What is Volume Shadow Service (VSS)?

Also known as Volume Shadow Copy Service or VSS – is a technology included in Microsoft Windows that allows taking manual or automatic backup copies or snapshots of computer files or volumes, even when they are in use. It is implemented as a Windows service called the Volume Shadow Copy service. Shadow Copy technology requires Windows Vista or higher. It also requires the file system to be NTFS in order to create and store shadow copies. Shadow Copies can be created on local and external, removable, or network volumes by any Windows component that uses this technology, such as when creating a scheduled Windows Backup or automatic System Restore point.