Volume Shadow Copy
Also known as VSS, Previous versions
A Windows feature keeping previous versions of files on a volume so users can recover them without help.
It is genuinely useful for the everyday case of someone overwriting a document, letting them restore a previous version themselves.
It is also the first thing ransomware deletes, using a single built-in command. Treat it as convenience rather than protection.
Where this comes up
Volume Shadow Copy sits inside our backup and disaster recovery work. If you are trying to work out what this means for your own environment rather than in the abstract, that is the page worth reading next, and a short call will get you a straight answer faster than either.
Related terms
Snapshot A point-in-time image of a system or volume, allowing a quick return to that exact state. Ransomware Malware that encrypts your files and demands payment for the key, now almost always combined with stealing the data first. Backup A separate copy of data kept so it can be restored after loss, corruption, deletion, or encryption. Versioning Retaining previous versions of a file so earlier states can be recovered.