Nowadays, the virtual aspect of a business matters just as much as its physical counterpart. In a rapidly evolving business environment, efficiency and convenience are essential. This includes being able to connect and communicate with clients and employees with ease.
Being able to disseminate information whenever needed not only saves time but streamlines the entire business transaction as well. The intranet was birthed to meet this need.
To help you set up an effective intranet system for your business, we’ve enumerated five common requirements below. Keep in mind, however, that conditions vary from one business to the next, so what one company needs might not apply to you. If you’re unsure of what your business needs, we can help. Reach out to us for a customised intranet today.
1. Web server
To establish your own intranet, you would need a platform to host it. In this case, it is referred to as a web server. It consists of hardware and software. The power of your hardware depends on the size of your intranet. If your intranet is going to be used by several employees at once, with video streaming on top of that, then you should strongly consider investing in powerful hardware.
You would need a large server with enough bandwidth to be able to handle the influx of users. On the other hand, the software is responsible for all of the files you’re going to store in the system. Configuring this software is the tricky part. Make sure you have a backup server for when it crashes in order not to lose any critical client and employee information.
2. Networked PCs
As you set up your intranet, you need to be able to create a way for your employees to connect their PCs. One way to do this is by installing and configuring the server into a network. Employees should be able to access the intranet by connecting to your business’ local area network (LAN). Employees not on-site may need to use a VPN so that they can connect to the same server. They should also have access to the usual web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
Consider the purpose of your intranet before building up on the network. If it is for core business processes, it should have an abundance of network redundancy.
3. Content management software
Content management software (CMS) is at the heart of every intranet system. Because this software serves as the platform for your organization’s files, as well as client and employee information, you have to choose wisely. You can choose a CMS that can be hosted on your web server or on another application.
4. Firewalls
Firewalls ensure your intranet stays safe and secure. They are essential to every intranet system. Firewalls protect your information against people outside of the organization. Additionally, firewalls can also function as internal blockers. You can choose which files to keep behind a firewall so that only certain individuals have access to highly sensitive information.
With a firewall, you are able to control and monitor the data being received and sent out from the intranet.
5. Other application software
Because an intranet is unique to every organization’s needs, you can include other application software relevant to your business. You can add project management software and a section for individual development. If your company prioritises the growth of your employees, then it would be wise to add a software dedicated to e-learning to your intranet.
If you don’t want to worry about setting up servers and choosing software, you could subscribe to a hosted intranet service. At Intranet Solutions, we provide comprehensive services to help you build a customised intranet for all of your organization’s needs.