The Growing Need for Test Data Management

The Growing Need for Test Data Management

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3 min read

Oftentimes, apps witness immense load making them inaccessible temporarily; such unexpected scenarios make clients being restless and frustrated, prompting them to even uninstall the app. This kind of operational inefficiency can lead to reputational and monetary damage to the organization.

The above example highlights the importance of testing before the app release so that all the glitches are identified and fixed, making only high-quality apps available for the users. However, software system testing is only as good as its test data management strategy, which should be adopted and implemented to:

  • Test and development process management to meet testing and application development requirements

  • Identify appropriate replicable accounts and transactions from production to meet test criteria

  • Secure data and streamline cloning processes, delivering clones needed to meet upgrade and patch cycles as well as maintain data security

  • Mitigate the threat of identity theft concerns among consumers and regulators

  • Increase turn-around-times during system upgrades through improved planning of data refreshes and overall data utilization

  • Testing forms an important part of test data management

Data management can be defined as the science of creating and maintaining the data sets generated by software system testing, driven by cause-effect relationships, producing predictable outcomes and responses. These data sets can be created by replicating each stage of the transaction, to produce the synthetic data. However, data generated by actual tractions is called migrated data, which forms the authentic sets. Data generation by both methods has its own set of values and challenges. Synthetic data needs to be interoperable, and capable of performing in diverse systems and environments without having an effect on the complexity of inter-relationships. On the other hand, migrated data that has been taken from authentic transactions has limited reusability across different test cycles, restricted by data confidentiality obligations.

Mitigating Risks Inherent in Test Data Management

The potential risks of implementing test data management should be strategized before working on test data management. The complexity of the data depends on different scenarios like whether the data is structured or unstructured or if the databases are new or from the existing systems. If kept in multiple environments, it may have the added challenge of access sensitivities and potential confidentiality breaches. Assessing the time available for data discovery, its generation and management is another factor that is important in ensuring representative samples as obtained.

Test data management requires different types of data for different types of testing. To avoid data breach, new security protocols will be required as well as staff training, highlighting the importance of protecting live production data as well as guarding test environments.

Empowered Software Testing through Test Data Management

Modern business practices are highly dynamic and should be optimized for efficient process continuity. Any discrepancies will create a negative impact on the entire system. Accordingly, if the process of choosing, understanding, and analysing the test results is time-consuming, tedious, and requires specific knowledge of underlying applications, it will have a direct negative impact on the entire system.

To meet the requirements of time and efficiency, organizations should consider the following test data management techniques, however, all sensitive information should be masked while implementing the technique.

  • Database replication should be carried out by copying of production data

  • Data sub-setting should be done by substituting production data when appropriate

  • Synthetic data generation, through the production of synthetic data based on a clear understanding of the underlying data model, which requires no de-identification

When in dilemma to choose the right tool for testing, consider Tenjin Online. It’s a 5th-generation, codeless, self-assisted test automation solution for web, Android, and iOS applications. It’s simple and works with minimal/no human intervention and offers efficient and accurate results.