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About QA InfoTech

Established in 2003, with less than five testing experts, QA InfoTech has grown leaps and bounds with three QA Centers of Excellence globally; two of which are located in the hub of IT activity in India, Noida, and the other, our affiliate QA InfoTech Inc Michigan USA. In 2010 and 2011, QA InfoTech has been ranked in the top 100 places to work for in India.
A Glimpse into the World of Mobile App Testing

A Glimpse into the World of Mobile App Testing

A Gimpse Into The World of Mobile App Testing

With the advent of modernization, technology has become an integral part of our life and mobile application is one such discovery which has eased our lives to a large extent. Today, we have mobile applications which help us not only in everyday chores like ordering food, paying various bills, booking a cab or a hotel etc. but also in our leisure times.

Since mobile applications are so indispensable to us, here comes the question of how to make a user friendly and successful mobile app. In 2019, over 200 billion apps were downloaded worldwide but the user retention rate for mobile apps was only 32%. This is actually a thought-provoking fact which makes us ponder over the factors which are responsible for the success of mobile applications.

There are numerous factors like market research, strong back-end, user experience but the most important factor is ‘Mobile App Testing’.

Mobile App Testing is a process in which an application software developed for handheld devices is tested to ascertain its functionality, usability, and consistency. Mobile app testing is essential to optimize the user experience which will in turn lead to high monthly users and high retention rate.

While downloading any application, users generally look for two things i.e., ratings and reviews. Now the challenge is that there are plenty of mobile phones in the market which have different operating systems, screen sizes, processing capacity and this makes testing a vital process to get the desired responses from the users. Hence, testing is done to look for new features, check for periodic bug fixes, and also to make sure that new features do not introduce new bugs.

Mobile app testing also helps in segmentation or categorization of users and target them accordingly. In simple terms, it will help to understand the audience and their needs in a far better way which will eventually help the owner to develop marketing strategy and future optimization.

Mobile app testing also allows app developers to test different variations of any feature before the final launch. Experimenting with features helps to select the best for the users and this reduces the dropout rate of apps.

Just like software testing for the web, there are two approaches for mobile app testing as well i.e., Manual Testing (rather core functional testing done through non automated steps) and Automated Testing.

In Manual testing, analysis and evaluation of the application is done by a user in an explorative process. Hence, this approach is user-centric and focuses on whether a mobile application meets user requirements.

It is advisable to use manual testing approach for 20% of the testing and the rest should be automated. Automated testing approach covers 80% of the testing process and this is a general guideline followed in the software industry.

Some of the test cases which are performed using this approach are test cases that are easy to automate, test cases with predictable results, test cases for most frequently used functionality and many more.

Automation testing is a more preferred approach because it is a more efficient and effective method that saves a lot of time and efforts.

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Also Read: Detailed Checklist & Guidelines for Mobile App Testing

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With two known approaches, the question that comes to our minds is what all can we test in a mobile app. The four major things which should be checked while testing any mobile app are Functional testing, Compatibility testing, Connectivity testing and Performance Testing.

In Functional testing, a mobile app is tested for screen orientation, gesture, install/uninstall, battery consumption, memory usage, app’s behaviour under interruptions like phone calls, messages, push notifications etc. Under Compatibility testing, a mobile app is tested for app’s functionality on different devices.

In Connectivity Testing, a mobile app is tested with different mobile connections, behaviour while switching between different networks and even sometimes without network connection. Lastly, Performance testing checks for parameters like speed, resource usage, response time, reliability and scalability of the app under their expected workload.

While the above are core, and other areas such security are covered in depth in the web testing piece, some focus should be set aside for those as well, to ensure all stakes are covered on mobile too.

Mobile app testing has proved to be really effective across industries like eCommerce, Gaming, Fintech etc. With regular testing, developers or app owners checked and re-checked different variations for a feature to ease the use of the application.

To substantiate this fact, let’s look at the example of RunKeeper, a fitness app launched in 2008. This app was successful with 50M+ downloads but the challenge was to reposition the brand as the go-to destination for tracking all health and fitness-related goals.

The team decided to revamp their app design to show how the app can be used for various activities and even encourages them to inculcate those activities in their daily routine. With the help of primary A/B tests, they used a plethora of designs and see if those updates in designs are working or not. And these variations actually worked and increased their downloads by 10X.

Over time, we have realized the importance of mobile app testing and how it is absolutely necessary for the success of mobile applications. But it also has its own set of challenges and the major challenge is the diversity of mobile phones available in the market with different operating systems, screen size, hardware options, software versions etc.

Another challenge is Multi-Platform Compatibility in which an application has to be tested over multiple platforms like Android, IOS and many more. Just like testing over different platforms is necessary, testing with different connectivity modes like 3G,4G, roaming etc cannot be ignored.

Application must be tested in all these various connectivity modes. Also the Mobile industry is the industry which is so quick in bringing updates and with new updates comes new features as well as new bugs so mobile app testers have to be always on their toes to keep the app trending.

In today’s digital and mobile-first era, offering an optimized in-app experience is as important as developing an app itself. Mobile app testing is absolutely crucial for the app strategy which helps to boost the app’s core metrics, monitor and alter the user engagement as well as retention.

With regular Mobile app testing, you can optimize each and every element/feature of the app which will ultimately help you to deliver the best app experience and enhance the overall app performance.

Security Testing Services To Secure Educational Portals Amid Lockdown

Security Testing Services To Secure Educational Portals Amid Lockdown

Security Testing Services

How secure can you get online! With security testing services, security can be maximised; otherwise cyber attacks get maximised.

While we were once happy with installing an antivirus, the COVID-19 lockdown has shown that this is not enough. In the current scenario, hackers are having a field day. Apps either providing important digital services or those that are growing in popularity are being targeted the most. They are exploring new horizons. Consequently, Q1 of the fiscal year 2020 has seen a sharp hike in DDoS attacks.

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Also Read: Cybersecurity Consciousness during COVID-19

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Digital resources have become the mainstay of existence for kids and adults. The Internet has become a way of life. Kids have stopped going to school. Study from home has become the new mantra. Online classes are being conducted by schools and many educational portals. This growing popularity of educational portals has resulted in cyberattacks on the same tripling in comparison to the same period last year. Very recently, there was news of a very popular educational app being hacked. The data breach was so severe that its user database even got sold on the Dark Web.

With vital customer data and their payment details all available in the database, such a breach can have long-lasting consequences. So what does a portal do? How do they counter the threat? For educational apps that have already been hacked, educators, learners and all other people associated with it or having an account with them should:

  • Change their account passwords,
  • If the same password has been used in accounts of other apps, the same should also be changed,
  • Multiple factors of authentication implemented mandatorily,
  • Corporate email account address should never be used on third-party apps and
  • Monitor all financial transactions to check for any abnormality.

Any news about the data breach should be followed diligently and required actions taken accordingly.

For the educational app, there is no way to undo the data breach. Online applications translate into the trust of customers. They are convinced about the security of the app and hence enrol their kids in the same. Instances wherein an education portal is not able to protect customer data, like the one that recently suffered a data breach, can have a huge negative impact on the mindset of their users and customers. Who wants to use an app where their personal, financial and other data is not safe? Hence they need to ensure that such a thing does not happen at all. The solution lies in advanced and efficient security testing services. 

They have an important role to play in saving your database from hackers. They will help you manage everything with the help of:

  • Strategic advisory consultations,
  • Incident response or dealing with a data breach,
  • Managed security services and
  • Designing and deploying services to the cloud.

Equipped with an activated and frequently updated global intelligence, these security testing services come up with innovative educational portal based security programs that they keep updating as the program matures over time. In short, they ensure the confidentiality of your data.

So what are the benefits of using these services? Plenty!

