Intranet

An intranet is a private network used within an organization to facilitate communication, collaboration, and information-sharing among employees. It is accessible only by authorized users, usually a company email or org authentication method, and designed to enhance internal processes and connectivity.

It's used as a source of truth for company documents like forms, templates, branding guidelines, HR information, policies, procedures, and more. Some companies use an organization-wide intranet only; while others allow documents and teams to create sites for different needs and manage permissions (org-wide vs users/groups) among them.

Content types

An intranet may focus on one or all of these.

Knowledge Base or Resource Hub: Serves as a self-service, centralized repository for training materials, FAQ, handbooks & manuals, user guides, templates, standard operating procedures (SOPs), templates, and compliance resources.
Communication: Top-down delivery of news, announcements, HR events, executive updates, performance metrics, and alerts to keep employees informed and encourage organization-wide cultural cohesion¹. Some bottom-up dynamics available in polls, surveys, and other feedback mechanisms.
Team or Cross-Team Collaboration: Real-time document sharing, integrated task trackers, project management boards, chats, and other team interaction that prevents knowledge silos and encourages transparency.

Major components

Content types are communicated in a variety of ways depending on company needs. There is no standard blueprint for what all organizations require in an intranet.

Name/Logo: Usually has a custom name and logo that is distinct from the main corporate brand².
Navigation: Global menu providing links to primary sections like Home, News, Company Resources, Employee Resources, and other main hubs. Mega menus include sublinks under parent headers for dense hierarchies. The navigation area usually includes a search box.
Homepage: Landing dashboard with shortcuts to high-traffic utility hubs (e.g., news & communications, payroll, benefits, policies, calendars, employee directory, service desk portals, etc).
Topic/Info Section: Explains a subject or service tailored to why it matters to the employee with resources such as upcoming events, FAQ, links, or other structured information.

Example: Onboarding Hub

This is an example of what you might find on a "New Hire Dashboard" send to new employees. A department would create one page or a set of pages and send this link to all new hires to assist with their orientation and help them understand expectations.

"Your First Week": Roadmap outlining day-to-day expectations and checklists while network access and provisioning are being finalized.
Orientation Resources: Videos, slide decks, and virtual courses explaining company or department vision, history, and values.
Administrative Resources: User guides and handbooks detailing how to use basic tools, team expectations, and project tracking.
30-60-90 Day Expectations: Structured benchmarks outlining a new hire's developmental journey and key performance metrics.
Bookmarks: Standardized references to required everyday links.
HR Resources: Direct access to payroll & benefits information provided by the company.
Learning & Development (L&D): Details about mandatory compliance courses, self-paced training, and where employees can find more L&D resources.

Links

Notes

¹ Intranet : 30 Essential Features you should have in your intranet

² The Intranet Hub