The global business environment and even the general market continue to experience digital transformation at all levels. Whenever you use any online service or connected device, it leads to the creation of billions of units of data sets.

Imagine a situation where personal data gets rendered insecure. All the data that is generated by the Internet of Things (IoT) will lose its reliability.

Potential security risks exist everywhere. Whether you are using a home PC, your iOS device, a notebook, or any other connected device, your data is always vulnerable. The types of attacks can include hacking threats, identity theft, or collection and sale of financial data, to name a few. Everyone is facing the potential threat of becoming a victim of cybercrime.

Defining Cyber Security

This is the age of information economy. This makes information security a critical element in the success, survival, and competitiveness of businesses. The Internet connects computers, mobile devices, and other devices and has become a universal medium of communication. Cyber security has become an important term in this domain. It involves a series of techniques developed for protecting the connected devices against potential threats. It includes online services meant for protecting your online information.

Cyber security aims at protecting personal information through response, detection, and prevention of attacks. It is important for reducing or eliminating incidences of cybercrime attacks.

The incidences of cybercrime have increased dramatically on a global scale. Your chances of becoming a victim continue to increase at a fast rate.

If there is a device that is connected to the internet, it is always at risk of being attacked. The mode of attacks can include cyber-attacks, malware, viruses, breaking password, trojan attacks, loss of credit card information, hacking attacks, fraud, or unauthorized purchases on your card or account.

Cybercrime is a larger topic that covers many other areas, including the following:

• Phishing
• Cyber stalking
• Email spoofing
• Spamming
• Salami attack

Leading Digital Security Trends in 2020

Given the cyber security scenario that exists currently, it is important to find out what industries are doing to stay ahead of the game and protect data at different levels. The last year was a busy year for the cyber-security industry. A wide range of attacks were carried out against government agencies, businesses, and individuals around the world. In terms of financial impact, the losses recorded were some of the highest so far. The year saw major data breaches affecting millions of people. In 2020, cyber security has naturally become a big topic on the agenda in most boardrooms.

So what are the latest digital security trends that will be prevalent in 2020?

1. Data Breaches

A data breach is defined as an incident where private, protected, or insightful data gets stolen, accessed, or used illegally and without permission. Hacking into a network with the intention of stealing sensitive data is a common example of a data breach.

An important digital security trend in this area has been the development and implementation of more powerful data encryption systems. Database files, when effectively encrypted, can protect the data and prevent access without the availability of the right keys.

2. Growth of AI & Blockchain

This is a major trend that will continue to evolve into 2020. Automation and AI will continue to have a big role in improving cyber security. AI has the power to significantly speed up the identification and reduction of new potential threats. This helps in preventing attacks or reducing the risk of initial attacks from expanding and infecting the larger network.

It is not just the cyber security specialists who are taking advantage of AI and machine learning. It is expected that the incidences of ransomware attacks are going to increase this year as attackers will use the same technologies to identify potential vulnerabilities.

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Also Read: The Ultimate Guide To Test Your Solidity Smart Contracts

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Within the next two years, almost half of the servers will use technologies for data encryption. And more than half the security alerts will be based on AI. It is expected that 150 million users will be able to use blockchain-based digital identifiers. 

The industry will see the development of new systems developed using the integration of machine learning, blockchain, encryption and analytics to strengthen digital security. The agents working behind these developments will be cyber security companies and government-backed hacking communities.

3. The Era of Cyber War

The bridge between the cyber technologies between the East and West continues to grow bigger. A cyber war has been there between the two spheres, but it is expected to grow even bigger this year. There will be an increased incidence of cyber-attacks being caused between countries, mostly backed by the superpowers that seek to grow their areas of influence. This will require governments around the world to invest more in building their cyber defenses.

4. Security in the Cloud

A significant percentage of businesses have already moved their data, infrastructure, and processes to the cloud. More are now planning to do so in 2020. This has led to the creation of the challenge of protection of both critical information and infrastructure. Since the cloud is a relatively new environment, it requires a new approach to enterprise security. 

Enterprises will face many new challenges in the cloud environment, including:

• Maintaining control over critical data
• Tracking threat intelligence in real-time

The environment is going to create new forms of threats for businesses. The traditional security management systems will not be effective, especially in a larger web application infrastructure. Businesses and security specialists are already forced to bring changes to their approach to application security.

