Shadow Copy

Definitions

1. A point-in-time snapshot of a volume or file system created by the Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), allowing consistent backups of files that are currently open or locked by applications — the foundation of Windows' "Previous Versions" feature.

   In plain English: A snapshot of files taken at a specific moment on Windows, letting you back up or restore files even if programs are actively using them.

   Example: "The backup agent triggers a VSS shadow copy before streaming to S3 so we get a crash-consistent snapshot even if SQL Server is mid-write."

Related Terms

• PowerShell
• Cmdlet
• Execution Policy
• Script Block
• Active Directory
• Bitlocker
• PowerShell Module
• Snapshot