Today, everything from automobiles to smart home appliances has pieces of code powering them, working behind the scenes. Malfunctions of any degree can significantly impact a brand’s reputation and, in more severe instances, lead to costly litigation.

One way to avoid the scenarios mentioned above is to perform exhaustive testing of each piece of code before deployment. While most organizations have in-house testing teams, these teams may need more expertise and on-demand scalability. With the ability to rapidly provision infrastructure on demand, companies can launch new products and scale to meet customer needs faster than ever before. But speed should never come at the cost of quality.

This is where Testing as a Service (TaaS) comes into play. This blog will explain what TaaS testing is, its impact on rapid business operations, and how it can help you maximize your ROI.

Table of Contents:

What is TaaS?

Testing as a Service is a cloud-based, third-party service that organizations use to outsource their testing activities. It is a pay-as-you-go model where the organization buys all the necessary resources, such as testing software, tools, or supporting infrastructure. TaaS provides on-demand testing environments and automation tools via the cloud. Instead of building out their testing labs, companies can spin up virtual testing environments in minutes and pay only for what they use.

These software testing services come into their own when an organization does not have the resources to invest in the infrastructure or the workforce required to develop a full-fledged house testing team or needs on-demand expertise for specific testing needs.

The on-demand nature of the TaaS service supports greater innovation as well. Companies can rapidly test and prototype new ideas without lengthy procurement processes. If the application is successful, additional resources can be deployed quickly to support wider rollout. If not, companies do not have to worry about being stuck with unused servers. With TaaS, organizations have the agility to respond faster to opportunities, which is key for competitive advantage.

How Does TaaS in Cloud Computing Lead to an Accelerated Cycle of Innovation?

TaaS enables businesses to deliver high-quality software testing quickly by:

  • Enabling on-demand provisioning of test environments: This ensures that businesses can swiftly create and deploy the required infrastructure with the help of a technology platform as and when needed. This capability allows for agility in setting up diverse testing environments to meet specific project requirements, ultimately contributing to faster and more efficient testing processes.
  • Providing scalable test automation: This empowers businesses to conduct testing seamlessly across different stages of the software development lifecycle. This scalability allows for the automation of various testing tasks, from unit testing to integration and acceptance testing, ensuring that testing services can adapt to the evolving needs of the project.
  • Integrating testing into continuous delivery workflows: This involves the seamless inclusion of testing processes within the overall development and deployment pipeline. By integrating testing into continuous delivery, businesses can ensure that each code change is rigorously tested, leading to higher-quality software and reduced time-to-market.
  • Accelerating release cycles without compromising quality: This enables businesses to swiftly introduce software updates and new features while maintaining high standards of quality. This accelerated release cycle is achieved through efficient testing practices, enabling businesses to respond rapidly to market demands and stay ahead of the competition.
  • Optimizing test data management: This involves ensuring that the test data utilized is relevant, accurate, and efficiently managed throughout the testing process. Effective test data management contributes to the reliability and validity of test results, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of the software being developed.

What are the Types of Testing TaaS Undertakes?

Application testing is a vital aspect of the Software Development Life Cycle. Based on where in the SDLC the project is, various types of testing come into the picture, which can be primarily classified into two major categories.

1. Functional Testing

Functional testing, as the name implies, focuses on testing the “function” of a software application. TaaS service providers can be roped into performing various functional tests, such as:

  1. Unit Testing
  2. Integration Testing
  3. Regression Testing
  4. User Acceptance Testing

These tests essentially focus on what the software does.

2. Non-Functional Testing

Non-functional testing focuses on the non-functional aspects of a software application, such as its performance, usability, and security. Here, TaaS service providers can provide testing solutions for:

  1. Load Testing
  2. Performance Testing
  3. Security Testing

How Does TaaS Work?

The process of working with a TaaS provider typically involves the following steps:

The first and foremost step is choosing the right service provider for your specific needs. TaaS service providers are abundant today. However, not everyone will have the particular expertise you are looking for, the specialized tools you need, or match your budget requirements.

Once you have a service agreement in place, the rest of the process goes as follows:

  1. Requirement analysis: The process starts by discussing the scope and the objectives and establishing the expectations of the testing project. Based on this, the TaaS service provider proposes a testing plan.
  2. This includes identifying the types of testing you need, the test cases you want to execute, and the expected timelines. Once the plan has been approved, the process moves on to the next phase.
  3. Setting up the test environment: The TaaS provider then sets up the test environment that matches the client’s production environment and all the software and tools required to execute the testing that the client has agreed on.
  4. Test execution: The TaaS service provider then executes the test cases as discussed and agreed upon based on the testing plan. The testing method here can be either manual or automated, depending on the specifics of the testing requirements.
  5. Evaluation: The TaaS provider evaluates the test results and defects against the predefined quality criteria and metrics and provides the client with a detailed report and test logs. This usually contains feedback and recommendations on how to improve the software quality and performance, along with the following information:
  6. The types of tests that were performed.
  7. The results of each test.
  8. Any bugs that were found.
  9. Recommendations for improvement.
  10. Reiteration and Test Closure: The client then fixes any issues/bugs that were detected during the testing process and then provides the updated product for another round of comprehensive tests. The process repeats till the application is error-free and ready to be moved to production.