5. The Dawn of 5G

5G network is expected to contribute to the exponential growth of connected devices, sensors, and data volume. 

• New health applications are being developed to gather health-related data for each user
• New connected automotive technology can keep track of each vehicle’s movement
• New smart applications can gather information on the life and employment of users

The growing reach and influence of 5G network will see more personal data being gathered at different levels. This will also lead to the development of higher-levels of security against potential incidences of data theft and breaches. The technology is expected to create new challenges in various areas including:

• Confidentiality
• Data Security
• Authentication

6. Evolution of Phishing Threats

Phishing has been one of the earliest forms of cyber security threats. It has continued to evolve and is expected to be a big cyber threat in 2020 as well. It is going to be used for a wide range of purposes, including:

• Stealing identify & credentials
• Sending malware
• Cryptojacking
• Triggering fraud payments

Ransomware attacks are also expected to increase this year. It is concerning that these attackers continue to generate a regular income by carrying out such attacks. Efficient digital security trends that are expected to fight off these potential threats in 2020 include:

• Training staff & business stakeholders
• Deeper security management
• Vulnerability identification & management

7. Enhanced Security for Connected Cars

Modern connected cars have redefined the level of technology integration in the automotive industry. These technologies have been developed to improve user experience and convenience. However, this has led to the development of new security challenges. Both data thieves and car hackers have been able to make inroads into these technologies. 

The integration of advanced communication and GPS systems in cars has made them an easier target for cyber attackers.

8. Security of Voting Systems

The 2016 accusations of Russian interference in US Presidential Elections sent ripples across the world. Security of voting systems is now a major concern in democracies around the world. It is expected that potential attacks can evolve to cause disruption in different areas including the media. The use of disinformation campaigns to influence voter opinion, especially on social networks, is also growing concern.

EVM tampering is also a concern, but the greater focus is on the influence of disruption caused by misinformation. In recent years attackers have successfully and repetitively been able to cause disruption. This has affected the reliability and trust of voting systems.

9. Growing Need for Cyber Security Skills

The need for skilled cyber security professionals is expected to grow at an even faster rate in 2020. As already mentioned, this is a new age of security threats. New technologies are more complicated than ever, creating more complex security challenges for enterprises, governments, and individuals. 

New advanced tools make it possible for even a small team of cyber security professionals to secure all the web applications, websites, and other resources. 

However, cyber attackers are also learning at a fast pace and they too have access to advanced tools. This means that they can also attack private networks using smart devices that exist today. Thus, the need for better cyber security talent will continue to increase this year.

Importance of Cyber Security

It is expected that cybercrime is going to create the biggest risk to enterprises. Many businesses have found themselves in situations where they had no solutions for fraudulent situations. Such cases have put many such companies out of business, especially when they are new firms. There is no other way for enterprises to survive but to embrace digital security.

Today, the cyberspace reaches and affects everyone and in all aspects of life. The right approach to beat cyber-security threats is for everyone to play their individual role in protecting against potential threats.

Marc Andreessen, the founder of Netscape, said long ago- “software is eating the world”. Every company has a software impact these days, and they are well-poised to sweep over broad swathes of the economy. He might have been predicting the future of DevOps in 2020, which now seems to be operating in a limitless marketplace.

DevOps adoption increased amongst businesses of all sizes, during the initial timeframe of  2015-2016. Furthermore, Statista declared a 17% increase in DevOps adoption by businesses in 2018. Google Trends shows an increase of around 714% in interest around the topic of DevOps over the past five years alone. 

Where Is Devops Headed Today?

While DevOps is far from the new kid at school, businesses are still struggling to grasp its true potential for growth. With AI and ML finally here,  the numbers can perhaps rise considerably in the near future. Why? These new technologies are enabling a lot more automation into the core development processes and lifecycle,  thereby freeing engineers some precious hours to focus on tasks of higher priority. 

AI is used to predict algorithmic influencers and ML can help adapt to new conditions quickly – and these two together can power DevOps teams in 2020. The ultimate goal of DevOps is to unify development and operations, and AI and ML can smooth out the path by learning patterns, anticipating problems and suggesting proactive solutions. 

Automating The Assembly Lines: Realizing The Value Of A Job

We have pipelines to track the development of an application. These pipelines, like a flow chart, visually represent a product’s lifecycle – right from its initial stage of ideation to the final model and launch. 

