Extranet: what is it, what is needed and how it functions?

More often in the everyday life of users of modern computer networks, the term extranet appears. What it is, some even about themselves do not represent. Nevertheless, such technologies are now getting more and more development and application, especially when organizing corporate networks not only in small offices, but also in large enterprises.

Extranet: what is this in the general sense?

If we talk about networks that are classed as extranets, we should initially start from an understanding of the organization of internal networks, which are commonly referred to as intranets.

What is the difference? Intranet as one of their types of local networks is a network or portal, intended solely for internal use by employees of the company or enterprise with all the ensuing consequences. The external user does not have access to such a closed resource or even public access documentation.

In turn, the extranet is a restricted-access network or resource. But such access is allowed both to employees of the company and to external users, provided they have the appropriate rights.

The most widespread such technologies have been in the organization of quality interaction with partners or customers. That is, all those users who have the appropriate permissions can read the documentation, get answers to the questions they are interested in, etc.

The precise definition of the term extranet

But in general, some resources offer a more refined explanation of the term extranet. What it is? In fact, if you look at it, the same technologies are used here as for intranet networking, so many are inclined to call extranet-networks an expanded version of intranets with access from external networks, taking into account authorization.

The second definition also corresponds to the notion of intranets, but with access based on tunneling used to transfer or exchange information over secure communication channels and the operation of enterprise applications.

Extranet Investment

It's not just the definition of closed corporate networks or portals. On the basis of such an organization, all kinds of services have been actively developing recently.

One of the largest is Extranet Investment. Service refers to the so-called hedge funds (investment funds) that offer registered users to invest in business and earn money on it. Unlike large funds, which, as a rule, work with investments from one hundred thousand dollars and above, in this case it is possible to invest even ten bucks.

Naturally, the depositor himself must be aware of all the risks to which he is going, because, according to statistics, organizations of this type should have a minimum life of ten years. And all one-day companies can be immediately excluded from the list (especially those that appeared in the last year or two).

Booking

Interesting enough is the service "Extranet Booking", represented by Dutch entrepreneurs.

Services are classified as organizing tours and booking apartments and hotels around the world. Having registered on an official site or a resource of representation in a specific region, the user gets access to all services and can book a room in the hotel at will, specifying the necessary criteria.

"Island"

"Extranet-Ostrovok" is, in fact, a similar service with the only difference that this service is Russian and is targeted at the corresponding audience.

On the official site, you can use either a search engine, or special offers with a payment directly when booking a hotel, booking seats, moving from airport to hotel, etc.

Other directions

Actually, only such platforms the organization of the extranet in Russia or in any other country is not limited. For example, if you take the well-known Forex exchange, in fact the organization, after all, is also an extranet system.

Here you can earn on trading stocks or on the exchange rate, after investing the minimum amount.

The same copywriting exchanges where many authors are registered offer users familiarization with the latest materials and publications, as well as provide all kinds of support and conduct online consultations. Well, what is not extranet?

What is it, I think, is already clear. And, as it turns out, there are practically no restrictions in the application of such platforms for business interests today. Actually, anyone can create their own hosting and apply such an organization in order to attract customers.

A few words at a time

As you can see, extranet (as opposed to intranet) is the organization of network access to certain resources with advanced capabilities. There can be so many directions of activity here that it is impossible even to imagine it, since partnership is an integral part of any business. But this is precisely what this technology is designed for and, apparently, they have very broad prospects for development and further use in a variety of areas.

As a brief conclusion, the most correct definition of an extranet is the following: it is the organization of a corporate network or the creation of a similar closed resource with limited access and the possibility of using some common elements of the network itself or a resource with the preliminary obtaining of the corresponding rights (registration, authorization, authentication ), Plus - additional opportunities for corporate communication, the provision of e-mail addresses, etc. A striking example of this is the Bitrix system.