Advantages And Disadvantages Of Cloud Based Software Testing
Tags: cloud, testing, softwareengineering, programming
Published: 2024-02-23 13:38:03

Our present advancements in terms of technology have drastically changed the curve of our lives. With better technological advancements come improvisations and the need for proper testing and evaluation. A real device cloud is a data center containing thousands of real devices in all forms. The cloud includes software to connect with these devices and present them on a computer or make them available for tools. It allows one to perform [real device testing](https://www.headspin.io/real-device-testing-with-headspin) by connecting to a real device.

Statistics show that the number of smartphone subscribers globally already exceeds six billion and is expected to increase by several hundred million in the next few years. This is a clear indication of the importance of mobile app testing. It helps in checking the functionality of software developed for handheld mobile devices.  Now one might leverage the shared resources that are dynamically allocated, creating flexible testing environments; and simulating user situations and real-world traffic. Cloud computing helps one in doing such tasks.

Cloud-based mobile app testing solutions enable simple access to the cloud environment via an on-demand service model, making software testing a painless and readily scalable procedure. Organizations can reapply resources to other aspects of your project while keeping high-quality output in this manner.

However, there are several disadvantages to using the cloud. If not tackled collaboratively, cloud testing difficulties might impede the development cycle. Addressing cloud testing concerns before installation can help one enhance their QA procedures, increase their ROI(Return On Interest), and shorten their time to market. Before incorporating cloud testing into a QA plan, a complete testing strategy evaluates all of its drawbacks. Before we examine the advantages and loopholes of cloud-based software testing, let us define cloud-based testing and see how the cloud affects and how QA teams execute testing.

## What Is Cloud Based Software Testing?
Cloud-based testing entails running tests on a software application using cloud resources. These tests might cover an application’s hardware, software, and infrastructure. To validate a product’s security, functionality, and usability before market launch, QA teams rely on a cloud software testing strategy and these cloud-based mobile app testing tools. The main goal is to check the software for its functionality as well as non-functional requirements. It allows scalability and flexibility to save time.

Cloud testing focuses on the following fundamental testing components to achieve complete testing coverage:

- Cloud-based testing software for functionality, data security, browser compatibility, and end-to-end business procedures is covered in this application.
- Network testing includes the evaluation of various network bandwidths and protocols, as well as the effective movement of data via networks.
- Infrastructure is concerned with disaster recovery testing, secure communication, backups, and storage rules.

Other cloud testing types include performance, compliance, availability, security, scalability, multi-tenancy, security, availability, and live-upgrade testing.

Cloud computing is an internet-based platform that provides remote access to various computing services such as hardware, software, and other computer-related services. Key models of cloud computing are: 

- SaaS- Software as a Service 
- PaaS- Platform as a Service
- IaaS- Infrastructure as a Service.

## Types of Testing in the Cloud:

The cloud testing industry is divided into three major groups.
- **Testing of the entire cloud**: The cloud is considered a full thing, and testing is performed based on its features. This form of testing is being pursued by cloud and SaaS suppliers, as well as end-users.
- **Cloud-based testing**: This type of testing is carried out by inspecting each of its internal characteristics. This can only performed by cloud suppliers. Cloud-based testing  is carried out on various cloud-like public, private, and hybrid clouds.
- **Cloud SaaS testing**: Functional and non-functional testing performed based on application requirements.

## How does the Cloud Affect Testing?
After shifting to the cloud, cloud software testing is necessary. However, the cloud environment motivates QA teams to change the way they run test cases to have effective testing cycles.

Cloud testing entails confirming the cloud service or SaaS functionalities, including an application’s end-to-end functioning.

Integration Testing: QA testers examine SaaS-based cloud integration as well as the application’s integration with older systems.

Security Testing: Cloud-based mobile app testing solutions enable QA testers to run test cases focusing on user privacy and security across a wide variety of users. It also focuses on data integrity and protection during transit and rest times, connection security; cyberattack prevention, and software interface security.

[Cloud-based mobile app testing](https://www.headspin.io/solutions/mobile-app-testing) solutions enable QA teams to utilize the cloud for load testing; application stability monitoring, and performance testing in a scalable environment.

## Advantages Of Cloud-based Software Testing
There are several reasons why so many firms are shifting to cloud-based testing.

The Testing Environment Is Dynamic and Easy to Access: Cloud-based testing’s on-demand nature provides a quick response time for enterprises that don’t mind a self-service platform. Most cloud testing solutions operate on a subscription basis; QA testers with browser access may sign up now and begin testing immediately.

- **The Services Are Safe and Reasonably Priced**: 
The advantages of cloud testing begin with their adaptability in meeting your testing requirements. This is because cloud testing may done in public, private, or hybrid clouds. The public cloud is the most cost-effective option that yet provides an appropriate level of security. Many firms choose hybrid cloud testing for a combination of cost-effectiveness; and top-tier security to safeguard software applications from typical security flaws in QA.
- **Scale As Necessary**:
In a conventional testing environment, scaling either gives up certain processes to support others or acquires new gear to make more room. Instead, the elastic scalability of cloud-based testing allows you to ramp up and ramp down as your needs change or your project goals evolve. This testing technique assures that your future operations, regardless of scale or requirements, can be supported.
- **It enables simple disaster recovery**: 
Traditional backup techniques need time-consuming maintenance and costly upgrades. In the case of a hardware failure or natural disaster, data recovery may be difficult or impossible. Recovery of all assets in the cloud is a quick and simple process that is neither arduous nor difficult.
- **Overall cost-effectiveness**:
 Working in the cloud saves money on server upkeep and engineer labor. Because cloud hosting services cut overhead technology expenditures, your company may reallocate these funds to improve infrastructure and testing procedures. Additionally, cloud services provide automated testing, allowing your team to optimize the QA process while enhancing the company’s ROI.