To understand this you need to understand what they do. Some of the vital services on offer are:

  • Infrastructure security with stress on endpoint management: This deals with network security as well as the security of the total IT infrastructure of the app. These are monitored and managed round the clock with frequent assessments being conducted. Any abnormal activity gets detected immediately and requires action taken so that the scale of the damage can be reduced.
  • Data Security: There are 3 steps to ensuring full data protection. They involve:
  1. Restricted rights to the database, wherein jobs and its requirements define data access,
  2. Process of storing data in the database using encryption and
  3. Sensitive data flow monitoring irrespective of whether this flow happens between different modules of the same app or different apps.

Testers enable data security by ensuring:

  1. Vital information is not displayed in the web browser address bar during transmission,
  2. Data encryption is enabled at all points,
  3. Insecure randomness and weak algorithm usage do not form a part of data storage.
  1. Prevention,
  2. Detection and
  3. Response.

The infrastructure security deals with implementing solutions to prevent and detect instances of a data breach. But in the instance of the unfortunate incident, people involved in the education portals should be made aware of the procedures that need to be followed. The quick implementation of these damage control measures helps:

  1. In the control of the attack and
  2. Minimises the impact of the initial attack.

Educating learners, educators etc., about the same also forms a part of web app security services.

  •  Web app security testing: Web-related security testing services involves a process of conducting frequent tests to check for:
  1. System vulnerabilities: This results from the presence of bugs or viruses within the system.
  2. Password cracking: Testers attempt to crack user passwords to judge the severity of the password formation rules. If they are not stringent, hacking of user accounts on educational portals becomes easy. Care should also be taken to ensure that the username and password are stored in an encrypted form to enhance their security. Thus password cracking initiative enables education apps to put up the first level of security.
  3. URL manipulation: Sometimes when information is passed between the server and the client by using the HTTP GET method vital information regarding the portal gets transmitted in a query string.  Testers can gauge system vulnerability by modifying query string parameter values. If the server accepts it, then the app is susceptible to cyber-attacks. Hackers can easily corrupt such a system or even manipulate input variables to get access to critical data.
  4. SQL injections: Ordinarily an app should reject any single quotes found in any text box. If testers from security testing services find a database error being returned, they know that the app is prone to SQL injections. They are a hacker’s favourite tool for gaining access to the server database. This makes it mandatory for apps to avoid them. Security testers facilitate the same by taking corrective measures accordingly.
  5. Cross site scripting: This enables hackers to run a malicious URL or script in the app’s browser. Cookies can be easily stolen using the JavaScript and vital information stored in the cookies can be hacked. Testers with their regular checking prevent this from happening.
  6. Brute-force attack: A valid user account ID is used to guess its associated password. This is generally done using software which tries to login innumerable times using different password combinations. Any education portal facing brute-force attack should immediately suspend the user’s account for a short duration. Security testing services enable apps to test for brute-force attacks by attempting to log in multiple times using valid user Ids but different password combinations.

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Also Read: Top 6 Software Security Testing Trends

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  • Restricted app access: Access security directly translates into the management of roles and rights associated with a job. For an education app, access needs to be defined on need. The user has certain needs and hence his access should be restricted to such menus as “courses offered”, admission procedures etc. The tester ensures this by creating different user accounts requiring different types of information to ensure access is restricted to appropriate people only.
  • Session management: This forms a vital part of the security of an education app. Testers with their frequent assessments check to see if open session automatically expires if kept idle for a predetermined time, log-out is successfully achieved, the possibility of a single user using multiple sessions etc.
  • Specific risks: Education portals have two commonly used features which may be a cause of security concern. They are:
  1. File uploads which can be used by hackers to introduce malicious content into the app and
  2. Payments wherein the pathway needs to be checked for insecure cryptographic storage, buffer overflows, password guessing, injection vulnerabilities etc.

Today security neither needs a definition nor does it need an introduction. For a web application, its importance increases exponentially. Education apps today thus need to make security their primary concern. Apps need to employ security testing services so that data protection is enabled and access can be restricted and made secure especially if remote access is facilitated.

10 Ways in Which Cloud Testing Can Improve Software Quality Assurance

10 Ways in Which Cloud Testing Can Improve Software Quality Assurance

How Cloud Testing Can Improve Software Quality Assurance

Cloud testing services are evolving and creating new opportunities for the application development community. It is always a cost-effective decision to move testing to the cloud. Whether you have a large or small company, the road to cloud testing can improve software quality assurance in many ways. Find out the importance of quality assurance testing and how Cloud testing can help improve it.

Importance of Quality Assurance Testing for Applications

Quality assurance (QA) is a series of measures taken to ensure that an application is free from error. Before you find out how cloud testing services can improve software QA, you must realize the importance of quality assurance testing in the first place.

Moving Automation from Application-Level to Lifecycle

Automating testing through QA helps shift towards lifecycle automation. IoT is gradually addressing application testing from the perspective of a lifecycle point of view than conventional testing.

At the core of this concept is to consider how users are using products and not just the details related to product design. This shift in QA translates into testing the following:

  • Customer experience
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • Network

The use of QA testing automation involves the use of adaptive techniques that aren’t possible with traditional testing methods. Advanced QA automation allows you to incorporate automation from the very beginning and across the application lifecycle.

Better Decision Making

QA is undergoing a dramatic change in terms of data input. QA practices followed by cloud testing services can be enhanced through analysis of a wide range of data sets available from websites, especially social media. It enables better decision making via advanced analytics.

When you receive direct feedback from users, it provides a clear perception of where you stand. The benefits include:

  • Insights for the development of better strategies
  • Strategizing and improving QA practices help assess the impact of implementation in the results
  • Research on customer experience with the product helps create actionable intelligence

All this can further be used for predictive or prescriptive analysis.

Skilled Resources

QA helps empower your business. When QA practices are implemented across all stages of the product life cycle, it encourages greater attention to detail and process transparency.

QA teams now understand how important it is to test embedded applications and big data. QA resources can foresee bugs and can help rectify the code from the very beginning. Such resources also explore methods for effective automation of most testing, thus improving process efficiency.

QA testing is important in many more ways, such as:

  • Decoding reliable data from big data for analysis
  • Faster time-to-market, improving customer feedback and brand reputation
  • Innovation through engineering
  • Implementing DevOps
  • Maximization of profits
  • Behavior-based development

There are many strong points to cloud testing services. You must know about them before leveraging the benefits of cloud testing.

  • Flexible Scaling: Cloud-based testing benefits from elastic scalability. This allows scaling up/down based on the changes in requirements and project goals.
  • Easier Disaster Recovery: The cloud allows easier and faster recovery of all assets. The process is not complex like traditional models.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Cloud testing helps bring significant cost reduction in software QA testing.

How Cloud Testing Improves Software QA?

Cloud testing is the process of monitoring and reporting on real-world user traffic conditions and load balance. It also involves stress testing for different simulated usage conditions. Here are the different ways in which it can help improve application QA.

1. Simple & Cost-Effective Test Bed Creation

Cloud testing enables cost-effective and simple test bed creation and reconfiguration.  It allows cloud testing services to create a test bed almost instantly without high costs and extensive efforts for building the infrastructure.

The cost of ownership of cloud based automation tools is only a fraction of traditional test automation tools.

  • No costly per seat licensing cost
  • Lesser hardware requirements
  • Higher reusability of test components
  • High scalability makes the tools perfect for load/performance testing
  • Pay as you use model allows scaling up/down

There is no additional cost when tools are not used in a given testing scenario. Lesser expenses on the tools also translate into lesser capital expenses.

There is more to the savings in terms of labor and hardware costs. The cloud also allows you to easily reconfigure or withdraw your virtual infrastructure. It also allows cloning environments for parallel testing.

2. Promotes Collaboration

The collaborative and communication benefits of Cloud testing allow better collaboration at local and remote team levels. Some of the key features that provide these benefits include:

  • Continuous integration
  • Chat-like communication systems
  • Continuous testing and reporting

Cloud automation tools allow cloud testing services scattered around different locations to collaborate with ease and greater efficiency. Testing teams can readily test the application from multiple locations. They can access test reports without the need for uploads and downloads.

It allows testing 24 hours a day. All this is made possible due to the design and infrastructure of the Cloud. There is a central server that connects to a network of systems located anywhere you need. Testers located in any of your office branches can connect to the Cloud and choose the machines they want to test their application on.

