When organisations ask me about intranets, the first question I usually hear is: “Can SharePoint really do everything we need?”
After spending the last two years working on intranet projects across different industries, I can confidently say: yes, SharePoint can deliver powerful intranets—but the success is in the planning.
What Is a SharePoint Intranet?
A SharePoint intranet is an internal website built on Microsoft SharePoint that acts as the digital front door to your organisation. It’s where staff go to:
- Read company news and announcements
- Access policies and procedures
- Find forms, templates, and resources
- Connect with teams and departments
- Search for documents and people
Because SharePoint is part of Microsoft 365, your intranet isn’t just a static site—it integrates seamlessly with Teams, OneDrive, Outlook, and even Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Why SharePoint Works So Well for Intranets
SharePoint has been powering intranets for over two decades, and it’s only become more flexible. Here’s why organisations still choose it today:
- Out-of-the-box features – Modern SharePoint sites come with ready-made web parts for news, events, quick links, document libraries, people directories, and more.
- Scalability – From small teams to global enterprises, SharePoint grows with you.
- Integration – Microsoft Teams and SharePoint work hand in hand, so employees can access intranet content where they already work.
- Governance & security – Permission models and compliance tools are built in, keeping sensitive information safe.
- Search – Microsoft Search makes it easy to find people, content, and knowledge across your intranet.
My Experience: The Key Is Planning
In the last two years, I’ve led intranet projects where the challenges were rarely about technology—it was always about planning and structure.
One organisation wanted to build a huge intranet with dozens of sections, but staff were already overwhelmed. I guided them towards a minimum viable product (MVP) approach: start with a home page, a news centre, and a core policy library.
We launched quickly using SharePoint’s out-of-the-box features, then expanded over time based on feedback. That small but strategic start gave staff an immediate win while avoiding the “big bang” failure that so often plagues intranet rollouts.
The lesson? Your intranet doesn’t need to launch with every feature imaginable. Start small, plan well, and grow.
Examples of SharePoint Intranet Features
Here’s what you can build with SharePoint’s native tools (no custom development needed):
- Company News Hub – Targeted news by department or location.
- Quick Links & Resources – Handy shortcuts to HR forms, IT help, or training.
- Policy Library – A single source of truth with version control.
- Department Sites – Dedicated spaces for HR, Finance, Projects, etc.
- Staff Directory – Powered by Microsoft 365 profiles.
- Events & Calendars – Upcoming training, launches, or social activities.
SharePoint Intranet Best Practices
From my projects, here are three best practices that make the biggest difference:
- Start with MVP – Build the essentials first. Add features later.
- Plan your information architecture – Decide on navigation, metadata, and permissions before building.
- Use out-of-the-box first – SharePoint’s modern features are powerful. Don’t overcomplicate with customisations unless you really need them.
Final Thoughts
A SharePoint intranet is much more than a website—it’s the digital hub of your organisation. With the right planning, governance, and a focus on delivering value quickly, you can create an intranet that employees actually use.
From my own work, the intranets that succeed are the ones that start simple, evolve with feedback, and lean into SharePoint’s built-in strengths.
So, if you’re planning your next intranet, remember: plan carefully, start small, and let SharePoint do the heavy lifting.
