Shifting Left Approach: Is It A Business Challenge?
Tags: programming, devops, devsecops, coding
Published: 2023-12-07 10:04:00

In the early to mid-2010s, the shift left testing originated and gained prominence within the DevOps community as a response to the challenges of delivering high-quality software quickly. As more companies witnessed its advantages, the shift left approach became a fundamental strategy within the DevOps movement.

In this article, we will explore how this approach transforms software development by proactively addressing issues and enhancing efficiency, making software more customer-friendly from the outset. 

## What is the shift left approach?
In the competitive field of software development, delivering high-quality products on time is crucial for businesses to stay ahead. However, the traditional approach to testing, which happens towards the end of the development process, can lead to challenges. Late discovery of bugs, technical defects, and security vulnerabilities can cause delayed releases, increased costs, and, as a result, damage to a company’s reputation.  

To overcome these challenges, organizations have started adopting the shift left approach. This strategy prioritizes testing and quality evaluations earlier in the software development process. Unlike the traditional production model, where testing occurs at the end, the shift left approach involves collaboration between testing and development teams right from the start. By shifting tasks earlier in the pipeline, defects can be identified and addressed at a stage where they have a lesser impact on the final product. 

Therefore, by doing so, it is possible for the early detection and resolution of software defects, which minimizes their impact on the overall product. The primary goal of the shift left approach is to move tasks as far to the left side in the pipeline as possible to enhance the software’s overall quality. As a result, potential issues are tackled proactively, leading to more efficient and reliable software production.

## What is the purpose though?
The shift left approach aims to improve software quality by catching and addressing issues as early as possible. Detecting and fixing defects in the early stages can save significant time and effort, and reduce the risk of introducing more problems later in the development lifecycle. This approach also leads to cost savings by preventing extensive rework and post-release fixes. 

Waiting to detect all software mistakes at the end of the lifecycle can cause delays, increased costs, and unexpected errors. So, the shift left approach saves time, and money, and ensures a smoother development process. 

Another significant benefit is enhancing the customer experience. Identifying and addressing issues early on helps deliver higher-quality products, reducing customer complaints and negative feedback. This, in turn, fosters greater customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

## Types of shift left testing
Shift Left testing embraces various techniques that promote early testing and quality assurance in the software development lifecycle. It aims to identify and rectify potential issues as soon as possible, minimizing their impact on the overall development process.

## Type # 1 -Traditional shift left testing approach
The “traditional shift left” strategy refers to the conventional approach of shifting testing and quality evaluations earlier in the software development process. This strategy aligns with the [principles of DevOps](https://gitprotect.io/blog/devops-pillars-top-11-devops-principles-for-2023/) and emphasizes collaboration, continuous improvement, and proactive issue identification.

## Type # 2 – Incremental shift left testing process
This strategy can also be considered as a type of shift left testing. Incremental testing involves breaking down the development process into smaller increments or components and testing them individually. This approach allows for early validation of each increment’s functionality, helping to catch defects and issues early in the development cycle. By addressing potential problems in smaller units before they accumulate, incremental testing contributes to overall software quality and reduces the chances of critical issues emerging later in the process.

## Type # 3 – Agile/DevOps shift left testing
Agile/DevOps shift left testing is a combination of the shift left approach with the principles of Agile and DevOps methodologies. It emphasizes collaboration, automation, and continuous integration throughout the software development lifecycle. This approach aims to catch defects and issues as early as possible by integrating testing and quality assurance activities into the development process from the very beginning. Agile/DevOps shift left testing promotes rapid feedback, faster delivery, and improved collaboration among development, testing, and operations teams.

## Type # 4 – Model-based shift left testing
Model-based shift left testing involves using models and simulations to validate software behavior before the actual code is developed. It focuses on creating models that represent different aspects of the software, such as its functionality, interactions, and performance characteristics. These models are used to simulate how the software will behave under various conditions, providing insights into its behavior throughout the software delivery process. By identifying potential issues through simulation, developers can address problems early in the development cycle, leading to better software reliability and reduced development time.