For example, you can start the testing process with your American testing team, followed by the European team, and complete the process with the Indian QA team. The Cloud allows a 24-hour around the clock testing process that continues until the application reaches the market.

Eventually, this helps speed up the process of decision making. Thus, you will be able to ensure faster delivery of the product.

3. 24-Hour Resource Access

Traditional QA testing involved sharing access to the in-house infrastructure, usually off-hours. On the other hand, cloud testing services mean that the resources are available and accessible by multiple teams around the clock. As already mentioned, QA teams have global access, without concern for their geographic location or time zones. This translates into greater test coverage within a 24-hour period. Around-the-clock access means that the testing cycle of the software can ensue continuously without any interruption.

4. Multi-Device, Platform & Environment Testing

Cloud testing allows for comprehensive testing. Your cloud testing services can run applications on all potential devices that support all the commonly used:

  • Platforms
  • Operating systems
  • Web browsers

Cloud-based testing allows testing on all types of devices and with all configurations that you can contemplate. This eliminates the need to purchase individual platforms.

There are two key areas where cloud based QA testing can allow this:

  • There is no need for special skills to develop specific infrastructure like Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS
  • You can test platform-based environments and features like browser-operating system combinations with more ease and speed.

You can also test different screen sizes. The right cloud vendor/environment for the test bed can equip you with the right tools and capacity required to simulate vast numbers of users, clients, mobile platforms, requests, and much more to run tests on your application.

5. Enables DevOps

It would not be wrong to say that the Cloud and DevOps were made for each other. For example, the use of cloud testing services enables the following benefits in the area of DevOps:

  • Configuring similar development, testing, and production environments
  • Quick and easy deployment
  • Reconfiguration of software and services
  • Redeployment
  • Automating deployments
  • Testing/reporting
  • Easy and quick experimentation
  • Remote monitoring from different locations
  • Temporary user access for feedback
  • Performing A/B testing

6. Consistent Development & Testing Tools Setup

Cloud testing allows consistent development and testing tools setup for both current and new staff. It helps create a consistent and shared tools environment. The benefit is that there is no need to install and maintain applications repetitively for each team member. New staff can immediately get up and running and make their contributions.

Cloud testing makes it easy to share tools and data. All that is required is to add the new team member.

7. Faster Testing

Automaton tools are already known for combining the benefits of shorter test cycles with high productivity. Cloud-based automation tools take QA testing to the next level:

  • There is faster set up and tool deployment
  • There are no lengthy set up/installation processes
  • Initiate and continue testing from anywhere in the world
  • Application upgrades are seamless without any downtime

The biggest benefit of faster Cloud testing is the reduced time to market. This provides organizations a major competitive edge.

8. Benefits of Virtualization

Cloud-based tools provide cloud testing services the additional benefits of virtualization. You can make optimal use of your resources. Testing becomes more efficient and flexible. Software programs are becoming more and more complex. But virtualization allows resource sharing while reducing capital costs.

There are different types of virtualization in the cloud.

  • Operating System Virtualization: The virtual machine software installs on the host OS and not the hardware. Most importantly, OS virtualization allows application testing on multiple platforms or OS.
  • Server Virtualization: The application installs directly on the server system. A single server can then be divided into multiple servers. Server virtualization is basically masking the server resources.
  • Hardware Virtualization: Hardware virtualization in the Cloud provides the benefit of flexibility of using the virtual machine in place of the physical machine. Multiple OS can be installed on the platform allowing the use of different applications.
  • Storage Virtualization: Physical storages from multiple network devices are grouped to create a single storage system in the cloud.

9. Conduct Rigorous Performance Testing

Cloud testing services make performance testing more feasible. Cloud usage can be quickly scaled up and down or stopped completely.

Assured Performance

Cloud-based infrastructures are ideally suited for creating peak demands for enterprise performance testing. It is possible to run tests virtually on-demand.

  • Time can be scheduled for running tests
  • Resources can be provisioned automatically
  • Scheduling becomes more flexible

Covers Enterprise Application

Another benefit of using cloud testing services is that it covers enterprise applications too. It may be required to test multiple routes to a system for a comprehensive approach. The combination of cloud capabilities and traditional concepts helps create an optimal model.

The result is greater confidence in production performance and greater agility compared to traditional techniques. The implementation of performance testing solution through the cloud allows effective and affordable management of heavy loads.

10. First Step to the Cloud

If your organization has still not moved to the cloud, using cloud testing services can work as an excellent first step of moving development and testing to the cloud. Moving to the cloud also works as an excellent learning tool if you will be affected by the new technology.

You will be able to understand the following areas related to the Cloud in relation to the application:

  • Capabilities
  • Strengths
  • Weaknesses
  • Security

The impact can be judged even before the end users are affected. The knowledge thus gained can be used going forward.

There are many more ways in which Cloud testing can improve software Quality Assurance. It creates a dynamic and easily available testing environment. Cloud-based testing has an on-demand nature. This is a big benefit if you need a faster turnaround. Another advantage is that cloud testing services are both affordable and secure. Testing could be conducted in different types of clouds including:

  • Private Cloud
  • Public Cloud
  • Hybrid Cloud

The public cloud is cost-effective and provides adequate security standards. The hybrid cloud provides an ideal combination of advanced security and cost-effectiveness.

Cloud testing services rely on shared resources with dynamic allocation to create flexible environments. These environments simulate real-world traffic and user scenarios. Easier access to the cloud environment allows you to approach application testing as an on-demand and scalable service.

Conclusion

Cloud testing has emerged as a big game-changer in the software testing environment. It has overcome the challenges faced in the traditional testing environment. Setting up cloud testing services has become quite straightforward for all organizations. It empowers everything including the development of user scenarios, setting up infrastructure, designing test cases, starting tests, leveraging cloud servers, delivering results, and monitoring testing goals and everything in between. It has made software testing easier, faster, more reliable, more flexible, and more cost-effective than ever before. 

Google Chrome Enhances Focus Visibility to Improve Accessibility 

Google Chrome Enhances Focus Visibility to Improve Accessibility 

Google Chrome Enhancing Focus VisibilityTo ramp up its default styling in the upcoming versions, Google Chrome collaborated with a team from Microsoft Edge to re-theme and enable functional improvements. One such notable improvement was a focus indicator with better visibility. Also known as the “focus ring”, the focus indicator is an accessibility feature. It helps users identify the elements that they are interacting with when using either switch devices or the keyboard.

In the previous versions of Chrome, this was achieved by outlining the element using a light blue colour. But this created a problem because on a similarly colored background, it was difficult to perceive the interacting element. The change which Google Chrome implemented made the focusing parameter change to a thick dark ring outlined by a thin white line. This enabled the interactive element to become clearly visible both on light as well as dark backgrounds. It also improved user experience automatically without the need for developers to write a new code for the same.

But why was this change required?

To start with, users first need to have a thorough understanding of what is focus indicator and how it works. When a particular tab or element is being accessed, a blue outlines show up. This gains prominence when the user is filling forms or requires the selection of a menu option. Browsers use something known as: focus CSS pseudo-class to impart these outlines to the interactive elements. The importance of these outlines lie in their ability to indicate the user’s position on the webpage.

These outlines are the focus indicators. Simply speaking they are visual markers. They refer to or indicate the element that the webpage is currently focusing on. These elements are all interactive and as a rule, if the mouse can interact with it, so should the keyboard. And anything the keyboard interacts with needs to have visible focus.

Who benefits from the use of these focus indicators?

While most people use the mouse for interacting with a web page, there are plenty of people who still use the keyboard like:

  • People using screen readers: Such users have sight impairment; some may be blind while others might have vision problems. Even people with cognitive disabilities like dyslexia use screen readers to interact with the internet. These screen readers can only be accessed using a keyboard and hence visible focus becomes mandatory here.
  • People suffering from limited mobility: Some people have motor disabilities. Hence they are incapable of using the mouse. Thus their only option of interacting with the internet is either a mouth stick or a switch which can simulate the keyboard.
  • Power users: They are people who have to work on the web for very long periods. Examples of power users include people like the web developer who is forever writing codes or the admin guy whose sole work is data entry etc. For such people, using the mouse to fill up the different fields is near to impossible. The keyboard is the only option available for them.

