Networking, Data Communication & Telecommunication

1. Internet
The Internet is a worldwide, publicly
accessible network of interconnected
computer networks that transmit data using
the standard Internet Protocol (IP).

2. It is a "network of networks" that consists of
millions of smaller domestic, academic,
business, and government networks, which
together carry various information and
services, such as electronic mail, online chat,
file transfer, and the interlinked Web pages
and other documents of the World Wide Web.

3. Internet and the workplace
The Internet is allowing greater flexibility in
working hours and location, especially with the
spread of unmetered high-speed connections and
Web applications.

4. The mobile Internet
The Internet can now be accessed virtually
anywhere by numerous means. Mobile phones,
handheld game consoles and cellular routers allow
users to connect to the Internet from anywhere

5. E-mail
Concept of sending electronic text messages
between parties in a way analogous to mailing
letters or memos.

6. Remote access
The Internet allows computer users to connect to
other computers and information stores easily,
wherever they may be across the world.

7. Collaboration
The low cost and nearly instantaneous sharing of
ideas, knowledge, and skills has made
collaborative work dramatically easier.

8. File sharing
A computer file can be e-mailed to customers,
colleagues and friends as an attachment. It can be
uploaded to a Web site or FTP server for easy
download by others

9. Voice telephony (VoIP)
VoIP stands for Voice over IP, where IP refers to
the Internet Protocol that underlies all Internet
communication.

10. IP address
An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a
unique address that certain electronic devices use
in order to identify and communicate with each
other on a computer network utilizing the
Internet Protocol standard (IP)

11. Any participating network device—including
routers, computers, printers, Internet fax
machines, and some telephones—can have their
own unique address.

12. Intranet
An intranet is a private computer
network that uses Internet protocols
, network connectivity to securely
share part of an organization's
information or operations with its
employees.

13. intranet can be understood as
"a private version of the Internet,"
or as a version of the Internet confined to an
organization
The term first appeared in print on April 19, 1995, in Digital
News & Review in an article authored by Technical Editor
Stephen Lawton [1]
.

14. Industry examples:
Ford Motor Co has more than 175,000
employees in 950 locations worldwide,
each of whom had access to the
company’s intranet. The intranet gave
employees information about benefits,
demographics, salary, history etc

15. The Australian National University uses an
Intranet called Claromentis to maintain one of
its external sites.

16. “The success of Cisco Systems has been
largely attributed to its innovative corporate
intranet”
North Korea controls access to the internet
among its people by using a country-wide
intranet called "Kwangmyong"

17. Advantages:
Workforce productivity: Intranets can help
users to locate and view information faster and
use applications relevant to their roles and
responsibilities.
Time: organizations can make more
information available to employees on a "pull"
basis (i.e: employees can link to relevant
information at a time which suits them)

18. Communication: Intranets can serve as powerful
tools for communication within an organization,
vertically and horizontally.
Business operations and management: Intranets are
also being used as a platform for developing and
deploying applications to support business
operations and decisions across the internetworked
enterprise.

19. Cost-effective: Users can view information and
data via web-browser rather than maintaining
physical documents such as procedure manuals,
internal phone list and requistion forms.
Promote common corporate culture: Every user is
viewing the same information within the Intranet.

20. Enhance Collaboration: With information easily
accessible by all authorized users, teamwork is
enabled.

21. Disadvantages
Inappropriate or incorrect information can be
posted on an intranet which can reduce its
credibility and effectiveness.
In a devolved and highly interactive intranet
there is freedom to post abusive and possibly
illegal materials.

22. Training is required to educate people of what
intranet can do.
Need expertise in field to administer and develop
Intranet information within the organization.
Security of the intranet becomes an issue. Other
users may post sensitive information which may
appear to another user.

23. As information can be posted by any user,
information overload may occur during the cause if
it is not controlled well.

24. Extranet
"Extranet" is generally restricted to
employees of the organization:
can be accessed by customers, suppliers, or
other approved parties

25. An extranet is a private network that uses
Internet protocols, network connectivity, and
possibly the public telecommunication system to
securely share part of an organization's information
or operations with suppliers, vendors, partners,
customers or other businesses.

26. An extranet can be viewed as part of a company's
Intranet that is extended to users outside the
company

27. Security
An extranet requires security and privacy. These
can include firewalls, server management, the
issuance and use of digital certificates or similar
means of user authentication, encryption of
messages, and the use of virtual private networks
(VPNs) that tunnel through the public network.

28. 1. Disadvantages
Extranets can be expensive to implement and
maintain within an organization (e.g.:
hardware, software, employee training costs)
— if hosted internally instead of via an ASP
*.
*Application Service Provider

29. Security of extranets can be a big concern when
dealing with valuable information.
System access needs to be carefully controlled to
avoid sensitive information falling into the wrong
hands.

30. Extranets can reduce personal contact (face-to-
face meetings) with customers and business
partners.