what are they?
A "portal" is a generic term for an entire website, or section of a website, that is not accessible to the public. It may require a user to authenticate or prove their identity in some way.
do i need one?
If you have information that you want to expose to the internet that is sensitive, then implementing a portal is a great option. There are many ways to secure a website so that the information you display is kept private and confidential.
The information on a portal is also specific to the particular user who is authenticated. You don't want User A's account information being displayed to User B when User B logs into the portal.
what's the best solution for me?
Depending on the type of data in your system, we may be able to find a pre-package system that will satisfy your needs. Alternately we can program a system for you from scratch, or can integrate your current system into the web.