Other than the above requirements, even the accessibility guidelines for web content laid down by WCAG mention the need for “focus visible”. WCAG is a common accessibility standard guide. Thus many countries require websites to meet these standards to operate inside them.

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Also Read: Importance of WCAG Compliance Testing in Accessibility

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What are the focusable elements on the web page?

There are many different focusable elements on the webpage and each of these requires a focus indicator to make them look prominent when they are in use. Some of the focusable elements that users commonly encounter are:

  • Buttons
  • Links
  • Menu items
  • Widgets
  • Form controls and different fields etc.

Every browser has certain default focus indicators. Thus focus indicators of Google Chrome are different from that of Firefox, Internet Explorer etc. For example, while Firefox uses an ink-coloured dotted outline, Google Chrome previously used a light blue coloured outline. Internet Explorer has a dotted grey outline.

Google Chrome very recently ramped up its Focus Visibility as mentioned above. This was done so that it:

  • Could provide good contrast
  • Be complementary to the element’s dimensions and
  • Enable the colour scheme to stand out

Changes in Focus visibility and form controls by Google

The HTML form control is the backbone of web interactivity. They have built in accessibility, are developer-friendly and familiar to the innumerable people who use them daily. Hence when we talk about focus visibility, we also need to talk about form controls.

Now, form controls have a styling inconsistency. While older controls were styled so that they matched the OS being used by the user, recently added form controls match with the style that is currently popular. For Google Chrome, this resulted in mismatched and outdated looking controls. To correct this, developers had to spend valuable time enabling styling changes in the default appearance of the focus controls.

But the latest updates introduced by Google Chrome, solved all problems related to form control. It also made it possible to make these interactive elements and links easy to perceive. Thus changes in focus visibility could be enabled along with enhancing touch support and upgrading other accessibility options.

But even after changes were made to the “focus visible”, there were certain occasions wherein the focus ring was still difficult to perceive. Some instances for the same include:

  • Black button and white background
  • Elements are positioned very close to each other etc.

In both of the above instances, the focus ring becomes almost indistinguishable. Users who have faced such a situation understand how difficult it is to work when the elements are not distinguishable. But there are ways to overcome this lapse too. If the new focus indicator introduced by Google Chrome does not match the website design, it can be easily styled to meet the user’s requirement. This is generally done using the new: focus visible pseudo-class.

What is a pseudo-class?

A pseudo-class is that keyword which when added to any selector signifies a specific state of the element selected. The use of the: hover is an excellent example of pseudo-class.  In this when the ++pointer hovers over a button, its colour changes.

The usefulness of pseudo-class lies in the fact that style applied to an element can be done both:

  • In relation to the document tree content and
  • External factors like navigator history, content status, mouse position etc.

Just like regular classes, multiple pseudo classes can also be clubbed together and chained.

What is :focus-visible?

Also called the “Focus Indicated” pseudo-class, this is a native CSS or Cascading Style Sheet process to impart style to an element that is:

  • Already in focus or
  • Requires a visible indicator to get the desired focus.

This is another change incorporated by Google Chrome to improve focus visibility and improve accessibility. Currently, it is only available and supported by Google Chrome. This new pseudo-class gets applied whenever focus is placed on an element. Chrome uses heuristics to determine whether displaying the focus indicator on that element would benefit the user. 

If the recent interaction with the internet was with the help of a keyboard and no Alt/Option, Meta or Control keys were pressed, then the :focus-visible would definitely match. Generally, when different input modalities are used, the usefulness of this selector increases so that the control can provide different focus indicators based on the same.

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Also Read: Importance of WCAG Compliance Testing in Accessibility

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But the :focus-visible can only be applied in instances wherein there is a need to visibly see the position of the focus using the visual indicator. It cannot hide an outline as can be done using the command : focus. If the user wants the outline to disappear then both of them need to be simultaneously used together.

When does :focus-visible get displayed?

If on clicking a control on a mobile device, the result is a keyboard on display, then it can be safely concluded that the control would always display a focus indicator. This is irrespective of the type of input device used to put focus on it.

The element <input type=”text”> is a good example of the same. Herein the user sends the input to the interactive element regardless of how the focus was originally received by the input element. Thus it is always beneficial to display the focus indicator in this instance.

However, if the result on display is not a keyboard, what does the user do then. The control has a choice. It can selectively display the focus indicator. The <button> element is a good example of the same. If the user completes an action simply by clicking on this interactive element, then the control might choose not to display the focus indicator.

But when a keyboard is used for navigation, the display of the focus indicator becomes a necessity. This will enable the user to decide whether he wants to use the “Space” or “Enter” keys to click on the control.

Simply speaking, the application of the focus visible or display of the :focus-visible takes place when:

  • The user specifically mentions wanting it with the help of a setting,
  • An element needs a keyboard input,
  • The user navigates using a keyboard,
  • A script deliberately moves the focus from an element using the :focus-visible control to a different element.

:focus-visible pseudo-class is not used when a pointing input device is used as the mouse, finger on a touch screen etc. and when a script attempts to move the focus from a non :focus-visible element to a different element.

There were other prominent changes made to Google Chrome recently but the change in focus visibility was the most important one incorporated to improve accessibility options. 

 

Performance Testing of Sensor Solutions Created By A World’s Leading Manufacturer

Performance Testing of Sensor Solutions Created By A World’s Leading Manufacturer

Our client is a leading manufacturer of sensors and sensor solutions for a vast number of applications. However, it is challenging to sense multiple objects continuously and transmit the data accurately to the database. In this case study, we will talk about how we manually entered the data and tested the accuracy of sensors to enhance the performance of applications. Read on to know all the details.

Case Study on Performance Testing of Sensor Solutions

Detailed Checklist & Guidelines for Mobile App Testing

Detailed Checklist & Guidelines for Mobile App Testing

Comprehensive checklist for mobile app testing

Today, not many businesses can think of functioning effectively without having a mobile app. The Transparency Market Research (TMR) reports that the growth in demand for mobile apps will drive the test automation market, which is dominated by mobile app testing services. 

According to TMR, the growing use of mobile apps in different sectors including communications, travel, productivity, and utilities is the primary reason for the growth of the test automation market. Every mobile product is developed to provide a new, better, and innovative user experience. This is where app testing services come into the picture, ensuring that these goals are met or exceeded.

Mobile app testing has become so important to application development that it is now considered a strategic step in the process. When it comes to app testing, it is crucial to follow a comprehensive and detailed approach. This guide introduces a detailed checklist and guidelines for the process.

Why Should You Test Mobile Apps?

Most importantly, mobile app testing services help you to build apps that are accessible across different platforms and are scalable. This is part of the development process and tests the application at different levels, such as:

  • Usability
  • Functionality
  • Consistency
  • Security

Both manual and automation techniques are used as part of the process. As mobile apps become more sophisticated but technically complex, there is a growing need for end-to-end testing. All aspects of an app, from the ease of download to seamless functioning to navigation to everything else need to be tested to meet user expectations.

Comprehensive Checklist for Testing Mobile Apps

Here is a complete checklist of tests that an app should go through. These tests have been classified under relevant categories. Most mobile app testing services will evaluate their apps based on this checklist before deeming them to be market-ready.

