A game-changer for developers. Previously, you could only talk to SharePoint via server-side code or web services. CSOM allowed .NET, Silverlight, and even JavaScript (ECMAScript) to interact with SharePoint remotely. This paved the way for the modern "remote provisioning" patterns still used in SharePoint Online today.
SharePoint 2010 introduced several "firsts" for the platform that defined its legacy:
SharePoint 2010 leveraged SharePoint Designer 2010 and Visio 2010 for workflow authoring, supporting reusable workflows and site-level workflows. Notably, it introduced the Workflow Manager and supported declarative workflows without code, though complex logic still required custom activities in Visual Studio.
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Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 , "posts" are typically managed through Announcements
. Since SharePoint 2010 preceded the "Modern" news experience found in SharePoint Online, here is how to generate a post using the traditional methods: Method 1: Generate an Announcement Post
Announcements are the most common way to share news on a SharePoint 2010 team site. Navigate to the Announcements List : On your site, click in the left-hand Quick Launch bar or go to Site Actions View All Site Content and select your Announcements Add a New Item Add new item at the bottom of the list or select the tab in the Ribbon and click Fill in Details : The headline of your post.
: The main content. You can use the rich text editor to format text or add images. microsoft sharepoint server 2010
: (Optional) Set a date if you want the post to disappear from the main view after a certain time.
. The post will now appear in the Announcements web part on your home page. Method 2: Generate a Blog Post
If your site is a "Blog" site template, you have specialized tools for posting. Blog Tools : On the right side of the blog homepage, look for the Blog Tools Create a Post Create a post
: Enter your title, select a category, and write your content in the to make it live for your team. Method 3: Automated Posting (Technical)
For developers, you can generate posts programmatically using Remote Procedure Call (RPC) methods or to send requests to the server. This requires creating an
page with proper security validation to modify database content. Important Note on Support
: SharePoint 2010 has reached its end of life and is no longer supported by Microsoft. While SharePoint 2010 workflows may still run in some environments until July 14, 2026 , it is highly recommended to migrate to SharePoint Online for modern news and security features. modern news template Security Validation and Making Posts to Update Data
One of the most interesting and significant features introduced in Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 was Business Connectivity Services (BCS) WordPress.com Direct upgrade: SharePoint 2010 → 2013 → 2016
This feature fundamentally changed how SharePoint interacted with external data. Unlike its predecessor, which primarily allowed for read-only access to outside databases, BCS enabled full read and write capabilities
. This meant users could update, delete, or insert data into external systems—like a SQL database or an SAP installation—directly from a SharePoint list as if the data were stored locally. Microsoft Learn Key Highlights of SharePoint 2010
While BCS was a standout for data integration, the 2010 release introduced several other major shifts in how the platform functioned:
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 represented a pivotal moment in the evolution of enterprise content management and collaborative software. Released as the successor to MOSS 2007, SharePoint 2010 introduced a modernized interface, deeper integration with Microsoft Office, and powerful social computing features that redefined how businesses managed information.
The core philosophy behind SharePoint 2010 was centered on the "Six Pillars": Sites, Communities, Content, Search, Insights, and Composites. By unifying these functional areas into a single platform, Microsoft provided an ecosystem where users could build intranets, manage documents, and analyze business data without jumping between disparate systems.
One of the most immediate changes users noticed was the introduction of the Ribbon interface. Borrowed from Office 2007, the Ribbon brought contextual tools to the forefront, significantly reducing the learning curve for new users. This UI overhaul made tasks like page editing and document management far more intuitive than in previous versions.
In terms of collaboration, SharePoint 2010 leaned heavily into the "Communities" pillar. It introduced features that felt familiar to the rising social media landscape of the time, such as activity feeds, "My Sites" with enhanced profiles, tagging, and ratings. These tools encouraged organic knowledge sharing, allowing employees to find experts within their own organization more efficiently.
From a technical perspective, the platform saw massive upgrades in scalability and developer flexibility. The introduction of Sandbox Solutions allowed developers to deploy code without risking the stability of the entire server farm. Additionally, the Business Connectivity Services (BCS) made it easier than ever to pull in data from external sources, like SQL databases or SAP systems, and treat them as native SharePoint lists. Team collaboration (sites
Data-driven decision-making also took a leap forward with the "Insights" pillar. SharePoint 2010 integrated deeply with Excel Services and PowerPivot, enabling users to publish complex spreadsheets as interactive web reports. This democratization of Business Intelligence (BI) meant that stakeholders could view real-time performance dashboards directly within their browser.
While newer versions like SharePoint Online and SharePoint 2019 have since introduced cloud-first features and modern communication sites, SharePoint 2010 remains a landmark release. It transformed the product from a basic document repository into a robust, all-encompassing business platform that paved the way for the modern digital workplace.
Note: SharePoint 2010 is now out of support, but this guide is useful for legacy system maintenance, migration planning, or historical study.
For organizations still running Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, the calendar is critical:
⚠️ Security Warning: Running SharePoint 2010 after October 2020 is a significant security risk. Exploits for unpatched vulnerabilities (including remote code execution in SharePoint) have been publicly disclosed since 2021. Compliance frameworks like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and ISO 27001 generally forbid the use of unsupported software.
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 is a web-based collaboration and document management platform. It builds on Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, introducing a new ribbon interface, improved enterprise search, enhanced business intelligence, and deeper Office integration.
Key capabilities: