ekstranettes

An extranet is a private network that uses internet technology and public telecommunication systems to securely share part of a business's information or operations with suppliers, vendors, partners, customers, or other businesses. It is a controlled private network that allows access to specific parts of an organization's intranet to external users. Think of it as a limited, secure bridge between an organization's internal network and the external world.

Extranets are often used for business-to-business (B2B) transactions, collaboration, and information sharing. For example, a company might create an extranet for its suppliers to track inventory levels or place orders. Another example would be a manufacturing company using an extranet to share product designs with its engineering partners. Access is typically granted through unique usernames and passwords, and security measures like firewalls and encryption are employed to protect sensitive data.

The key distinction between an intranet and an extranet is the intended audience. An intranet is exclusively for internal employees, while an extranet extends access to select external parties. This allows for improved communication, efficiency, and streamlined processes with trusted external entities without exposing the entire internal network.