The extension of a company' s iNTranet out oNTo the INTernet, e.g. to allow selected customers, suppliers and mobile workers to access the company' s private data and applications via the World-Wide Web. This is in coNTrast to, and usually in addition to, the company' s public website which is accessible to everyone. The difference can be somewhat blurred but generally an extranet implies real-time access through a firewall of some kind. Such facilities require very careful atteNTion to security but are becoming an increasingly importaNT means of delivering services and communicating efficieNTly. [Did Marc Andreessen inveNT the term in September 1996?] (1997-12-17)