Functional Test

Functional tests are run to check whether the application meets its goals or not. The mobile app testing services will test the following aspects of the app:

  • Performance for both designated and non-designated tasks
  • Integration with other services such as Wi-Fi, GPS or location, and social media
  • Compatibility with all the commonly used devices, operating systems, screen sizes, web browsers, and resolutions
  • Consistency with the desktop version of the app
  • How the redirect options work
  • Misinterpretation issues with the design/UI
  • Ample measures for preventing undesired actions

Usability Tests for User Comfort

The following tests are conducted to test the user comfort in using the app:

  • Responsiveness of the App’s name and logo when a user clicks on the Application Manager
  • Ensuring visual feedback against user actions within 3 seconds at the most
  • Avoiding unmapped keys in the app
  • Functionality of the exit option at all different points when the app is running
  • Ease of navigation across various screens
  • Enable responsive mobile menu for both mobile phones and tablets

UI Testing

The mobile app testing services will have to test the user interface (UI) to enhance both the looks and feel of the app. This will require testing the following areas:

  • Changes in UI with changes in orientation of the screen
  • Responsiveness of the drop-down lists
  • Clarity and ease of readability of application buttons
  • Ease of differentiating between active and inactive buttons
  • Prompt display of alerts and error messages
  • Legibility of display
  • Zoom-in/out and font options
  • Minimization of sure actions by allowing direct pick up of the choice from the screen

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Background Performance

The tests for the app’s background performance will include the following steps:

  • Make and receive voice calls when the app is running
  • Ability to reject calls when using the application
  • Sending and receiving push notifications or responding
  • Resumption of app functions from the same point after switching over to another app
  • Sending and receiving messages/alerts when the app is running

Performance Testing

This is an important part of the testing process for mobile app testing services, as it has a huge impact on the app’s success:

  • Time to launch the app
  • Performance of app during charging and low battery conditions
  • Performance of app under regular keypad entry and peak load conditions
  • Integration with both the device and other apps without effect on performance
  • Splash performance check and keeping it on the screen for at least 4 seconds
  • Display of exits or error messages flawlessly during low memory issues
  • Deployment of live monitoring services to keep track of the app’s computing power
  • Performance of app under network issues or error alerts
  • Performance of app when network resumes
  • App installation/uninstallation successfully within the expected timeframe

Security & Privacy Tests

This part of the testing process helps ensure that the app is ready for authenticated usage. The security tests by mobile app testing services cover the following areas:

  • Security of customer payment data
  • Breach in app security and error reporting
  • Automatic app lock out when invalid authentication is made continuously
  • Security of network protocol for running the app
  • Authentication of app certifications and permissions

Types of Mobile App Tests

While this is the complete checklist of tests, mobile app testing services use specific types of tests to complete these tests. The components of these different tests are as follows:

i. Cross-Platform App Testing

When an app has to interact with other apps, it requires additional fixes. The right cross-platform testing strategy is based on the following key points:

  • Gathering and comprehending project requirements
  • Addressing business goals
  • Understanding different language platforms
  • Understanding user needs

ii. Feature Functionality Testing

Apps will have to interact with various features. This includes features that are built into the app and the devices. Feature functionality testing by mobile app testing services will involve monitoring and thoroughly testing these interactions.

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You may also like: Top 5 Robust Tools for Mobile App Testing

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It may not be required to run functional testing on all the devices. All it may require is running tests on a single device and then checking with every platform during compatibility testing.

iii. Front-End App Testing

Front-end testing involves checking the Graphical User Interface or GUI. GUI is anything that is visible on the client-side. This testing requires an in-depth understanding of the business goals. Key aspects of front-end testing include:

  • Performance checks
  • Regression tests
  • Changes to app files that may adversely affect front-end functionality

iv. Back-End Testing

This type of testing is also known as database testing. The mobile app testing services will check the server-side of the app. All front-end inputs are tested in the back-end. Performance and security are also checked as part of this test process.

v. Compatibility Testing with Networks

The growth in the popularity of smartphones and IoT devices has created so many brands and operating systems in the market. Mobile compatibility testing is a must even when it is not possible to run tests on all the devices that exist today.

Compatibility tests cover the following areas:

  • Installation and uninstallation
  • Functionality
  • Data exchange
  • Traversal
  • User interface (UI)

Tests are conducted not just on different operating systems and hardware platforms but also on their different versions.

vi. Storage Testing

Modern mobile devices seem to be lacking in storage space for all the different apps and data including games, images, videos, music streaming services. The mobile app testing services will also test your app on how much storage space it will require and how it can affect users’ monthly data plans.

vii. Data Tests

App load time is an important factor affecting user experience. Studies show that almost half of users will stop using an app, making it inactive, or uninstall it altogether if it has slow load times.

These tests will cover the following factors when testing the app for load times:

  • Network conditions
  • Geographic location
  • Specific devices

viii. App Flow Testing

An app that is well designed will have elegant visual elements and good functionality, features, and content. Visual flow plays an important role in guiding users through the app. This aspect of mobile app testing services will involve testing the flow of the app’s architecture. Elements are identified that can affect users from completing the desired tasks.

Key Factors

The following key factors are considered by mobile app testing services when testing apps:

  • Mobile Device Selection: The device testing approach requires the selection of devices that are most suited for testing. This selection is based on the usage patterns and preferences of the targeted user group.
  • Real Devices vs. Simulators: Devices are used for conducting hard-tests on apps. Simulators are used to create a real environment for testing.
  • Performance: Automated testing is used to check the app’s performance. This can also include the application of load/stress for testing app behavior.
  • Cloud Testing: An increasing number of mobile app testing services use cloud testing. This helps in not just bringing down the cost of testing, but also facilitates faster reach to the market.
  • Network: Apps are tested under changing network conditions. This helps in making apps functional across the most difficult network scenarios.

App testing services can use both manual and automated testing to check apps for all failure bugs or routes.

The ideal mobile app testing services will provide both functional and non-functional testing services and cover all the points mentioned above. Everything from UI to memory to compatibility to performance to network type will be tested to ensure that an app performs at its optimal levels even in challenging scenarios.

Top 5 Tools for Cloud Based Mobile Testing

Top 5 Tools for Cloud Based Mobile Testing

Top 5 Cloud Based Mobile Testing Tools

The proliferation of smartphones has caused a spike in demand for mobile apps. The need is for mobile apps to be developed and deployed within a very short time. Developers are under constant pressure to launch new apps and provide updates. The QA team also comes under tremendous pressure since debugging and testing of a mobile app has to be done quickly but with 100 percent accuracy.

Such a scenario demands cloud testing services because it helps to bring all devices on one platform so that testers connected by the cloud can access them. The benefits are easy availability, high scalability and the ability to test mobile apps across different environments, platforms and machines without compromising on the app quality. Thus cloud testing of mobile apps is wide-ranging, provides quick results and is cost-effective since the tester does not have to build any infrastructure.

Cloud testing tools enable the developer and the QA team to communicate effectively by connecting to devices around the globe. Thus testers get access to varied devices, different operating systems and their versions, screen sizes, network carriers etc.

Top 5 cloud testing tools available

There are several tools available which claim to offer good cloud testing services. They are all similar in their function but different in their types, the features that they offer, pricing models, target audiences, use cases etc.

This has made the cloudscape pretty crowded and it has become difficult for people to separate the good from the bad. Below is given a list of 5 cloud-based mobile testing tools.

These tools have made a name for themselves by performing on almost all parameters. They have revolutionized cloud testing for mobile apps with their accuracy and efficiency. These top 5 cloud testing tools include:

1. AWS Device Farm

Amazon Web Services Inc. has made an exceptional name in cloud computing.

The cloud testing service that they have launched enables testers to run their apps on multiple devices at the same time. Thus testers can view videos, logs, screenshots of errors, performance data and reproduce real-time issues so that they can be fixed before the app is shipped.

Two primary types of testing are allowed—automatic and remote. Both hybrid and native apps can be tested.

It also has a fuzz test built-in so that those developers who do not have tests of their own can benefit from the same. Herein the tests are run using real, non-rooted devices with both branded carrier and OEM offerings.

There are about 152 iOS and 206 FireOS and Android devices available.

The pricing models offered are of three types – pay as you go, unlimited testing and private devices. Testers can choose anyone according to their need.

2. Firebase Test Lab

This Android tool for cloud testing services offers cloud testing for only Android apps.

