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

Increasingly, users of moderncomputer networks appears the term extranet. What it is, some even about themselves do not represent. Nevertheless, such technologies are now getting more and more development and application, especially in the organization of corporate networks, not only in small offices, but also in large enterprises.

Extranet: what is this generally understood?

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 networkor a restricted resource with restricted access. 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 technologieshave received at the organization of qualitative interaction with partners or clients. 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 moreclarified 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 conceptintranets, 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 is not limited to the definition of closed corporate networks or portals. On the basis of such an organization, all kinds of services have recently begun to develop.

One of the largest is ExtranetInvestment. Service refers to the so-called hedge funds (investment funds), which 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 investor must himself be aware of everythingThe risks to which he goes, because, according to statistics, organizations of this type should have a minimum life span 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 Buking", represented by Dutch entrepreneurs.

Services are classified as an organizationtourist tours and booking of apartments and hotels around the world. Having registered on the official website or the resource of the representative office in a particular 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 website, you can use eithersearch 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 organizationextranet 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 in stocks or on the exchange rate, having previously invested the minimum amount.

The same copywriting exchanges on whichmany authors have been registered, offer users access to the latest materials and publications, and also provide all kinds of support and conduct online consultations. Well, what is not extranet?

What it is, 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) -This is the organization of network access to certain resources with advanced capabilities. And 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 it is precisely for this that such technologies are designed and, apparently, they have very broad prospects for development and further use in various fields.

As a brief conclusion, it should be said thatthe most correct definition of an extranet will be 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 or resource with the preliminary obtaining of the corresponding rights (registration, authorization, authentication), plus additional corporate communication opportunities , providing e-mail addresses, etc. A striking example is the Bitrix system.