WSS

WSS is an acronym used in several contexts, most prominently in computing and software. In technology, it commonly refers to the secure variant of the WebSocket protocol, while in Microsoft software it denotes Windows SharePoint Services, a set of collaboration features for Windows Server. Because acronym meanings vary by domain, context is important for precise interpretation.

WebSocket Secure (wss) is the encrypted version of the WebSocket protocol, enabling real-time, bidirectional communication between a client and a server over the internet. The wss scheme uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) to protect data in transit, typically over port 443. The initial connection starts with an HTTP/1.1 handshake that upgrades the protocol to WebSocket, followed by frames that carry text, binary data, or control messages. Unlike ordinary HTTP requests, WebSocket connections remain open, allowing low-latency message exchange. Security considerations include proper TLS configuration, certificate validation, and protection against man-in-the-middle attacks. WSS is widely supported by modern browsers and is commonly used for chat applications, live feeds, online gaming, and other real-time services. Proxies and firewalls can sometimes affect WebSocket traffic, so deployment often requires appropriate firewall rules and TLS termination strategies.

Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) is a Microsoft product family offering web-based collaboration features on Windows Server. WSS provides document libraries, lists, calendars, workflows, and basic intranet portals. It was designed to integrate with Microsoft Office and later evolved into SharePoint Foundation and SharePoint Server, expanding capabilities for enterprise content management, site provisioning, and business process automation.