## Software testing practices, methodologies, and techniques
Let’s look at some of the most crucial practices that the shift-left testing approach has:

- **Unit Testing**: Testing individual code components in isolation to ensure correctness through automated tests.
- **Operational Testing**: Evaluating software functionality, performance, and reliability in its operational environment.
- **API Testing**: Early testing of APIs to identify compatibility issues and ensure effective communication.
- **Shift-Left Security Testing**: Integrating security testing early to identify vulnerabilities proactively.
- **Regression Testing**: Ensuring code changes don’t impact existing functionality.
- **Post Deployment Testing**: Evaluating software behavior and performance post-deployment.
- **User Acceptance Testing (UAT)**: Verifying software meets end-users’ expectations through real-user testing.

Others include agile software development, static testing, static code analyzer, agile testing, developmental testing, operational readiness testing, system-level testing, and integration testing.

## Different Alternatives
Why not look further and look at other alternatives, or complementary strategies, which can affect the testing process in one way or another?

## Traditional way of testing: is there still room for it?
Before the shift-left approach, traditional software development practices followed a conventional path when it came to software testing. The testing phase was typically relegated to the later stages of the development lifecycle, occurring subsequent to the coding phase. This established a linear sequence in which development was completed upfront, and only after that, the software testing phase began.

This conventional method often resulted in a sequential process, leading to complexities when addressing issues that were uncovered during testing. These challenges required developers to backtrack, resolve the identified problems, and then reevaluate the software. This sequential model of software testing frequently extended development timelines, escalated costs, and constrained the agility of the development process.

Furthermore, the delayed identification of bugs, technical glitches, and vulnerabilities in complex systems posed notable challenges concerning quality assurance, customer satisfaction, and timely product releases. In response to these obstacles, the shift left approach emerged, advocating for a more unified and proactive integration of software testing throughout the software development lifecycle.

## Shift right approach: are there any benefits?
It is crucial to consider an alternative approach known as the shift right strategy. This approach involves thorough testing activities of the software in real-world conditions after its development. By doing so, it helps uncover any issues that might have been missed during earlier stages of development. This ensures that the software can effectively meet real user demands, and that user feedback is utilized to improve its overall quality. 

In certain cases, the shift right approach can, in fact, be more beneficial, especially when understanding user needs is a priority. This approach emphasizes effective communication and cooperation with users, enabling continuous feedback that leads to ongoing improvements and better software quality.

By integrating both the shift left and shift right approaches, organizations can establish a comprehensive software development and testing strategy, ultimately increasing the likelihood of delivering high-quality products that meet user expectations. 

## The advantages of the shift left approach 
Let’s examine the benefits of the shift left strategy. By scrutinizing these advantages, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of its potential impact on the software development cycle. 

## Early focus on quality
The shift left approach emphasizes prioritizing product quality right from the beginning of the software development life cycle. This means developers concentrate on identifying and addressing potential issues at an early stage rather than waiting until the end of the development process. 

## Proactive vulnerability detection
By detecting defects during the requirements phase, the likelihood of vulnerabilities during the development phase is reduced. This proactive approach ensures that potential problems are tackled before they can become critical issues later in the development pipeline. 

## Cost savings
According to [research conducted by the Systems Sciences Institute at IBM](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255965523_Integrating_Software_Assurance_into_the_Software_Development_Life_Cycle_SDLC), the expense of addressing a bug detected during implementation is six times higher than rectifying a bug pinpointed during the design phase. Moreover, IBM’s findings suggest that rectifying bugs discovered during the testing phase could amount to a cost 15x greater compared to addressing those identified during the design phase. By prioritizing robust design and testing earlier, organizations can not only enhance software quality but also realize substantial cost savings and operational efficiencies.

## Faster development
Addressing defects early allows developers to resolve issues before they become more complex and time-consuming to fix. This leads to a more efficient development process with reduced delays, ultimately accelerating the time-to-market for the product. 