TaaS testing, however, is not required or mandatory for every aspect of testing. You can consider availing the services of a testing services provider if:

  1. You do not have the in-house expertise to perform a specific series of tests.
  2. You need to scale up your testing requirements at short notice.
  3. You need access to better testing tools and software.

What are the Benefits of TaaS Testing?

Digital transformation is taking place in every industry today, and with that comes a growing demand for software and programs to facilitate it.

Testing as a Service model comes into its own at this juncture, where quick and error-free deliveries are the need of the hour. Here is how:

1. Reduced Time to Market

Testing as a Service providers are experts in their field. Since their primary focus, unlike in-house development teams, is only on this one aspect of the SDLC, they help businesses speed up the testing process, reducing a product’s time to market. Their expertise in this one aspect also ensures more comprehensive and rigorous testing, which results in better overall quality of the software product.

2. Access to Cutting-Edge Technology

In-house development teams work on fixed budgets, and their testing teams may not have the luxury of working with the latest tools in the market. TaaS testing solutions, on the other hand, do. TaaS also offers pre-built test automation to reduce the time and effort of repetitive tests. Having access to the latest software and tools is also a plus in their marketing strategy to be able to distinguish themselves from their competition to win over clients.

3. Cost Savings

When business outsource their testing to software testing services, they can benefit from significant cost savings associated with the resources, the tools, and the licenses required to perform extensive in-house testing. Capital can then be diverted into the development aspect of their projects. TaaS services also give you the flexibility to scale up or scale down your testing requirements as needed, which again eliminates the capital investment into the infrastructure required to do the same in-house.

TaaS Use Cases with Impact on Business Operations

The self-service and automated nature of TaaS architecture allows resources to be delivered on demand in a scalable way. Users can request pre-configured services without needing involvement from IT teams. This agility and flexibility support rapid business operations. Companies across many industries are adopting TaaS models to rapidly scale their business operations and accelerate time-to-market. Here are some examples:

1. E-Commerce

During peak sales events, e-commerce sites like Amazon and eBay leverage TaaS to instantly procure extra cloud servers and bandwidth to smoothly manage spikes in traffic and orders. This ensures an excellent customer experience.

2. Media

Media companies like Netflix tap into TaaS for on-demand content delivery networks to offer superior streaming experiences worldwide. TaaS allows for meeting viewership growth and new market demand rapidly.

Best Practices to Adopt While Deploying TaaS

Overall, a measured approach is recommended when adopting any new technology. TaaS provides agility, but scaling too quickly can lead to unexpected costs or performance issues. Adopting the TaaS methodically allows businesses to fully reap the benefits while minimizing risks:

  • Start Small and Scale Up Gradually: While using TaaS, it’s important to begin by identifying one or two use cases that are well-suited for TaaS and pilot them before expanding more broadly. This allows time to evaluate performance, costs, and benefits before fully transitioning.
  • Carefully Monitor Usage and Costs: TaaS pricing is often based on metrics like storage consumed or tasks performed. Costs can add up quickly if usage grows unchecked. Put budget alerts in place to notify if spending exceeds projections. Continuously optimize how applications utilize TaaS resources to avoid waste.
  • Periodically Analyze Workflows: Analyze which tasks and workflows are using TaaS versus those still on legacy infrastructure. Shift more to TaaS if it proves cost-effective for additional use cases. But maintain legacy systems for workloads that aren’t optimized for TaaS.
  • Use Automation and Self-Service Features: Automating provisioning, deployment, scaling, and management of resources reduces the burden on IT teams. Make sure developers can spin up test and staging environments quickly without manual intervention.

Summing Up

The availability of computing resources through TaaS substantially impacts business operations. The technology enables organizations to be nimble, efficient, and creative. TaaS testing is an excellent alternative if you need quick and easy access to testing expertise and tools that your in-house team lacks.

The icing on the cake is that you get all of the above at a fraction of the cost compared to attempting to scale up and acquire the resources and infrastructure needed for niche testing skills. If improving the quality of your product while improving time to market is something you are looking for, TaaS services are your best bet.

TaaS in cloud computing is a strategic asset for competing and adapting in fast-changing markets. By leveraging TaaS, companies can achieve rapid time-to-market, reduce costs, and keep innovating – positioning themselves for growth and success. The promise of business agility in the cloud cannot be realized without an effective quality assurance strategy. TaaS provides the infrastructure and automation for fast-moving companies to test early, test often, and meet customer expectations.

Hurix Digital is a reliable testing partner for all your needs. With over 20 years of experience, our holistic approach to testing guarantees an error-free final product. We undertake a wide range of testing, including automation, API, functional, and mobile app testing, to name a few.

Get in touch with Hurix Digital to learn more!