Remote, decentralized access is vital to business operations today.
Cloud computing technology allows for delivering and storing data and other computing services over the internet. It provides on-demand availability of computing resources like servers, data storage, databases, and more. The primary goal of cloud computing is to give several users access to data centers at any time.
Cloud providers have made it easier for businesses to use cloud storage solutions that provide greater security procedures.
Organizations choose cloud computing services because of their potential to save costs and the freedom they provide to use the services as a pay-as-you-use model.
There are three types of cloud available:
Cloud testing is a type of software testing where applications are tested using cloud computing services. It involves testing software for both functional and non-functional requirements by using on-demand access to cloud-based tools and infrastructure.
Cloud computing is a readily available tailor-made solution that offers flexibility by providing servers, storage, databases, networking, and software. This helps businesses save time as they no longer have to install and set up the above environments.
Earlier, servers and data storage were maintained in the business premises. Due to this, the risks associated with data loss and security threats were aggravated. The speed was also impacted for large organizations that need increased storage capacity for their servers.
Several challenges are associated with automated testing in an infrastructure-built in-house environment. The challenges include:
Cloud testing platforms accelerate test cycles by automating the provisioning of test environments and infrastructure. This enables teams to execute testing activities without workflow delays associated with manual configuration tasks.
Testing web or mobile applications in the cloud has become essential as it enables on-demand testing from any location.
Cloud-based testing platforms foster cross-functional collaboration through centralized tracking, helping managers assess a team member’s contribution over time.
Cloud solutions deliver key functionality to users through three primary access models, each granting varying levels of functionality.
There are three main types of cloud testing conducted to verify application quality.
Source: QA Touch
Functional testing is conducted to ensure that business requirements are fulfilled, and the application is working as expected. Testers have to test the application with multiple input data. This can be done manually or through automated testing.
There are several different types of functional testing:
Smoke testing is usually performed when a new application build is received to validate that the base workflow is working without any hassles.
Sanity testing is conducted within a short period of time when a new build is received to check that the newly introduced functionality is working.
Regression testing is performed after the bug-fixing stage of initial testing. It ensures bug fixes work without breaking existing parts of the application.
Integration testing is performed to ensure that the application works without friction when interacting with other third-party tools.
User acceptance testing is performed either by client representatives or internal business stakeholders. Usually, it is done before product launch.
Localization testing ensures the accuracy and compatibility of the application in particular locations and regions. It helps spot if the application is functioning fine in multiple languages and currencies.
Non-functional testing helps confirm that the software application is able to muster the non-functional requirements such as performance, scalability, and interoperability.
There are different types of non-functional testing available. They are:
Performance testing helps ensure the number of people who can access the application simultaneously and confirms the threshold number of concurrent users that can access the software application.
Compliance testing is conducted to ensure that the design and development of the software adhere to the company’s standards as well as other compliance standards like PCI, GDPR, HIPAA, SOC2, ISO, and ADA.
Compatibility testing checks if the application is working based on end-user needs on various operating systems, browsers, and mobile devices.
Usability testing ensures that the user experience of the application is seamless. Usually, a product manager or business analyst observes the end user and notes how they interact with the product.
Security testing flags potential threats and attacks on an application. It involves scanning for vulnerabilities, code analysis, and conducting penetration testing.
Functional testing is conducted prior to non-functional testing since the software application should be stable enough to work on non-functional testing.
While cloud testing provides several efficiencies, some key obstacles teams encounter with this model include configuring realistic test environments, validating performance across diverse platforms, and addressing security and privacy considerations for applications and data residing in the cloud.
Some test scenarios may need modifications when migrating from an on-premises environment to the cloud. The cloud provider may not support a few specific configurations, leading to mimicking the customer environment.
The application should be tested in multiple environments, which include various mobile devices, systems, browsers, and operating systems.
Security is vital in cloud testing as it is performed over the internet. User privacy, data protection, and security of applications running in the cloud also need to be considered during the testing process.
If the applications are noncompliant with legal standards and regulations, then it may hurt brand reputation and lead to monetary losses.
