Extranet

1 definition found

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  extranet
       
           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
          {web site} 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)