In SharePoint 2010, the Shared Services Providers (SSPs) has been replaced by the Service Applications model. If you remember in SharePoint 2007 (MOSS 2007), SSPs were used to provide a set of services like profiles, BDC, search, audiences, excel services, etc. It was also possible to use same SSP with multiple web applications, but in that case all the services of that SSP will be available in all the web applications. But what if two web applications uses same search cofiguration, but both have to use totally different profile/BDC configuration. In that case we cannot use same SSP with both applications. The only option was to create two SSPs, dupe the same search configurations in both the SSPs and configure profile/BDC differently in both SSPs as per the requirement. So both the SSP were totally different but consisted of duplicate service configurations. Depending upon the requirements the number of SSPs might even grow more which was really very hard to manage and monitor.

Now in SharePoint 2010, each service is available as an independent Service Application. A Service Application can be used with multiple web applications. You can also choose multiple Service Applications to be used with your web application. Service Applications can be also built by third parties and are available in both SharePoint Foundation and SharePoint Server.

Following are some of the key Service Applications included with SharePoint 2010:

  • Access Services – This allows a user to view, edit, and interact as they use the Access 2010 database with a web browser.
  • Business Data Connectivity Service – Allows for the line of business data systems to be accessed.
  • Excel Services Application – Allows a user to view and interact with Excel 2010 files when using a web browser.
  • Managed Metadata Service – This is used to manage the various hierarchies, social infrastructure, and keywords. It also allows for the publishing of the content across various collection sites.
  • Microsoft SharePoint Foundation Subscription – There are multiple functions for service applications. They are used to track ID’s and settings for services that are in a given mode. They are deployed only through the Windows PowerShell.
  • PerformancePoint Service Application – This allows the capabilities of PerformancePoint to be implemented.
  • Search Service – Allows for the content to be crawled, indexed, and then allows for users to get results through search queries.
  • Secure Store Service – This allows for authentication to occur with a single sign on for multiple services.
  • State Service – This provides a storage location temporary in nature for data within the components of SharePoint Server.
  • Usage and Health Data Collection Service – Wide usage and health data is collected from the farms. This allows the user to be able to view many different reports about usage and health.
  • User Profile Service – This adds support for websites, profile pages, social computing features, and social tagging.
  • Visio Graphics Service – This allows users to view and refresh diagrams in web browser that have been published in Visio 2010.
  • Web Analysis Service – Offers interfaces for web services.
  • Word Automation Services – Automated conversions of bulk documents are performed.
  • Microsoft Project Server 2010 – This allows hosting for one or more of the Microsoft Project Web Access platforms. It helps to schedule functions and calculations. It also helps with the interface for all data with Microsoft Project 2010.
  • Office Web Apps Services (Word View Service, PowerPoint Service, and Excel Calculation Services) – These Office Web Apps are part of Microsoft Office 2010 Suites. They are companion resources that work with Microsoft World 2010 and Microsoft OneNote 2010. They are also all stand alone applications that offer multiple platforms through a single browser. Therefore documents can be created that are the same as those made with a desktop application that corresponds with it. Associated services are used to create documents that you can view or edit with a web browser.