extranet

extranet

   <World-Wide Web> The extension of a company's {intranet} out
   onto the {Internet}, e.g. to allow selected customers,
   suppliers and mobile workers to access the company's private
   data and applications via the {World-Wide Web}.  This is in
   contrast to, and usually in addition to, the company's public
   {website} which is accessible to everyone.  The difference
   can be somewhat blurred but generally an extranet implies
   real-time access through a {firewall} of some kind.

   Such facilities require very careful attention to security but
   are becoming an increasingly important means of delivering
   services and communicating efficiently.

   [Did {Marc Andreessen} invent the term in September 1996?]

   (1997-12-17)