However, recent developments suggest that continuous integration is a thing of the past. CI is obsolete in a world focused on effective monitoring and implementation. Automation is key to the future. This is where assembly lines enter the picture. 

Bridging the gap between manual and automated tasks, assembly lines are ensuring the absence of redundancy in tools. They are ensuring that apps are hitting the production lines as fast as possible. Whether it’s about delivering faster response times to demanding customers via smart chatbots or improving the inventory management with a tracking and logging system- automation is the key. One thing to keep in mind; however, is not to overdo it. Too much automation can kill the cat. The best option is to break down the labor-intensive processes, find repetitive tasks and automate those to save time. 

The six pillars of DevOps cycle which incorporate automation are:

• Business planning
• Collaborative development
• Testing
• Release and deployment
• Monitoring 
• Collaborative customer feedback and optimization

DevSecOps: Security Is Paramount In DevOps

Sadly, there are too many security-related disasters to ignore this aspect of DevOps. Right from the Capital One breach to Samsung Note 7 disaster, the importance of data security cannot be stressed enough. It’s not only a matter of bug fixes in updates that roll out a few months post the product launch. Going back to the Samsung Note 7 fiasco, it cost the company around $17 million, and perhaps a significant dent in brand reputation. 

This simply means that security is now the responsibility of each team member and not just the security experts – it is a business problem and not just a technology problem. Step up against cybercrime. Otherwise, be prepared to fall victim to it, and end up with broken funnel, plummeting sales and drooped shoulders of the team. 

Enterprise security options that safeguard your company, as well as your clientele, are rising in popularity. There’s no scope for compromise, not even with third-party programmers. Since CI/CD pipeline can be, and are, automated nowadays, security has to be a design constraint. While the CI/CD pipeline helps in easily making rapid changes on a daily basis to address customer’s needs and demands, keeping security at the forefront of your product goals can be detrimental to your success. 

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Also Read: CaaS: The Platform Required for the Successful Implementation of DevOps

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Security is no longer an add-on! You need to build it into the software application right from the initial stages, instead of bolting it on the final product. DevSecOps is all about injecting security into the bloodstream of your application’s lifecycle, thereby reducing the vulnerabilities. It is bringing security much closer to IT and business objectives. 

When everyone in the team is held responsible for security, there is less noise and confusion about who did what and what went wrong. In other words, less time wasted, and more work is done in a better way. So, make sure your developers are using the same dependencies, environments as well as software packages throughout the development process. To this end, an artefacts repository manager can be crucial to your security. 

The Significant Evolution Of Kubernetes

Another feature that is having a considerable impact on the evolution of DevOps is Golang, a programming language, used to write DevOps tools such as Docker, helm, Istio, etc. and most importantly Kubernetes. This Kubernetes was created by Joe Beda – who wrote about Golang as an excellent language alternative for people who don’t want or can’t afford to install dependencies as they comply with the stand-alone binary. With this, one can get the work done faster without setting up a whole work environment.

Surveying more than a thousand developers in San Diego and London on Go community, JFrog has arrived at the following conclusions:

• Developers following Go are highly engaged
• Adoption of Go module is very high
• Go language is widely used across many industries
• Around 82% of developers using Go use Go versions that can use Go modules. 
• Picking out Go Module is very hard.

Being the fastest growing technology for containment, Kubernetes is straightforward to use and has many perks to offer. It is Kubernetes that has built a vast open source community around it. Many technologists and CIO’s from around the world are using Kubernetes and it has been evolving with time. A survey done by Cloud Native Computing Foundation has shown the growth of Container Orchestration Landscape and its move towards Kubernetes.

Introduction Of Microservices Architecture

Another trending feature of DevOps that is trying to fit into the new environment is Microservices Architecture. As the name suggests, these are microservices that group together to make implementable and agile tools that can be used by the DevOps team to test and scale software in mere weeks rather than years. This way, businesses can streamline the production and development sectors setting them ahead of the initial production estimate and saving enough time and capital.

Implementation of microservices into one’s DevOps team can have significant benefits such as:

• Help the company focus on the runtime
• New development sources are efficiently delivered 
• Hassle-free creation of dependency errors when bugs show up without an easily traceable reason

Microservices has joined hands with DevOps to make it easier for the companies. Being an independent entity, it prohibits the creation of dependencies and crumbles other systems when a mishap takes place. They also help in the easy addition of new features making deployments for the companies. Now companies are stretching their hands towards a microservice architecture for efficient delivery and increased runtime. It can be beneficial to understand when and how to adopt these features to most of what they offer.

