarily on computers. Lack of direct contact could potentially hamper colleagues, cooperation, and personal bonds.
3. Implementation Costs: It can be costly to construct and operate on the Intranet network. The implementation of an Intranet will require a substantial investment depending on how many users you need to connect and what type of security measures you want to enforce. Besides, old pcs will need to be upgraded to communicate with the network more effectively and users will need to be educated on how to use the intranet efficiently for tasks relevant to the job. (Advantages and Disadvantages of Intranet for Businesses | LS Intranet Blog, no date)

Advantages of Extranets

1. Information sharing is Simple: Without an Extranet, you are likely to exchange files via email with outside parties. This leads to obsolete versions of the text, massive file attachment clogging up in boxes, and missing or forgetting valuable information. An Extranet ensures all relevant information is in one place including all versions of uploaded documents. Add to that the indexability of modern solution and a matter of second, everybody finds what they want . (5 Advantages Of Extranets That Will Inspire You To Start One Today | Glasscubes, no date)
2. Documents are safe and secure: Data is an organization’s lifeblood. The essential documents would be up to date with an Extranet and stored safely, preferably with SSL encryption. A robust extranet will provide access control which will allow you to limit access to certain areas and data. It can also include an audit trail, letting you see where and when users have accessed the file.
3. Set and training require little to no IT involvement: Although traditional extranet solutions have been a pain in setting up and maintaining, a new implementation does not need IT Support, advanced equipment, or technical expertise. Such extranets are usually cloud-based meaning they are essentially self-retained. Moreover most of them are relatively intuitive, helping users to easily understand how to get things done. The effects are a network that is easier to use and lower costs.

Disadvantages of Extranets

1. Expensive to setup: Implementing an extranet may be costly because you have to bear the expenses of hardware, software, personal, and all other associated costs like training external affiliates. Also repairs and maintenance increase the cost of operating an Extranet. Although start-up costs may be significant, if you incorporate an extranet, you can experience a reduction in other expense areas.
2. Security: On the one hand, if you introduce an extranet, protection is an added benefit since you monitor who accesses your site and therefore who gets access to your data. Conversely extranets will open your systems to network breaches if you give access to your network and internal databases to outsiders. You will build openings, create greater risks for unauthorized entries in your firewalls. Please bear in mind that extranets offer access to proprietary data, and this access to your information can provide another opportunity for unauthorized users to access sensitive and confidential information. (The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extranets | Bizfluent, September 2017).

References

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