• Unlike the Internet, an Extranet is not for public broadcast
• Unlike an Intranet, it is not just for internal use
• Unlike Internet, where Content is King
• Now Context is King
• Extranets are for targeted meaningful dialogue

Extranets can be defined as commerce-enabled networks using Internet communication protocols to electronically link distributed organizations and/or individuals.

A movement in or an extension out?

They can derive from an Internet site where an area is secured and made private. Alternatively, they can derive from an Intranet where the boundaries extend beyond internal use.

Coming from an Internet site, organizations seek to create a private area where usage is restricted or profiled. It is then either vetted or monitored. The attractions of this route are:

• To protect the information contained by controlling who is allowed access to it. This is especially important for intellectual property which is becoming a key security issue through provision on the Internet
• To encourage and monitor repeat usage through the facility of storing the contact and profiling details
• To encourage ease of future use without enforcing the user to rekey their contact details. This is enabled through the provision of secure encrypted entry mechanisms (we discuss this later in the section on security)
• To enable a more targeted provision of information in accordance with the preferences, profile and usage patterns of users.

Extending an Intranet, organizations benefit from gaining an existing level of content and active user base which can then be used to provide value to outside stakeholders;