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Also Read: Why Integrate QE Into The DevOps Cycle?

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Future of DevOps

There are mainly two reasons for the automation of infrastructure in cloud architecture. 

• Firstly, IT pros, SysAdmin and DevOps are needed to automate as many of their tasks as possible, such as application management and performance, log monitoring and management.
• Secondly, automation is known to make diverse and complicated management of the environment easy and allows them to scale rapidly.

The automation tools of the cloud infrastructure can be easily classified as automation based on;

• Orchestration
• Automation, and
• Scripting

Whereas, based on architecture, automation tools can be used for

• AWS
• Google Cloud
• MS Azure

Some of the key DevOps vendors in the market are some renowned names that have already incorporated this technology and doing an excellent job. They are as follows;

• IBM
• Dell
• Red Hat
• Docker
• CA Technologies
• Cisco
• Chef
• Microsoft
• HP
• VMare

Today, the practitioner of DevOps skills is in great demand in the market and the trainer’s demand is expected to gain an increase in many companies. Many organizations are joining hands with DevOps training professionals to increase their productivity and functioning. Many are taking this up as a career option and are building core skills such as coding, communication and are gaining knowledge of automation tools.

Wrapping Up: The Future Of DevOps

Forbes reported $390 billion predicted increase in revenue for DevOps businesses in 2020. Furthermore, 60% of all IT jobs are expected to be cloud-based in 2020. As expected, money is being splurged by businesses to adopt cloud computing, and as a result, the demand for developers in Cloud, SDN and NFV is skyrocketing. Keeping up with trends of the cloud applications and automation is crucial, not only to businesses hiring new talents but also for those trying to make a career in this field. 

DevOps or Cloud automation (also known as Cloud orchestration) depends on two critical pillars: Software development (application) and operational automation, as already discussed above. Each of these calls for programming, and thus, a programming language. With recent developments, it is safe to assume that Golang is the best choice for developers and businesses of today, and hopefully tomorrow. 

Once the software is developed using the latest technologies available, it needs to be authenticated by running and checking for errors. Only when the testing returns an error-free report can the software be delivered to the client. These tests that are conducted test for the functionality, user experience and other aspects related to the use of the software. With tight delivery schedules, manual testing proves ineffective since it is time-consuming and also not very accurate. Thus developers opt for automation testing using the various open-source tools available for the same. Commercial tools for automation are also available, but they are expensive and hence, not a viable financial proposition.

Selection of the open-source automation tool is an important part of automation testing. The features, benefits, performance etc., are some criteria on which this selection needs to be made. There is a wide variety of open source testing tools available; some exclusively for functional testing, others for UAT, regression testing, performance testing etc. With time and development of technology, these automation tools have undergone many changes. Consequently, programmers and testers prefer to opt for the best available QA automation tool so that the software or app can perform well across devices.

Selenium is one such tool, which keeps cropping up whenever there is talk of automation testing. This goes to prove its popularity with programmers and efficiency with testers around the globe. But what makes Selenium a preferred choice when other automation tools are offering almost the same features and delivering similar results? Let us take a brief look at the features which make it stand out.

• It is an open-source tool for automation testing and thus available for free. This makes it cost-effective, and it also has a track record of excellent performance.
• Since it comes with the Apache 2.0 license,  any user can download it easily and start working on it. Selenium also comes with an active developer community which makes up for the lack of dedicated support that is characteristic to all licensed automation tools. These make  make Selenium the perfect tool to perform GUI and functionality testing for web-based software and apps.
• It also offers certain distinct advantages which give it an edge over its competitors. These advantages become even more apparent as one starts using this open-source automation tool.

Distinctive Features of Selenium

1. Multi-browser and OS support
   For most automation tools, test scripts have to be written individually for different browsers. This becomes an additional hassle as QA developers are forced to write several test scripts. With Selenium, writing a single test script suffices since it can run the same test script across different browsers thereby, enabling cross-browser app testing. The versatility of this Cross Browsing testing tool can be further proved by its amazing compatibility with most web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Safari etc. Currently, there is no other automation tool available which offers the same kind of flexibility. This enables testers to run multiple complex test application cycles one after the other, thereby enabling time-saving.

