The Differences Between Portal and Intranet
It's easy to become confused by Internet terminology. Some words sound alike. Others have similar meanings, but can be utilized for different purposes. The terms "portal" and " Intranet" are often used interchangeably, even by IT professionals, but they are not necessarily the same.
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Definition
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Intranet is an internal website that utilizes Internet technology to create a specialized version of the Internet for a particular group, company or organization. The term "Intranet" sometimes refers to a company's collection of internal websites and web-based applications. A portal is characteristically larger than an Intranet. Think of a portal as a collection of Intranets or websites. Examples of well established web portals include Yahoo! and MSN.
Application
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An Intranet is often created by a company's IT specialist as a method for employees to share information via a secure server. An Intranet is usually accessible only on a company's internal network, using an employee login. A portal can be a collection of Intranets, but it more commonly functions as a gateway to other websites that often share a thematic similarity.
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Usage
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Employees of a company or organization may use the Intranet to access internal company information, share news, resources and files securely and conduct video conferencing. A portal can be established for commercial purposes to demonstrate a company or region's brand dominance. For example, a certain region may create a tourism portal, which links various tourism-related websites in its locale, offering a "window" or portal to the region.
Clarification
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An Intranet can create its own portal, providing links to different sites or pages on its internal site, sharing job-related information and services. The difference between an Intranet portal and a stand-alone portal is the targeted audience.
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References
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