The testing can, however, be initiated across a wide range of devices and configurations with just one operation. Thus it is easy to use with test results, including videos, screenshots and logs, available on the Firebase console. This tool can also be used by testers who do not have their test codes written. The automatic testing feature enables automatic testing and also looks for signs of possible app crashes.

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Pricing models consist of 3 plans – the free plan with limitations, known as Spark, Flame with monthly payments and Blaze is pay-as-you-use.

Numerous Android devices are available to enable testing and it also has a ROBO test built-in which can:

  • Analyze the apps UI and
  • Enable automatic exploration of the UI by simulating user activities

It comes integrated with a Firebase console, a gcloud command line and Android Studio.

It can also be used with CI systems.

Road-testing of apps against a collection of real-world devices and configurations can also be enabled.

3. Xamarin Test Cloud

This cloud testing services tool uses the programming language C# for cross-platform mobile app development.

Wide range of testing can be done by simulating real-time user actions like pinching, swiping, scrolling and double-tapping. Performance problems on different OS can be easily found and tracked by going over its memory and performance in a step-by-step manner.

Many different plans are available so that they can cater to a wide range of testers like the newbie, small start-up, growing business and enterprise. This cloud testing tool also comes with a 30-day trial option.

Over 2500 devices are listed and configurations also include iOS 8 and 10 with Android versions ranging from Honeycomb to even Jelly Bean.

It has the capacity to integrate even with NUnit standard test runners.

Other functionalities include GPS location changing, physical button pressing, device camera activation, landscape and portrait mode rotation etc.

4. Kobiton

Specializing in device testing, this mobile cloud testing platform can perform both manual and automated testing of hybrid and native apps on real Android and iOS devices.

There are no emulators used in this cloud testing services tool.

Pricing plans come in 3 different packages—Indie, Team and Growing. It also comes with a 15-day trial option.

A total of around 160 devices of different configurations are available. These devices also include the latest iPhone7, iPads, Galaxy S7 Edge, Google Pixel etc.

While phone calls or SMS sending cannot be done, the use of cameras is allowed.

Up to 500mb of application files supported.

Activity logs are automatically created along with detailed reports, screenshots of real-time issues etc., so that debugging can be done faster and the app is released sooner.

It also enables developers to access and manage internal devices 24X7 and from any location.

5. Perfecto

It’s well-known Continuous Quality Lab offers mobile performance testing, manual testing, real-device monitoring and test automation.

It has 14 extremely secure data centres which house numerous real-devices that can be accessed from almost all browsers.

Three basic payment plans are available, namely; Basic, Advanced and Enterprise. A 2hr free trial option is also available.

This cloud testing services tool has more than 10,000 phablets, tablets and smartphones.

No emulators are present. Thus all devices are real.

DevTunnels, an exclusive Perfecto Technology, is used for debugging all mobile apps irrespective of the platform for which they are made. This enables mobile apps to be debugged using real devices and realistic conditions so that new feature validations and bugs that show up only under special conditions or environments can be fixed.

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You may also read: Top 5 Test Automation Tools

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Tests written on different frameworks like Selenium, Espresso, XCTest can be executed for multiple versions of the platforms and the results directed to the developer’s workstation.

Extensions are also available for Visual Studio, Appium, Jenkins Plug-in, Android Studio Plug-in etc.

Benefits of using cloud-based mobile testing

Using cloud testing services tool for mobile testing has several advantages such as:

  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Availability of varied devices and OS platforms
  • Can be accessed from anywhere and at any time
  • Access can be initiated with a URL and login done using the credentials given
  • Enables integration with tools for team collaboration like JIRA, Slack etc.
  • Supports real-time testing using real-network carriers
  • Facility for parallel testing enables concurrent testing thereby saving time during test cycles
  • Secure testing environment etc.

Cloud testing is growing popular by the day and cloud testing tools are serving as enablers to meet product owner and stakeholder expectations. The use of cloud testing also enables bug-free mobile apps to be launched within a limited time frame.

How Progressive Web Apps Can Give Your Business a Differentiating Edge

How Progressive Web Apps Can Give Your Business a Differentiating Edge

What is Progressive Web App & How it Can Boost Business

You should go with a website or application? This can become a heated and never ending discussion. For some businesses, websites work better and others prefer operating with a mobile application. Both websites and apps come with their own set of advantages and challenges.

For instance, mobile apps are handier and user friendly while websites are a more cost-efficient solution. But what if your website becomes capable of interacting with its users like an app, customers can install it on any device, leverage push notifications for updates, and even use it offline? Progressive web apps (PWA) precisely offer these functionalities.

PWAs have gained more traction over the past few years because they are simpler to develop and offer a more engaging user experience than the normal website. Some of the most popular PWAs are Alibaba, Walmart, Twitter, Forbes, Pinterest, and Trivago. All these major businesses have reported double growth in conversion rate and revenue after launching PWAs.

What is a Progressive Web App?

A progressive web app is a website that is designed to offer the best of both apps and the web. The term PWA was coined by Google engineer Alex Russell in June 2015.

From the eyes of an engineer, a PWA is a collection of design concepts, technologies, and web APIs that work in harmony to render an app-like user experience on the mobile web. It is equipped with features that are present in native mobile apps and is accessible to any user on the web in a secure manner.

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Also Read: Web Development Trends 2020

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You can also pin it on the home screen or app drawer of your smartphone and leverage app-life functionalities including offline usage and notifications. PWA offers a user experience that is very close to native apps

Why are Progressive Web Apps Sizzling?

Here are a few reasons contributing to the popularity of PWAs:

  • Lightweight, faster loading and secure
  • Offer advance features including web app manifest, service workers, and app shell
  • Native-app-like user interface
  • Efficiently works on low bandwidth internet and runs on offline mode as well
  • Compatible and responsive with all types of platforms and devices
  • Share the link and anyone can use the app from anywhere 
  • Cost-efficient and takes lesser development time

How PWAs can help your Business?

1. Instant service access

Smartphones are overwhelmed with numerous apps that are not just consuming the storage space but are also slowing down the devices. PWAs can save users from the hassle of downloading and installing the app before finally using it. Simply click on the link and instantly access the PWA.

2. Compatibility

Progressive web apps are compatible with any platform, operating system, or device. You can easily access the PWA on a smartphone, desktop, or tablet. This also means that PWAs are accessible to a larger number of people.

3. Less development time and cost

PWAs are built with only the features that its users need to keep the application lightweight. It means that it requires much less time to develop at a reduced cost.

Here are a few stats that substantiate the efficiency and effectiveness of progressive web apps.

  • Pinterest: It’s PWA app needs only150 KB of data storage; much lesser than its native iOS (56 MB) and Android (9.6 MB) apps. PWA has helped Pinterest to increase visitor time by up to 40 percent and engagement by up to 60 percent. It also helped the social media platform to increase its ad revenue by more than 40 percent.
  • Forbes: It’s PWA reduced the load time to 2.5 seconds from 6.5 and managed to increase the impression per session by 10 percent. It also noticed the decrease in bounce rate by up to 20 percent and the average time spent on the website increased by 40 percent.
  • Twitter: Twitter’s PWA went live in 2017 to provide a more engaging user experience to its over 80% of users who were mobile. The PWA is designed to work efficiently on a slow Internet connection. At 600 KB, Twitter Lite is much lighter than its Android app (23.5 MB). The PWA enabled Twitter to increase page per session by 75 percent and reduce its bounce rate by 20 percent.

You can read more case studies reflecting businesses benefitting from progressive web apps here.

How to Design a PWA?

Here are a few essential tips to design an effective and efficient PWA:

  • Progressive Design: Conceptualize the application with a progressive vision to render flawless and faster experience while enabling users to do their tasks efficiently. This is possible only if you know what users want and a progressive mindset can help you in figuring that out.
  • Right Technology: It is crucial to choose the right technology to develop the application. All the technologies in Polymer, Knockout, React, AMP, Lighthouse, and IONIC among others offer different USPs in the PWA development. Learn how these technologies enable development and pick the tools that enable you to develop PWA efficiently.
  • Keep it Minimalistic: We don’t have to complicate the progressive web app with a plethora of features. Instead, we just need functions that solve the purpose of users and eliminate the elements that they don’t need. This will ensure that we offer a clear and memorable experience to users through our progressive web app and they love it.
  • Keep Essential Features Offline: PWAs enable users to access some of the features offline. Figure out the features that users will use often and make that functionality available offline.
  • Push Notification: You can leverage push notification to make the PWA more engaging for users. However, strike a healthy number of notifications to avoid making them look like spam. Use push notifications only when it is required. For instance, you can notify them for the upcoming sale but bombarding them for regular discounts may not be a good idea.