Integration testing is conducted on networks, databases, systems, devices, servers, etc. The testing team doesn’t have control over the environment in case the servers or databases crash. This also impacts the time taken to conduct the test.
The network bandwidth of the cloud provider may impact test results and the application latency time. Sometimes, the lack of response from the devices in the cloud servers impacts the testing cycle, leading to an increase in testing time.
Software development practices benefit from productivity, scalability, and flexibility via test automation. It supports Agile development and DevOps principles resulting in faster and reliable product delivery.
Cloud-based test automation empowers testers to execute automation tests in a remote environment and execute the test scripts in parallel with low effort. This helps with team collaboration. Testers can schedule and set up the test automation script execution for each code commit to the server in the CI/CD code pipeline process.
Cloud test automation supports swift feedback reports by enabling parallel test execution. When tests run concurrently on various devices and platforms, test results are presented, and issues are spotted early in the development cycle. It helps complete bug fixes on time, restrain the escalation to later stages, and assure high-quality software product or project delivery.
By leveraging the scalable infrastructure of the cloud, teams can achieve amplified test coverage, reduced execution times, easier global testing access, unlimited storage capacity, enhanced productivity, and lower costs.
Source: QA Touch
When the number of test cases is higher, parallel testing helps execute the test cases faster and complete them.
Global application testing is made easier with cloud testing irrespective of the geolocation the tester resides.
Cloud testing provides unlimited storage, allowing users to set up auto-scaling based on usage.
Since the application can be tested on diverse platforms, devices, browsers, and geolocations, it magnifies the test coverage of the application.
Teams' productivity is increased when using the cloud for testing. Distributed test environments help reduce execution time as teams do not need to spend time setting up, running, and maintaining multiple environments.
Since cloud testing works on a pay-as-you-go model, it saves cost without requiring huge investments to set up the labs
By adopting cloud testing and integrating it into continuous testing and DevOps workflows, businesses can achieve higher performance, improved software quality, and faster release times.
Here are some best practices and tips to perform cloud testing for your application.
Defining specific test objectives, guidelines, test approach, requirements, deliverables, and entry and exit criteria is crucial. The test strategy should be aligned with the organization’s test policy.
“You are as good as the tools you use.”
Diligent research is necessary to choose a cloud testing provider that suits the particular needs of an organization. After implementation is done,, switching to another provider can pose multiple challenges and is time-consuming, thus incurring extra costs.
Tests must cover critical business operations scenarios to ensure a successful quality delivery of the product. Automated testing helps reduce the testing time and effort in such cases.
Monitoring the progress of execution helps identify roadblocks to release and whether resources are overloaded or underloaded.
Equipping teams with accessible, user-friendly cloud testing processes and solutions will enable more impactful quality outcomes.
Cloud testing practices are evolving continuously.
Emerging technologies like AI and ML, virtual reality (VR) will shape the future of cloud testing. More advanced testing environments will be needed to simulate real-world scenarios and events.
A report by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) recommended that a combined adoption of AI and data utilization strategy can add $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025.
Advances in virtual and augmented reality (AR) technology have altered the software testing process. It provides the infrastructure and resources required for large-scale and real-world testing of systems. Such technologies are expected to be used in cloud testing to create realistic testing environments. Integrating AI and ML into cloud testing could change the way software is tested.
According to Harvard Business Review, low-code/no-code platforms are moving beyond simply providing feature-centric tools to enable a broader range of business workers to truly take advantage of automation and grow by creating new software applications without coding. At the same time, it also enhances the organizational skills.
Cloud testing is an eminent way for organizations to save cost and time in testing their software applications, but some companies are still hesitant to move to cloud computing solutions.
There are a few key points to consider before implementing cloud computing, such as potential security risks, compatibility issues, and regulatory compliance factors. However, cloud testing has more advantages than disadvantages overall. Adopting cloud testing strategically can prove an effective way for organizations to achieve their goals after appropriate due diligence.
Ready to secure your cloud journey? Learn the ins and outs, benefits, and implementation of cloud encryption.
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