Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud-Based Software Testing

Imagine using shared resources that are allotted dynamically, build flexible testing environments, and that affect user scenarios and real-world traffic – that’s just some of the advantages of cloud testing.

Cloud-based mobile testing solutions give easy access to the cloud environment through its on-demand service model so that software testing is an available, easily scalable process. That way, companies can reapply resources to other sections of your project while maintaining high-quality results.

But, the cloud is not without its disadvantages. In fact, cloud testing challenges can hinder the development cycle if not approached with a collaborative approach. Addressing the difficulties in cloud testing before implementation can grow your QA practices, improve your ROI, and speed up your time to market.

A comprehensive testing approach considers all counterpoints of cloud testing before utilizing it as a part of a QA approach. Before we examine the advantages and disadvantages of cloud-based software testing, let’s first describe what cloud-based testing is and determine how the cloud changes the way QA teams perform testing.

What Is Cloud-Based Software Testing?

Cloud-based testing means conducting tests for a software application through resources identified in the cloud. These tests can incorporate the hardware, software, and infrastructure of an application. QA teams rely on a cloud software testing approach and these cloud-based mobile testing solutions in order to check a product’s security, functionality, and usability before market launch.

Cloud testing concentrates on these core testing components to assure full testing coverage:

1. Application: Covers cloud-based testing software for functionality, browser compatibility, data security, and end-to-end business workflows.
2. Network: Incorporates testing a variety of network bandwidths and rules as well as the successful transfer of data through networks.
3. Infrastructure: Concentrates on testing for disaster recovery, secure connectivity, backups, and storage management. 

How the Cloud Changes Testing

Cloud software testing is crucial after migrating to the cloud. Nevertheless, the cloud environment helps QA teams to alter how they perform test cases so that they experience successful testing cycles.

• Functional Testing: Cloud testing implies validating the cloud service or SaaS functions, including the end-to-end functionality of an application.
• Integration Testing: QA testers examine SaaS-based integration in the cloud as well as the application’s integration within legacy systems.
• Security Testing: Cloud-based mobile testing solutions enable QA testers to perform test cases that focus on user privacy and security over a diverse range of users, data integrity and protection through transit and rest periods, connectivity security, protection against cyberattacks, and the security of the software interface.
• Performance Testing: Cloud-based mobile testing tools allow QA teams to leverage cloud for load testing, monitor application stability, and perform performance testing in a scalable environment.

Advantages of Cloud-Based Testing

There’s a reason why so many businesses are shifting to cloud-based testing – many reasons, in fact. 

• The Testing Environment Is Effective and Readily Available: The on-demand nature of cloud-based testing gives a fast turnaround time for companies that don’t mind a self-service platform. Because most cloud testing applications operate using a subscription model, your QA testers with access to a browser can register today and begin testing immediately.
• The Services Are Secure and Affordable: The advantages of cloud testing start with its flexibility in giving support for your testing needs. That’s because cloud testing can be done in either public, private or hybrid clouds. The public cloud is the most cost-effective alternative which can maintain an adequate level of security. For a mix of cost-effectiveness and top-tier security, many companies opt for testing in the hybrid cloud in order to guard software applications from common security shortfalls in QA.
• You Can Scale as Needed: To scale in a traditional testing environment means forfeiting some operations in order to support others or purchasing more hardware to produce more space. That’s not the case with cloud testing-instead, the elastic scalability of cloud-based testing enables you to ramp up and ramp down as your needs change or your project goals shift. This approach to testing assures that your future operations can be sustained, no matter the size or requirements.
• It Allows for Simple Disaster Recovery: Traditional systems for backups require time-consuming maintenance and expensive upgrades. And in an event of a hardware agreement or natural disaster, recovering data may be incomplete or even impossible. In the cloud, restoration of all assets is a quick and easy process, not difficult or complex.
• Cost-Effective on the Whole: Operating via the cloud lowers costs associated with server maintenance and engineer work. Because cloud hosting services reduce overhead technology prices, your business can reallocate these resources for upgrading infrastructure and testing practices. Moreover, cloud services support automation testing so that your team can moreover streamline your QA process while improving your ROI.

Disadvantages of Cloud-Based Testing

Experienced QA testers prepare for all cloud performance testing difficulties that may occur during the testing process. Cloud testing can give the most advantages to your QA team when these difficulties in cloud testing are discussed before implementation:

• Bandwidth Issues: Because the cloud’s resources are given by many other organizations, need for bandwidth always varies. QA teams encounter cloud testing challenges when a constant internet connection can’t be repaired or if there’s not sufficient bandwidth to sustain testing. Maximize the effectiveness of your cloud-based testing tool by performing a contingency plan that can support your bandwidth requirements during low connectivity or an outage.
• Redundant Tests: Cloud servers are not backed up, indicating that there is no monitoring of unnecessary test plans. Consequently, you may be required for re-tests of your code, application, or website. To combat these cloud performance testing challenges, buy a redundancy plan in case technology fails in the future.
• Loss of Autonomy and Security: As a supporter to a cloud-based testing application, you give over your data and information to an external party. This can cause difficulties in cloud testing, as your data is now more exposed. Moreover, your IT team cannot give in-house resolutions to issues that occur during testing. That’s why it’s vital to choose a cloud-based testing service that gives 24/7 customer support with a ticket escalation system in place.
• Spotty Feature Coverage: Is your application rich in characteristics? Do you add new functionality regularly? Your cloud testing service may not surely be equipped to test every new feature you release, resulting in incompetent test coverage. To overcome these cloud testing difficulties, your QA team can pick a stronger cloud testing service and partner with outside QA testing experts so that your product keeps quality at the market.

Before transferring your testing practices to the cloud, verify your knowledge of all testing criteria required for successful testing of your software application. That way, you pick the appropriate cloud-based mobile testing tools for your project and devise a strong testing approach that addresses any possible difficulties in cloud testing with actionable solutions and established protocols.

Need some guidance in performing cloud software testing? Choose to team up with a QA services provider like TestUnity. Our team of testing experts specializes in QA cloud testing and have years of experience implementing tests with cloud-based testing software and cloud-based mobile testing tools. Partner with our QA engineers who can help your team in adopting cloud testing best practices and performing your QA testing to the cloud. Get in touch with a TestUnity expert today.

TestUnity

Testunity is a SaaS-based technology platform driven by a vast community of testers & QAs spread around the world, powered by technology & testing experts to create the dedicated testing hub. Which is capable of providing almost all kind of testing services for almost all the platforms exists in software word.