    

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   Also Read: Software Test Automation – The Cornerstone of Improving Testing Efficiency

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    Its flexibility is further enhanced by its compatibility with multiple operating systems like Linux, Windows, Mac, UNIX etc. Thus deploying and running test automation across different systems and environments becomes easy.

2. Open Source Advantage
   The choice of a new testing tool should be made only after checking the compatibility of the current ecosystem. The availability of an extremely active developer community makes it possible to modify, share and extend the available code for Selenium thereby enabling it to integrate easily with widely used tools such as Hudson, QMetry, and SauceLabs etc. This eliminates the need for extra investment in commercial automation tools and facilitates smooth integration with existing solutions too.AUT or Application under Testing needs are pretty specific, but Selenium can be tailor-made to fit these organizational specifications easily.
3. Multiple Language SupportMost open-source automation tools need test scripts to be written in specific programming language, thereby forcing the testers to learn the required language if they are not aware of the same. But Selenium is compatible with a host of programming languages like C#, Java, Python, Ruby, Groovy, .Net, Perl, PHP, JavaScript etc. Thus Selenium test scripts can be written using a wide range of programming language thereby making it relatively more user-friendly than other open-source automation tools.
4. Integration FriendlySelenium is more than just a web application testing tool. It can also be used as a Graphical User Interface or GUI driving library. This makes the Selenium framework compatible with numerous software, applications and tools used to enable a whole range of functions such as source code management, execution of tests related to tracking and reporting, test case development, continuous integration etc.

   Selenium also enables building and deployment of test automation for DevOps workflows. Testers have the flexibility to combine and customize features of other frameworks and integrate it with Selenium thereby creating an application which is perfect both for AUT and organizational needs. This enables developers to ensure flawless and rich user experience.

5. Remote controlSelenium also comes equipped with a remote control server. This allows testers to create an infrastructure spread across multiple locations, including the cloud. This enables the test scripts that are written to be run across a wide range of browsers; irrespective of their location
   
6. Flexibility
   Developers usually develop the testing script and codes within the application or software developed so that the tests can be refactored and regrouped easily based on the testing requirements. This enables quick changes to be made to the code so that maintainability of the software can be improved and duplication reduced. 

Components of Selenium Application

Selenium IDE (Integrated Development Environment): This environment is beneficial and its utility is enhanced by its ability to get added onto Firefox browsers as an Add-On. The IDE enables testers to record test cases as well as report, edit and debug them.

Selenium Grid: It is used in conjunction with Selenium RC so that all tests can be run together across a wide range of browsers and devices at the same time.

Selenium Client API: This feature empowers testers with the ability to write test scripts in many programming languages.

Selenium RC (Remote Controller): Technically, a JAVA server, the Selenium Remote Control helps test scripts to be written in any programming language.

Selenium WD (Web Driver): An advanced version of the RC, the Selenium Web Driver is used to send different test commands to the browsers being used.

Selenium automation tools help teams to run complete, cyclic, and data-intensive tests automatically. This helps developers to improve on the software quality and also maximize the utilization of their testing resources. Thus significantly large volumes of test codes can be run with enhanced test accuracy, thereby enabling developers to focus on those aspects of the software or app which require manual testing or other unique human skills. 

Check out some best practices to consider while implementing Selenium Test Automation:

1. Understand the application

The applicability of the automation tools for testing defines its selection. Thus the automation tool to be selected needs to be critically assessed using many different criteria. For example, for testing a web application, its compatibility with the popular browsers defines its testing strategy, thereby enabling the automation process to implement the tool effectively.

2. Distribute the testing efforts

Since different automation teams have differing proficiency levels, the tests created are also different and based on the QA engineer’s skill sets. Hence to ensure maximum utilization of the automation effort, the experience and expertise of various team members need to be identified and automation effort divided accordingly. This facilitates collective testing with accurate defect finding skills and enables the whole process to speed up.

3. Use the ‘Page Object’ Model

In a Page Object model, web pages get represented as a class and other elements as class variables.

This facilitates the making of robust testing frameworks which are resistant to small tweaks in the UI and also play an integral role in increasing the scope of test automation. It also effectively helps reduce and prevent code duplicity. 

