How to build a secure extranet in one day

An extranet is an extremely useful resource for many companies. For those unfamiliar with the term, it is a computer network that allows controlled access from outside the company. For example, here are a few ways extranets are used:

1. Extranets can be set up for customers to log in and view important data.
2. Extranets can be set up for employees to log in outside the office. For example, your sales force could log in to the extranet and view their sales numbers.
3. Extranets can be set up for distributors to log in and view orders, purchase more products, and view new products. Here's an example of an extranet set up for distributors.

Now, there are two critical components of extranets that should be included. First, the extranet must be secure. Each user must have to login before accessing the extranet. Second, the extranet must only display certain data to certain users. In other words, every user will see something a little different depending on their needs or job responsibilities.

Does that sound complicated? It’s not…extranets are actually pretty easy to create with the right tools. Andy Vigrass of our UK office kindly put together a demo video which walks you through the process of creating a secure extranet in just a few minutes. You can find it here.

If you want to learn more or want to try m-Power for yourself, check out our free m-Power Test Drive.