MOSS stands for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server. It is a software portal based on the ASP.NET framework. This framework is a web development platform for creating web-based platforms.
In SharePoint, MOSS facilitates fundamental activities such as file-sharing and collaborative working, alongside the creation and management of databases and web publishing.
For SMEs wanting effective and advanced content management and collaboration, MOSS can be an essential asset for their infrastructure development.
Here, we look at what MOSS is, its main benefits, and how it is different from Microsoft’s Windows SharePoint Services.
An Integrated Server Platform
As Microsoft’s integrated server platform, the intention of MOSS is to provide users with the platform and tools they need for the management of web content, enterprise content and search, business intelligence, and for shared business processes.
When first introduced in 2007, MOSS marked the next step on from the SharePoint Portal Server (SPS), but with the same aim of enabling sharing and collaborative working.
MOSS has expanded core capabilities, with integrated web management and publishing.
It ties in closely with various Microsoft Office apps and can communicate with other web services interfaces straightforwardly.
As a connector of information, MOSS represents the expansion of possibilities when it comes to business use, including the following essential functions.
Advanced Architecture and Search Functions
Although MOSS is fundamentally a portal framework, it has advanced architecture and search functions.
It enables users to easily find, share and publish information, and it can integrate seamlessly with various back-end systems, directories, SharePoint services websites and Windows.
Enterprise search is easy when it comes to finding people and skills, and with MOSS you can index and search data by line-of-business via the integrated Business Data Store.
Better Business Intelligence and Processes
MOSS represents an advance in business intelligence capability, with sophisticated monitoring of key performance indicators, document storage and collaboration.
It also enables efficient forms-driven business processes, also available wirelessly across a broad selection of devices.
Using the Microsoft application InfoPath, users can design, distribute, complete and submit electronic forms in a web browser.
InfoPath allows for the centralised management of forms, with the potential for streamlining communications and customer and supplier relationships significantly.
Expert Content Management
MOSS provides core document management, allowing for pinpoint version control, while allowing for different levels of access and management, depending on individual user roles.
SharePoint has a complete set of publishing features, including out-of-the-box capabilities alongside more tailored content management.
With MOSS, you can structure sites with high-level information architecture, with each landing page you create stored in the Pages library, along with all the other site content.
You can plan the number of pages proportional to how many different page layouts you require, and pages have a modular composition.
This is an ideal way of building complementary sets of sites, and using collaborative tools and applications through a single platform provided via MOSS.
It is an excellent means of hosting an intranet site and for document management, but also requires a good degree of planning and strategic implementation to ensure it is effective.
It boils down to making informed decisions, based on a sound understanding of your business and organisational objectives in using SharePoint in the first place.
The Difference Between MOSS and WSS
Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) was originally designed to give webmasters the means to organise a collaborative information-sharing environment using the Windows platform.
This was a portal function to give access to sites, document libraries, templates and lists.
It was a key component of Windows Server 2003, and came with it for free or as a free download.
MOSS on the other hand, marks an evolutionary step forward. While it is mainly based on the collaborative elements of WSS, it is an independent product in its own right.
The additional functional aspects of MOSS include Excel Services, Business Data Connector, My Sites and more.
Moss is a more specialist platform, which may require external IT expertise to set up initially, but also has expanded capabilities.
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