4. Use the Right Locators

The heart of the Selenium framework deals with browser interaction, thereby permitting the user to navigate, click, type and check different objects within the Document Object Model or DOM by using only a few set actions. Locators used to facilitate this include:

• Class
• ID
• Link Text
• Part Partial Link Textile
• Tag Name
• Name
• XPath
• CSS Selector

Selecting the right locator makes all the difference between the selection of test script that is flexible and successful and one that breaks with the slightest change in UI.

5. Usage of JRE 1.6, Java Runtime Environment

The Selenium Server is programmed using Java. Thus it is advisable to use the latest and most updated version to avoid runtime errors. Currently, the (JRE) 1.6 is mandatory for running the Selenium Server since it ensures a healthy Java Runtime environment.

6. Data-driven software testing

Selenium enables the same test script and code to be used for different inputs. This increases its utility to the software testing and QA team who can make various modifications so that it can be used for both browser compatibility testing and system functional testing. Customers gain from the use of Selenium framework since it enables time reduction of the automation cycle.

7. Do not rely on a certain driver

Not every driver shows instantaneous compatibility with different browsers and hence no specific driver can be relied on for the implementation of the automation tool. It is best to use parameter notes so that handling of different browsers and getting ready for test execution can be done simultaneously.

8. Selecting the Selector Order

Selectors such as XPath and CSS are location-based and hence choosing the selector order is highly recommended. 

9. Wait and say no to Thread Sleep

The best practice is to gain a good understanding of implicit and explicit wait and hence users should opt for the wait feature and not the sleep feature.

10. Taking Screen Shots and Logs from HTML Sources

It is best to produce some kind of an observer/listener for the tests being conducted so that test analysis can still be done in the event of something going wrong.

11. Making preparations for the browsers

In case a browser does not work correctly, it may need certain adjustments to be made. The browser zoom also needs to be set at 100% so that conduction of native mouse events for co-ordinate alignment can be facilitated.

The Protected Mode Settings also needs to be fixed for different zones. It should also be the same for every zone irrespective of whether it is off or on.  This can be effectively done by enabling the Protected Mode in the Security Tab for every zone.

12. Generate reports and circulate for quicker turnaround

Selenium is known for its resourceful dashboard and generation of test results in varied formats. Thus it can be effectively used to generate specific reports and circulate the same among the team members for ensuring prompt action with regards to the project next step planning. These reports can also be readily presented to everyone for a faster turnaround and better action plan.

Conclusion

In this fast-changing world, there is a need for quick performance of tasks. Automation helps to achieve this efficiently with the help of Selenium; an open-source automation testing tool which enables developers and testers to easily share, modify and extend test scripts, thereby saving man-hours and money.

Despite the versatility, accessibility and the ease of use displayed by Selenium, leveraging on it for test automation calls requires strategic planning and execution. To be able to achieve this goal of a faster software turnaround with full confidence, Selenium needs to be used to its full potential. This is possible only when its utilization is driven by the adoption of a correct approach and strategy. 

Selenium is both time and effort effective and thus helps increase productivity and ultimately, the ROI. Selenium also can use modified functions to facilitate better manageability and readability of codes. 

It would not be wrong to say that Selenium is gaining immense popularity and is fast becoming the first choice of automation testers both because of its GUI and its functionality.

When it comes to a software solution, it is essential to make regular improvements to the application’s functionality and features. As the lifecycle of a product progresses, it can be challenging to maintain a balance between iterative testing and sprint work (agile software development) and successfully prevent conflicts. This is where regression testing comes into the picture, allowing it to set the right balance between the two.

Regression Testing – Introduction

The type of software testing that focuses on finding software regression (defects from a fix that may have impacted other areas that have been working fine thus far) is known as regression testing. It helps in detecting and identifying defects or bugs when a new change is made to an existing system. It involves application testing during changes made in the following scenarios:

• Maintenance
• New release development
• Debugging
• Development spiral

It ensures that the software remains stable when any amendments are made to the code. It focuses on minimizing the risks of defects or dependencies because of any changes to the code. This testing is conducted after maintenance, changes to functionalities or enhancements are made to a product to ensure that there are no unexpected outcomes.

What are the Different Types of Regression Tests?

Explore the different types of regression tests and their key features:

Corrective Regression Testing

This type of regression testing is conducted on current test cases that involve no code changes. It takes lesser time in detecting bugs. It is known for its convenience and repetitive use.

