Definition for: extranet

The part of a company or organization's internal computer network which is available to outside users, for example, information services for customers. Definition for: extranet (compare Internet and intranet) An extended intranet connecting not only internal personnel, but also select customers, suppliers, and strategic partners. extranet The connecting of two or more intranets. If you think of an intranet as a company's internal Web site which allows users inside the company to communicate and exchange information, now imagine connecting that virtual space with another company's intranet, thus allowing these two (or more) companies to share resources and communicate over the Internet in their own virtual space. This technology greatly enhances business to business communications. Companies like Netscape, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems and VeriSign announced support for a core set of open standardsfor enabling external networks (extranets).