## Disadvvantages
Experienced QA testers plan for any cloud performance testing issues that may arise during the testing process or real device testing. When the following cloud testing difficulties solved before adoption, the QA team will reap the most benefits:

- **Issues with Bandwidth**: 
The cloud’s resources are shared by many other companies so the demand for bandwidth is continually fluctuating. When a constant internet connection cannot be maintained or there is insufficient bandwidth to support testing, QA teams face cloud testing issues. Increase the efficacy of your cloud-based testing tool by designing a backup plan that can meet your bandwidth requirements during downtime or outage.
- **Redundant Tests**: 
Because cloud servers are not backed up, redundant test plans are not monitored. As a result, you might charged for re-testing your code, application, or website. Purchase a redundancy strategy to address these cloud performance testing problems if technology breaks in the future.
- **Loss of Independence and Security**: 
One gives their data and information to an outside entity as a subscriber to a cloud-based testing application. This might make cloud testing more difficult because the data is now more sensitive. Furthermore, IT staff will be unable to give in-house remedies to issues that develop during testing. That is why it is critical to select a cloud-based testing provider that provides 24/7 customer assistance and a ticket escalation mechanism.
- **Spotty Feature Coverage**: 
Sometimes the cloud testing services may not be able to test every new feature one deploys, resulting in insufficient test coverage. To solve these cloud testing problems, the QA team may select a more robust cloud testing provider and collaborate with external QA testing professionals to ensure that the product maintains market quality.
Before shifting the testing processes to the cloud, ensure that one understands all of the testing criteria required for effective software application testing. As a result, you can select the best cloud-based mobile testing tools for your project and develop a solid testing plan that covers any potential cloud testing difficulties with concrete solutions and established processes.
- **Brief notice period**:
Existing clients are given a limited notice time (1-2 weeks) regarding updates from the cloud provider. This is a significant issue when manually verifying updates to your SaaS application.
- **Checking interface compatibility**:
When a cloud service provider upgrades, the external interface sometimes improved as well, which might difficult for certain subscribers who used to the earlier interface. Cloud (SaaS) customers must guarantee that users may select the interface version with which they want to work.
- **Simulating real-world update testing**:
The most trivial difficulty in cloud testing is ensuring that live updates do not damage already connected SaaS users.
- **Integration of Enterprise Applications**:
Data integration validation of both outbound and incoming data from the client network to the SaaS application required for enterprise application integration. Also, Data privacy necessitates extensive validation to reassure SaaS users of data security and privacy.
- **Data Transfer or Migration**:
Data migration from one Cloud provider to another is a major difficulty since the database schemas of both providers may be different, and it takes a lot of effort to understand the data types, connections, and how they are translated across SaaS applications.

## How HeadSpin Helps
HeadSpin allows one to execute real device testing across vast local devices over the world. HeadSpin enables Geological Testing. Websites may seem differently when displayed from an IP address in a different geographical area than yours. HeadSpin’s geolocation website testing solution enables remote cross-browser testing and the debugging of mobile, web, audio, and video apps.

Businesses may use the HeadSpin Platform to test websites from many places and connect to thousands of actual mobile and browser testing devices. HeadSpin’s extensive global device infrastructure, which includes physical devices all over the world, enables testing of multiple distributed edge nodes or “edges.” The worldwide device cloud allows testers to access devices with genuine SIM cards.

Through HeadSpin’s single-tenant deployment architecture, one can test mobile applications (connect to a real device cloud) and websites from different locations on real devices and test the actual user experience in places ,all over the world, without sacrificing security or speed.

## CONCLUSION:

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/trwdp6or4gnalgnm0ksk.png)

Estimated market size of cloud application from 2013-25

Cloud testing, as opposed to traditional on-premises testing, provides users with pay-per-use pricing, flexibility, and a shorter time to market. The test techniques and technology used to do functional testing against cloud-based apps not materially different from those used to test conventional in-house systems, but understanding the nonfunctional risks associated with the cloud crucial to success.

If testing includes production data, for example, adequate security and data integrity protocols and procedures must in place and validated before functional testing can commence. Furthermore, cloud testing may performed from any location or device with a network connection, as opposed to on-premises testing, which must performed on-site.

Cloud testing can refer to testing for a variety of objectives, such as determining how the functionalities of an IaaS or PaaS service operate, how an in-cloud SaaS application works, or how to use cloud technologies to supplement a QA approach. While cloud testing may help companies by lowering costs, increasing flexibility, speeding up testing, and enhancing collaboration, there are certain inherent drawbacks to using the cloud.

Businesses should prioritize finding the proper software testing methods to match their organizational needs while considering alternative testing methods. If the company decides that cloud testing is the best choice, it should consider the various cloud testing tools and approaches available. One should also consider the technical facts about its apps and cloud infrastructure.