SharePoint 3.0 hosting in extranet mode makes it extremely easy to open up hosted SharePoint web sites for external access. Building extranet in SharePoint hosting sites offers more enhanced support for authenticated third party users in dispersed communities.
Building extranets in SharePoint hosting sites with WSS 3.0, using internet protocols creates a private network to securely share information on operations or, any other level with pre-approved users. These users include vendors, partners, suppliers, customers and other businesses. This B2B environment is kept in complete isolation from other internet users. Extranet in a SharePoint hosting site may be viewed as part of the company internet which has been extended to other users. Basically it is intranet mapped onto the public domain.
Web sites making use of extranet SharePoint WSS solutions allow business managers to share information in an extended business environment. Security is in place to ensure security information and compliance standards are met. Localized IT staff is able to manage extranet users even if these scale into the thousands. A new layer of security has been integrated into SharePoint 3.0 hosting, and this has improved the level of protection of hosted SharePoint web sites. Stringent security is required by extranet and SharePoint WSS is able to provide this.
Building extranets in hosting Sites expands authentication choices and provides a central point for group management, and extranet users which span into multiple SharePoint operations. Building extranets in hosted sites securely extends communication, document management and collaboration beyond the boundaries of the organization, and will improve operations with suppliers, distributors, partners and customers alike.
Adrian Gates (Adrian@apps4rent.com) is a Business Manager with Apps4Rent (http://apps4rent.com/sharepoint.html); which offers premium hosted Exchange, Microsoft SharePoint Hosting Services and Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services.