Progressive Regression Testing

This type of regression testing has been in use for some time. It stands out for the series of benefits it offers, yet it can be a more complex process. Here, new test scenarios are developed according to need.

Progressive regression testing can run properly when the product has undergone a few changes. It is also recommended when developing new test scenarios. It allows the testers to conduct the required step within the updated version of the program without touching the current features.

Retest All Regression Testing

This is a comprehensive test, conducted to check any bugs even when code changes have been made in only certain parts of the product. Due to this reason, it is a time-consuming process. 

It is scheduled to test each element of the product in a fixed period. The process involves the reuse of all the test scenarios from the very start. It is focused on monitoring each change or update that may have been made in the previous testing process.

Due to the time consumed, retest all regression testing is usually not recommended for all products. While clients may not want to use it every time, testers can consider it occasionally because of its comprehensive approach.

Selective Regression Testing

As the name suggests, only selected test cases from a module are processed where there are changes in the code. There is no need for running the complete test. Based on the requirements, new codes can replace it during the process. Selective regression testing is conducted more commonly because of the benefits associated with it.

• It makes it possible to test and comprehend the outcomes of the original code
• It can be run to check the effect of both the new code and the current code, both being present at the same time
• Functions, variables, and other common elements are included in the application whenever there are changes to the case. 
• The process doesn’t get affected and it is possible to find quick results

Complete Regression Testing

Complete regression testing involves the examination of the current code and features before running any testing. It is usually used in cases where the project owner doesn’t want to make big or more changes during the testing.

This type of regression testing is mostly conducted when the current code undergoes lots of changes. It is beneficial for allowing you to restore any changes that may be done during the process. 

Complete regression testing is a promising test. It is also used as a standard in most organizations because of its ability to find unexpected bugs in a short period. Once this phase passes, the application is allowed to be used by the user.

Partial Regression Testing

This type of testing involves the selection of certain related modules that could have been affected by any changes in the code. It plays its role only in a tiny part of the process. 

It is often required to add codes to an application for certain reasons. Whenever such new codes get added to the current code, the testers will usually conduct partial regression testing instead of more elaborate tests.

This type of regression testing is typically recommended in a wide range of scenarios.

• It makes it easier to detect important bugs within the current code
• The testers can check bugs within the current code without an impact on the product
• This form of testing helps in saving time

Running partial regression testing is an essential part of regressing testing. This is why it is commonly used.

Unit Regression Testing

This is also an important component of regression testing. Many software professionals consider it to be the most important type of regression testing. Every time code changes are complete within a unit, the tester again runs all the previous positive test scenarios. Because it focuses on the code in a single unit, it usually conducts it in isolation. 

When this test is run, the tester will block most of the dependencies and interactions (isolation). This is why it is usually conducted in nonpeak hours of low traffic hours. The outcome of the test is evaluated for identifying the testing conducted on the system. This type of regression testing is, therefore, conducted by experienced testers. It makes it easier for you to plan the process, as it allows you to determine the proper procedure.

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Also Read: Top 7 Software Testing Trends to Watch out in 2020

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Application of Regression Testing

Regression testing should be conducted during your project in certain scenarios. These scenarios or cases include the following:

• When a new functionality of feature gets added
• When there is an optimization of source code for improving performance
• When the codebase is repaired to address defects
• When the configuration is modified
• When patch fixes are made
• When performance-based issues are fixed

Need for Regression Testing

The process of software development is known for being time-consuming, as it requires the creation of an ideal architecture before the product is launched. Regression testing is essential because it is a component of this process. It helps in removing most errors on a continual basis.
It helps in detecting bugs during the early phase of deployment. This also contributes to cost savings. When bugs are found during the initial phase, it helps reduce further efforts for resolving issues.

How Does Regression Testing Benefit You?

In the current scenario, there are many ways in which you can benefit from regression testing. It is important to connect its benefits to different requirements. This helps in getting the most out of the process in relation to the product.

