Can You Use SharePoint as Your Company Intranet?

As someone who has managed intranet platforms for organizations large and small, I can confidently say that SharePoint offers robust intranet functionality capable of meeting many companies' needs.

In fact, SharePoint's intranet features have only expanded over the years - but you may be wondering if it's the right fit for your business.

I implemented the SharePoint intranet template at my last company, a mid-sized manufacturing firm, and saw firsthand how well it facilitated everything from document sharing to company news distribution.

By centralizing the intranet within SharePoint's familiar interface, employee adoption was high, and we could easily customize different permissions for various departments.

However, before deciding to use SharePoint as your intranet, there are a few key factors to consider:

Size of your organization

For large enterprises with thousands of employees across the globe, SharePoint may not provide the specialized functionality required at that scale.

Very small companies can also often get by with simpler (and more affordable) solutions. But for organizations with 100-1000 employees, SharePoint offers a versatile middle ground.

Cloud vs. on-premises

SharePoint Online integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 and even offers some intranet templates to get you started quickly.

However, companies with sensitive data may still prefer the added control of an on-prem configuration. Hybrid deployments are also an option to get the best of both worlds.

Your broader Microsoft ecosystem

If your company is deeply embedded in Microsoft services like Outlook, Word, and Teams, SharePoint as your intranet can maximize those synergies with single sign-on connectivity across applications. This allows organizing information in a way that fits your team’s existing workflows.

Budget considerations

From software licensing to development and maintenance costs, forecasting the multi-year TCO (total cost of ownership) for your intranet is key. SharePoint per-user pricing is very reasonable for mid-market organizations, but costs can scale up substantially for large or complex deployments.

While SharePoint checks many boxes as an intranet, what ultimately matters is finding the right solution tailored to your organization's specific size, needs, and budget. No two companies are exactly alike, so take the time to carefully evaluate your options before deciding.

My Journey: When SharePoint Saved Our Struggling Intranet

After years of relying on a patchwork of outdated tools and band-aid solutions for our intranet, it was time for a change. Information silos plagued our organization, and simple requests like an all-company directory required emailing HR.

I'll never forget the kickoff meeting launching our new "Hub" built on the SharePoint intranet template.

As features like company news feeds, department sites, and shared calendars came online, I saw excitement build. My team even used colorful icons and fonts to make the site pop.

But the real test came six months later when a facilities issue shut down our headquarters.

Yet company operations continued humming right along. Thanks to SharePoint access from any device, our employees barely skipped a beat. Not only that, but our annual survey showed employee engagement was at an all-time high.