We believe it is important to create a brand for an intranet (or whatever your communication, collaboration and content platform is); something that both reflects what its purpose is and also lets users refer to it in an easy and unambiguous way.

An intranet brand probably should be sexy and evocative. It shouldn’t really talk about SharePoint or anything ‘techie’ since a good intranet is not about the technology but about the business, the processes it supports and the sense of community and assurance it engenders.

Some names of intranets lack any identity (‘Welcome to the Royston Vasey intranet’ – dull!) or  unimaginative (‘TeamNet’).

Some reflect the organisation’s identity; ours is ‘Cloudbase’ – both referring our name and a bit of a fun, geeky reference to a Gerry Anderson series, another example ‘OnePlace’ (CapitalOne).

Others convey a sense of what they try to do – Connect is a common one; others I like are ‘floW’, ‘MySocrates’, ‘Sparsh’ and ‘The Bridge’.

Increasingly (with our blessing, for what it’s worth) intranet net’s are being given people names; Birmingham Women’s Hospital call theirs ‘Eve’, while NHS England named their enterprise intranet ‘BoB’ (Bunsiness or Banter). South East CSU are going with SUSI. People names are great as it gives the intranet an identity that is easy to relate to; it also allows phrases such as “check with Bob” or “ask Eve”.

Others are just plain weird (but catchy): ‘Elvis’, ‘moma’, ‘BRAIN’ and ‘The Fridge’!

Whatever you go with, communicate it, engage people in it and make it stick. Names have power.

— So don’t just call it “The intranet” —

In no particular order or for any good reason:

• The Fridge
• CentralStation
• Skynet
• VIOLA
• Alexandria
• Eve
• BORIS
• The Well
• Minerva (the Goddess of Knowledge)

Names used by existing intranets

Simon Hudson is an entrepreneur and health sector specialist. He formed Cloud2 in 2008 following a rich career in the international medical device industry and the IT industry. Simon’s background encompasses quality assurance, medical device development, international training, business intelligence and international marketing and health related information and technology. Simon created Cloud2, with colleague and co-director, Taran Sohal, in response to an evident need the NHS has for a partner committed to helping them deliver successful projects based on Microsoft SharePoint. Simon has had a rich career spanning both the UK and the international health industry, with roles that have included quality system auditing, medical device development, international training (advanced wound management) and international marketing. Upon joining ioko in 2004 he created the Carelink division and, as General Manager, drove it to become a multi million pound business in its own right.