Some of the key benefits of regression testing are as follows:

• It makes it easier to detect and identify bugs that may have formed because of a code change
• It allows you to learn about the effects of making any changes in the operating environment
• It helps improve product quality
• It is always beneficial when an adding test is done to your software

Regression Testing Tools

Regression testing may be a process that consumes time, the QA team may still execute it in manual form. On the other hand, automation tools can help save more than half the time for running tests. They can also help in increased cost savings. Some of these popular tools include the following:

• Quick Test Professional
• IBM Rational Functional Tester
• Water
• Regression Tester
• Selenium

When it comes to developing a quality application, regression testing plays an important role. It is a crucial component of the testing process in the development of a product. It ensures that if changes are made to a code, those changes are not going to make an impact on the current code, its features, or functionality. Regression testing is mostly implemented using automation tools, as mentioned above. The manual mode is time-consuming and human effort intensive.
The choice of the tool eventually comes down to the project specifications and requirements. The selected tool will also be checked whether it can update the test scenarios. This is an important consideration in this type of testing.
Regression testing allows you to detect the defects whenever new changes are made to a current system. It also allows you to learn about the effect of the changes on the separate old modules where no changes are made. While the above outline the methods, the experience of a test team goes a long way to determine, what to test, how to test and how much to test in determining the right and optimal regression testing strategy.

As we know every software development project includes software testing. Many companies outsource the software testing work to software testing partners. Choosing the right software testing partner is an important step for shortening your software release cycle and ensuring the required quality in your product. The main intent of outsourcing the software testing services is to achieve improved quality at lower cost.

Software testing is a crucial phase of software development, but it is not the core activity for most of the companies, often because of lack of time or resources. When this software testing is outsourced to dedicated, experienced and specialized quality assurance partners it brings in better results and the  companies can focus on their core missions. While choosing such specialized software testing vendors, certain aspects are to be considered as part of the evaluation criteria. Let us discuss the aspects one by one

Partner Portfolio

Reviewing the company‘s (partner) history, mission, objective, standards, existing clients, type of projects, industries supported, technologies, domains, customer focus is one of the primary aspects to be considered. Check if the proficiency aligns with your needs. The more the partner understands your business and the product, the better the testing results are.

Engagement Mode

This is one of the crucial steps to consider to understand the business strategy and business model. Depending on the project size, complexity, technology and timelines, the engagement model will be decided. Largely, there are 2 types of engagement models while there are other variants too:

1. On-site team – Resources with required skill set and knowledge will work at the client premises closely with the development team. Infrastructure is provided by the client.
   
2. Offshore team – Resources works from the testing vendor location. All the necessary infrastructure is provided by the testing partner.

Investigate and Interact

Investigate the partners with the help of web, social media, references etc. A thorough analysis has to be made before choosing a partner for outsourcing. Managerial experts and technical managers can look at more information like their capabilities, strengths, team and experience by interacting with the partners.

Detailed Service Level Agreement (SLA)

SLA’s should be defined upfront to ensure 100% alignment of goals between service provider and the client. It also provides detailed summary for project specifications and timelines for each testing phase.

Team and Its Capabilities

The team of QA Engineers, technical staff and managers to which the partner assigns the work should be competent and expert in software testing and management skills. Many clients conduct the interviews of the engineers provided by the partner to ensure that they are proficient enough to take up the work and their readiness. It is essential that the testing partner company understands your products and your clients. Certifications of the team members can also be checked as it gives the confidence for a company on the testing approach of the partner.

Data Management and Security

Inspect the security provided by the partner as the protection of the data is highly critical while outsourcing from a business perspective.

Communication

Smooth and regular communication must be established between the partner and the client. Dedicated POC’s must be provided from the partner who are reachable and can support clients at any time. Miscommunication might affect productivity unless management uses the right technology and processes to avoid it.

Testing Infrastructure

It is important to make sure that the testing service provider has the necessary infrastructure to support your product which means they should have all necessary software, hardware devices, testing tools, backend database systems, operating systems (Mac, Windows, Linux) etc.

Documentation and Transparency

The test cases, test scenarios, test scripts, test reports and test results should be documented in the standards of the client and these documents are easily accessible for the clients. By defining KPI’s both the parties will know what needs to be in place for successful testing.

Change Management

During the development stage of any product there will be changes from the client which impacts the testing cycle. A strong change management system should be in place to overcome the additional cost, time and efforts in handling the change requests.

Response for the Queries

Evaluate how quick the partner responds to your queries. This will help in easy valuation of the partner and their expertise.

Outsourcing software testing is not a tricky process if you know what to expect from it. A software testing partner must be viewed as an extension of an organization bringing in value to your customers.