Introduction to SharePoint

SharePoint is a web application platform which enables important documents and business processes to be stored in a central information hub. This prevailing collaboration and communication tool was culminated by Microsoft in late 90’s, but it actually exposed into market in 2001.
In 2003, Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 (WSS) & SharePoint Portal Server 2003(SPS) were born. SharePoint was upgraded to the .NET framework and licensed version persisted SharePoint Portal Server, whereas Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) are free with Windows Server.
SPS & WSS2.0 immerges from same platform. While, SPS offer profound portal & search functionality, WSS2.0 delivers core collaboration competencies. WSS 2.0 got mass viral adoption because of deployment ease it offers.
Next evolution was Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS) and Windows SharePoint Services3.0 (WSS).MOSS conveyed an integrated platform that featured search, content management, collaboration, portal, business forms & business intelligence technologies. SharePoint Server 2007 had incredible business success.
Microsoft SharePoint2010 was release in 2010.It offers many improvements over the MOSS 2007, including user interface improvements, greater social capabilities, deeper business intelligence, advanced records and document management and better integration with other systems.
Customers can view it as a product, as it can be install, configure, customize, deliver, and support SharePoint without ever writing a single line of code. Also it can be tweaked through varying levels of customizations to get to a point solution that meets a specific need. As a Platform, SharePoint can be used for building almost any web based functionality that you can be think of. It is possible to extend SharePoint with its rich framework of APIs.
SharePoint features:
1. Collaboration
With SharePoint web content can be altered directly without writing a single piece of code and users can upload documents to various libraries. Microsoft SharePoint servers permit users to author, review and publish information on the web and it can be shared with other users in a secure environment.
2. Portal
SharePoint's multi-purpose platform allows for managing and provisioning of enterprise portal, site directory, social networking tools, intranet and extranet. Intranet portal tool helps company manage its data, applications, and information more easily. Microsoft SharePoint also acts as a document repository and a reporting portal.
3. Search
Each SharePoint search versions proffer special features, but all search engines contain the ability to search within documents.MOSS can also be configured to search other websites which is the useful feature for affiliates, associations etc.
4. Business Intelligence
SharePoint can integrate with SQL Server Reporting Services to provide a complete business intelligence platform.
5. Business process management
SharePoint serves as the business process platform in an organization. Many enterprise IT departments are putting it to work as their main BPM product. The main facet sustaining BPM in MOSS is workflow which is used to route information throughout the business according to the defined business model.
6. Content management
SharePoint is often used to store and track electronic documents or images of paper documents. Microsoft SharePoint handles both document management and web content management. SharePoint also provides feature of central location for storing and working on documents, which helps in minimizing emails and duplicated work in an organization.
SharePoint offers many enterprise benefits.
It is comprehensive platform that you can be use to build private social network, intranet, professional network, extranet and search engine .Its more than a solitary tool.
Information about SharePoint is easily available. There are many conferences keeping track of SharePoint. Also much SharePoint community exists online and in person, meeting and talking on SharePoint.
It is possible to expand SharePoint server functionality by integrating additional web parts which would best suit your business needs.
SharePoint acts as a single platform to combine various processes and incorporate with other legacy applications to guarantee maximum ROI.