What is an extranet primarily used for?

An extranet is primarily designed to facilitate communication and collaboration with selected external stakeholders, such as suppliers, partners, or customers. It serves as a controlled private network that extends a company's internal network to authorized external users. By providing access to specific data, documents, and resources, an extranet enables efficient sharing of information that can enhance business relationships and streamline processes.

This functionality makes it distinct from a public section of a website that anyone can access, as it is restricted by login credentials and permissions. Moreover, it is not solely focused on market research surveys, nor is it primarily a tool for CRM analytics and data storage. Instead, its core purpose revolves around providing a secure space for collaboration with specific external parties, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected while also fostering cooperation.