## Improved reputation
By delivering products with higher quality and fewer defects, companies can enhance their reputation in the market. Customers are more likely to trust and choose products from companies known for their commitment to quality and reliability. 

## Enhanced security 
Early detection of vulnerabilities enables teams to implement security measures and fix them promptly, that can help to reduce the risk of potential security breaches in the final product. 

## Better customer satisfaction
By addressing issues early and delivering high-quality products, customer complaints and negative feedback are minimized. This leads to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

Overall, the shift-left approach offers numerous advantages, including cost savings, improved product quality, enhanced security, and a faster and more efficient development process. It empowers organizations to build a solid foundation for their software products from the outset, ensuring a competitive edge in the market and more satisfied customers. 

## The shift left approach in practice: Use Case
To successfully use the shift left approach, organizations need to encourage teamwork and utilize testing early. Providing developers with easy-to-use and non-disruptive testing tools is essential. It enables them to gain quick feedback on their code. This, in its turn, empowers developers to catch and address potential issues in the early stages of development, reducing the likelihood of more significant problems later. 

Furthermore, security teams play a crucial role in enabling the shift left approach. They should set up policies that encourage testing earlier and utilize secure coding practices. Selecting appropriate testing tools that align with the organization’s needs and workflows is important. 

In addition, uninterrupted integration of security testing into developers’ workflows is also necessary for a successful shift left implementation. By breaking down barriers between development and security teams, organizations can ensure that security considerations are an integral part of the software development process from the beginning. 

In cloud-native environments with microservices and containers, the shift left approach becomes even more critical. Frequent and early testing helps teams understand how various services interact in a simulated environment, allowing them to detect and address potential performance impacts before deploying the code. 

Generally speaking, adopting the shift left approach demands a united effort from all involved parties, with a focus on cooperation, early testing, and security considerations. By doing so, organizations can pave the way for continuous improvement in software quality and development efficiency. 

## Challenges and mitigation
 
Implementing the shift left approach can come with its own set of challenges. Some organizations may face resistance from developers and testers accustomed to the traditional approach. To overcome this challenge, organizations could set up workshops and training sessions to demonstrate the benefits of early testing and provide hands-on experience with the required tools and technologies. 

## Continuous improvement
Well, a continuous feedback loop and ongoing improvement are vital to optimize the effectiveness of the shift left approach over time. Therefore, organizations should regularly assess their testing processes, gather feedback from developers and testers, and make iterative improvements. This ensures that the shift left approach evolves with changing needs and technologies, fostering continuous growth in software quality and development efficiency. 

## Now, let’s get back to the question…
**Is the shift left approach a business challenge?**

Absolutely, the shift left approach represents not only a transformative shift in software development practices but also poses a distinct business challenge for organizations. This strategy challenges the traditional notions of when and how testing and quality assurance are conducted. By emphasizing running tests early and proactive issue identification, the shift left approach requires businesses to reconsider their development workflows and invest in creating a more collaborative and integrated environment between development and testing teams. This shift can potentially disrupt established processes, demand adjustments in test team dynamics, and necessitate the adoption of new tools and methodologies.

While the benefits of the shift Left approach are substantial, implementing this strategy may not be without obstacles. Organizations need to overcome resistance to change, provide training to ensure the proper execution of the approach and navigate any temporary productivity shifts as teams adapt to the new practices.

All in all, the shift left approach is indeed a business challenge as it requires a cultural shift, changes in workflows, and potential disruptions, all while aiming for long-term benefits in terms of software quality, cost-efficiency, and customer loyalty.

## Is the shift left approach the only security measure to keep in mind? 
The shift left approach in software development has emerged as a powerful solution to the challenges of delivering high-quality products on time. By prioritizing testing and quality evaluations early in the development process, organizations can detect and address defects at a stage where they have minimal impact on the final product. However, they shouldn’t forget about other security measures that help deliver quality code, and still keep the company’s critical data safe, guaranteeing continuous workflow.

Regular backups are among the necessary security measures in your development lifecycle. In case a disaster strikes, you can always restore your backed-up data fast and continue working on your project, eliminating any event of data loss.

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