With internet penetration increasing aggressively in the emerging markets, it has become imperative for businesses to reach customers with a solution that is engaging, efficient, secure, and works smoothly on low internet bandwidth. Progressive web apps can help organizations deliver an app-like user experience with lesser expenditure and maximum efficiency.

Rise in Telemedicine and the Need for Healthcare Testing Services

Rise in Telemedicine and the Need for Healthcare Testing Services

Healthcare App Testing Services

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the importance of taking care of your health. With co-morbidity issues accounting for a major portion of COVID-19 deaths, increasing self-immunity has become extremely important. 

Millions have already been infected with the deadly virus across the globe. Such is the effect of the pandemic that even people with health issues are being requested to stay away from hospitals. The situation is indeed very scary! What do we do if we fall sick? Where do we go? How do we take care of ourselves and our families? What medicines should we take?

So many questions; but are answers available? Yes! And it is the pandemic which has been the catalyst to finding this answer. Telemedicine, a revolutionary step in healthcare, refers to the use of telecommunications by healthcare professionals to:

  • Understand the symptoms
  • Evaluate and diagnose them using healthcare apps
  • Then ensure proper treatment is meted out

What is telemedicine?

Telemedicine was once a hard sell. Today it is a way of life; the new normal in healthcare!

Millions are affected across the globe. Is the healthcare system updated enough to deal with this sudden influx of patients? No. Is face to face consultation with a doctor a practical solution? Not unless it is an emergency.

This is where telemedicine apps step in. But telemedicine cannot be successful if it is not backed by advanced healthcare testing services that ensures the healthcare apps are functioning well and are completely accurate. 

The sudden surge in demand for telemedicine has resulted in developers working overtime to ensure efficiency, accuracy and security of these apps and equally by quality analysis teams offering healthcare testing services for these apps.

But why are healthcare apps so important?

The healthcare apps form a communications channel between the healthcare professionals and the patients thereby reducing their need for:

  • Face to face consultations and
  • Visits to hospitals.

It is a welcome change for all since even the healthcare professionals are overburdened due to the impact of the ongoing pandemic.

Applicability of healthcare apps in telemedicine

A healthcare app needs to cater to all the aspects of telemedicine. For this, it is important to understand the applicability, usage and functionality of telemedicine. Some aspects of telemedicine which have become increasingly popular are:

  • Follow-up visits: Patients do not need to come back to the doctor or the hospital for follow-up visits. It can be done remotely using the app even for Coronavirus carriers. This helps patients save time, money and energy and healthcare officials are also able to manage better.
  • Chronic conditions management: Doctors monitor patient’s health remotely. They need to access the heart rate and blood pressure glucose levels etc. Today technological advances enable data transmission between devices easily. The need is a healthcare app which will be able to add value to this remote monitoring. 

Telemedicine is thus expected to make life easier for people who have diabetes, cancer, heart diseases etc. They get the best of treatment and also follow social distancing to keep them safe from Coronavirus. 

  • Specialist consultations: For many patients, opting for specialist consultations means dealing with quite a few hassles like travelling, waiting, taking extra time out etc. But telecommunications technology usage enables these people to opt for specialist consultations right from the comfort of their homes.

Sharing of information between doctors, especially specialists, regarding the conditions of a particular patient can also be easily facilitated. Thus the need is to share diagnostic images, blood sample analysis reports generated by healthcare apps to enable proper assessment. 

  • Medication management: For the elderly and chronic disease afflicted, medicine management is a very important part of their daily routine. With many seniors forgetting to take their daily medicines on time, healthcare professionals and providers can ensure the same by using telemedicine apps to monitor the situation constantly. 
  • Updated hospital information: With COVID-19 striking many healthcare officials, there are instances wherein hospitals are opting for closure due to quarantine. In such instances, ambulances carrying critical patients might have to waste valuable time in going from one hospital to another. Healthcare apps can be kept updated so that people know beforehand if the hospital is closed or if the Emergency room is filled to capacity. This will enable them to change decisions and act on them promptly.

Need for healthcare app testing

The healthcare apps form the backbone of telemedicine and for this concept to be successfully implemented, they need proper testing to ensure high performance and fully-functional and user-friendly interface. The bar for quality assurance needs to be raised to remove the scope for any inaccuracy or data breach. 

Various apps and web platforms like Practo, DocsApp, MFine etc. provide just the required tools to connect a doctor to a patient. Virtual consultations are enabled, medicines prescribed and patients initiated on a road to recovery. Digital payment platforms have further helped to make the system complete.

Today medical professionals are relying heavily on these apps. Thus they need to perform on all KPIs and healthcare app testing needs to validate the following features:

  • Data security: The healthcare industry is a veritable goldmine for hackers and infiltration is very common. Statistics prove that 27% of all data breaches that happen originate in this sector. To overcome this vulnerability, healthcare testing services play a critical role. 

Using data encryption, for data in motion and at rest, is one way to secure all data contained in the app. However, while it may be easy to verify data in motion, it is slightly difficult for data at rest. Since these healthcare apps are generally downloaded on smart devices, the encryption has to work optimally. 

The apps maintain secure and safe payment options. The patient can choose to make a payment using an option of convenience. Healthcare app testing ensures that the payment gateways are safe and the app developers take extra care to ensure there is no data breach.

Healthcare testing services employ the latest technology to test all the web and hybrid applications for their security risks.

  • Data privacy: Access to data in these apps needs to be strictly controlled. Without proper authorization, no data should be allowed to be accessed. Boundaries need to be set so that people who can receive specific data can be defined.

Healthcare testing services ensure that the data masking works well to prevent any unauthorized access to confidential patient data.

  • Usability: This is a KPI on which every healthcare app needs to perform. Usability issues tend to translate into clinical issues making the patient suffer in the process. Proper usability testing helps ensure that patients or other end users can easily use these apps and without the need of much technical know-how. 
  • Digital health records: These apps make it possible for patients to say goodbye to paper prescriptions. With digital health records, you can access your health records from anyplace and at any time. Having your medical history made available with just a few clicks is a convenience which few patients can do away with. Data management is also a critical aspect verified during app testing.

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Also Read: Best Practices to Ensure Healthcare Mobile App Security

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  • Conformance: Simply put, there are certain compliances that healthcare apps need to follow. Following are some of the compliances that need to be adhered to by the apps and the same are verified by healthcare testing services:
  1. Regulatory compliances: These regulations are country-specific and deal not only with the workings of the medical professionals but also with data security and other such important aspects.
  2. Functional completeness: The app developed for telemedicine needs to be functionally complete. 
  3. Interoperability compliance: This deal with the syntactic and semantic interoperability agreement present between two healthcare entities that decide to join forces for a specific medical emergency or need.
  • Performance: If the app does not perform well, the whole exercise of its creation goes to waste. This results in a colossal waste of time, money and energy. This increases the criticality of performance testing before the app’s release. The ability to immediately procure the demanded information, the ready availability of updated clinical data etc, are some areas where this app needs to perform well. Healthcare testing services ensures that there is proper performance testing. Scalability, archival strategy, local data size etc.; all such features are verified by expert testing engineers using automated and cloud-based testing services. Some types of healthcare testing services for these apps include:
  1. Functional testing to check if the functional capabilities are working fine,
  2. Medical imaging testing which is specialized test automation done to test the performance of certain medical imaging app like MESA, Mirth etc.,
  3. Platform testing to check the performance of the app on various popular platforms and also ensure cross-browser compatibility,
  4. Conformance testing to ensure all statutory compliances are met and
  5. Load testing and performance testing which set the load and performance standards for the app.

