Get an outside opinion - Frequently, there is a need to obtain an objective and independent view of the product quality. Even if independent validation and verification is not a requirement, it always amazes me to see what experts, external to the project, can uncover. These experts may come from another area in the company or from an external QA organization. If product quality is important, this is a powerful risk reduction strategy. A dedicated test group or contract QA organization has a clear focus to make testing their profession.
Test tools are sophisticated pieces of software.
They are also expensive. To decide if and what test tools to buy is often a difficult task. People dedicated to QA are in the business of knowing what test tools work well in certain situations since they work with these tools all the time. If you cannot justify the business case for an internal solution, you may want to look for reputable QA firms you trust to assume this function on a contract basis. Testing resources Visit SPC's online Resource Center for testing resources, including links to outsource testing companies.