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Content management system (CMS)

 features are built into intranet and extranet 

systems to achieve this (see Chapter 12). For example, Microsoft Sharepoint Server is com-

monly used for intranet management (http://sharepoint.microsoft.com).

The management challenges of implementing and maintaining an intranet (see Intranet 

Journal, 2009) are similar to those of an extranet. In the next section, we examine five key 

management issues of extranets.

Extranet applications

Although an extranet may sound complex, from a user point of view it is straightforward. 

If you have bought a book or CD online and have been issued with a username and pass-

word to access your account, then you have used an extranet. This is a consumer extranet. 

Extranets are also used to provide online services which are restricted to business custom-

ers. If you visit the Ifazone (www.ifazone.com) extranet of financial services company 

Standard Life, which is designed for the independent financial advisers who sell its prod-

ucts, you will see that the website has only three initial options – log-in, register and demon-

strations. The Ifazone extranet is vital to Standard Life since 90 per cent of business is now 

introduced through this source. This usage of the term ‘extranet’, referring to electronic 

 business-to-business communications, is most typical (see, for example, Vlosky et al., 2000).