Many of today's applications use browser interfaces such as Netscape Communicator or Microsoft Explorer
and are designed to take advantage of an internal network that uses IP (the Internet Protocol). Most of tomorrows applications will require that the network supports IP first and foremost.
Intranets are a very positive step in this direction as they use the same technologies as web sites and the Internet and allow companies to collect, process and publish information within their organization
in a very cost-effective and efficient way. Problems with introducing more traditional applications into companies such as compatibility and performance of existing PCs, training of users and cost of
installation and support are minimal as Intranets are used through a typical browser application that in many cases comes provided with today's PC operating systems such as Windows 98 and Windows 2000.
Virtual Private Networks (or VPNs) allow companies to take advantage of the Internet to connect to other geographically separate offices. VPNs also enable remote users to connect to the office
LAN using the Internet. Information can be transferred between offices or users in a completely confidential and secure way via the Internet using data encryption. Amongst other advantages, VPNs offer
significant cost savings over traditional methods of Wide Area Networking (see below).
The use of VPNs in Business to Business (B2B) communications is essential and in many cases they are
becoming an integral component of any company's eBusiness strategy.
