An extranet is a private network that uses the internet protocol (IP) to securely share information and collaborate with external parties, such as customers, suppliers and partners. It is essentially an extension of an organisation's intranet that allows authorised users from outside the organisation to access and interact with certain parts of its internal network.
Extranets typically require authentication and encryption
to ensure that only authorised users can access the network and that data is transmitted securely. They can be used for a variety of purposes, such as sharing files and documents, collaborating on projects, conducting e-commerce transactions and providing customer service and support.