Testing for apps related to healthcare needs to be done on many different levels. These levels pertain to its usage at the doctor’s end, the patients’ end and even for the health insurance provider. It is common knowledge that of all the healthcare apps made, only a few reach the top. The reason is very simple – thorough and accurate testing. Only when an app is subjected to rigorous 360-degree testing can it attain superlative status and be counted among the top few.

Growing Need for Cyber Security in the COVID-19 Times

Growing Need for Cyber Security in the COVID-19 Times

Rise and the need for cyber security testing services in Covid 19 times

A deadly pandemic has given rise to a new work culture; work from home. The remote work environment has further resulted in the need for web-based apps that make virtual meetings possible in these testing times. The use of apps such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Duo etc., have seen a huge surge in popularity. 

With meetings being conducted from the home and important decisions, both economic and otherwise, being taken over the internet, hackers are having a field day. Cyber crimes are on the rise and the need for cyber security testing services has also grown manifold.

Paradoxically, it took a pandemic for the world to understand the importance of digital transformation. This was long overdue but with people and systems ill-prepared to face the sudden increase in demand, initial hick-ups were pretty common. However, the systems were pretty quick in dealing with the deficiencies and creating a new world which remained connected despite maintaining physical and social distancing.

Unfortunately, this digital transformation also resulted in cyber vulnerability. Cyber security was said to be compromised in many popular apps. Ironically the Indian app which was developed to detect coronavirus cases in one’s vicinity and keep them safe from the pandemic in turn also resulted in cyber vulnerability for these people. With people around the world grappling with multiple issues like recession, economic crisis, pandemic, infodemic etc, the threat to cyber security emerged as a growing concern. Potentially it is almost as harmful as the pandemic and with hackers glorifying the huge opportunities that have suddenly opened up, cyber security has become a major cause of concern today.

Is it really surprising? Actually, it was expected. Deployment of a remote workforce, access to crucial IT infrastructure, using virtual consultations as a collaborative tool to enable team interactions, multi-player interventions, cloud-based solutions, easy access to proprietary corporate data on endpoint devices etc., has become the new way of doing business. There has been a shift in the dynamics. The usual 5% of remote workforce enthusiasts have gone up radically to 95% of mainstream users. Protecting such a huge workforce from online invasions is quite a challenging job. And this has always been widely acknowledged. The reasons behind this include digital naivety, complete ignorance about cyber hygiene protocols and general inability to maintain online safety. Coupled with this the swift implementation of updated digital systems and modalities without educating or training the remote workforce is further aggravating the situation.

What is digital transformation?

Before progressing further into the importance of security testing services in the current situation, there is a need to understand the ongoing digital transformation.

Simply speaking it is both a cultural and digital change that is getting incorporated. Calling it a cultural change gets justified as it encourages organizations and corporates to:

  • Keep challenging status quo continuously
  • Innovate and experiment
  • Take failures casually and comfortably

However, strictly speaking, digital transformation is a process of integration. Herein digital technology incorporation is done in all aspects of a business so that it can:

  • Change the way a business operates
  • Provide better value to its existing and new customers

The need for digital transformation is not restricted only to large organizations. Every business from MSMEs or Micro, small and medium enterprises to larger corporates needs to go through this. It is imperative for their survival in the highly competitive digital world. But before the onset of the pandemic, there were few takers for this. Most thought it meant shifting over to cloud-based services. It took a pandemic named COVID-19 for the world to understand the need for digital transformation and start implementing it on a war footing with:

  • Stage 1 already implemented by way of a complete breakdown of societal and infrastructural functions brought on by the lockdown,
  • Stage 2 currently ongoing with critical functions like money flow, basic services, supply chain management etc. stabilizing slowly and
  • Stage 3 on the horizon wherein new policies and digital solutions will change people’s perspective and way of working completely.

As the need for non-verbal communication increases over digital channels, internet infrastructure also needs to grow. Had it been a gradual process, the transition would have been smooth. But the sudden plunge into this digital transformation has resulted in several loopholes. It is these loopholes that create opportunities for hackers. Thus with digital transformation, the need for security testing services also increases.

Today, almost 50 percent of global businesses lack the confidence to successfully ward off a cyber attack. Of this about 30 percent businesses have never tested or updated their cyber response plan. Thus the whole idea of working from home gets compromised. Operating on less secure internet networks and handling sensitive corporate data makes them easy targets for cyber attacks. Consequently, since January 2020, there has been a spike in phishing attacks and social engineering. New domains containing terms related to the coronavirus have increased. While some of them are genuine and offer relevant information, there are several that are fraudulent. Some are also being used as distribution websites for banking malware like Kimsuky, Mustang Panda etc., and other viruses like data stealers, ransomware etc.

The more anxious a person gets, the more he gravitates towards the internet to look for answers. For the hacker, who has the time, resource and intent, preying on such employees becomes easy. While the world looks towards discovering ways to tackle this menace, cyber criminals might have already made their move. Making use of these anxious and vulnerable moments they would already have set in motion cyber crimes which are slated to make a huge impact.

Managing the challenges of cyber threat

So what does one do? Going back to the previous ways of working is no longer an option. Moving forward is the only alternative left. And this means tackling the proliferating threat to cyber security head-on by:

  • Introducing several procedural and technical controls like:
    1. Restricting data download size
    2. Using secure channels to protect in-transit data
    3. Making sensitive corporate data “Read only”
    4. Using security testing services to ensure cyber security protocols
    5. Favouring trusted communication channels
    6. Saying no to sensationalism and checking facts by cross-referencing information etc.
  • Sensitizing employees on their internet risk exposure by:
    1. Training them to identify threats to cyber security,
    2. Educating them using refresher courses about the measures to be taken to detect, respond, report and prevent cyber crime,
    3. Making them understand the importance of thinking before clicking etc.
  • Enabling constant communication with employees with regards to:
    1. Password administration,
    2. Identity management,
    3. Multi-factor identification,
    4. Device security settings etc.
  • Taking extra care of those who are digitally naïve or resistant to this digital transformation,
  • Managing the IT workforce to ensure that:
    1. All configurations are up to date,
    2. Discovered vulnerabilities are patched in their nascent stage,
    3. Detection of connection attempts from suspicious is done quickly and repelled effectively etc.
  • Leveraging on digital solutions like encryption, VPN, multiple authentication factors like OTP, biometrics, digital signatures etc. to ensure the protection of company data and enable secure communication etc.  

The World Economic Forum, while aiming to bring about a balance between the long term and short term goals with regards to cyber security, has come up with 5 important proposals to combat this threat. They are:

  • Fostering the growth of cyber resilience
  • Prioritizing the protection of critical corporate assets, services and financial data
  • Coming to a balance with regards to risk-informed decisions in the current COVID-19 scenario and beyond
  • Enabling a smooth business transition to a new normal by updating and practicing cyber threat response and formulating effective business continuity plans and
  • Strengthening the collaboration network across the ecosystem.

Cyber security market growth trends

The pandemic has proved to be the catalyst for digital transformation and subsequently, the need for cyber security has also increased. Globally, the cyber security market size is predicted to grow at a CAGR rate of 12% by the year 2021.  Contributing factor for this spike is the increasing focus of the business community on cyber security testing services as a means of enabling business continuity.

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Also Read: Leading Digital Security Trends for 2020

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Today cyber security is just not a support function. It is a game changer; a vital shield to secure customer data and operations. The ongoing pandemic has helped provide an opportunity for business houses, corporations and MSMEs to take stock of their IT infrastructure and accordingly deploy robust and technologically advanced solutions to ensure cyber security.

Investment in cyber security solutions is no longer a one-time flick. If done properly today, they will enable organizations to sustain themselves in the future as demand for work from home will only increase. Companies using cloud services should be extra careful and ensure:

  • Stronger security configurations and
  • Ensure monitoring to prevent unauthorized manipulation.

The situation is dynamic; cyber criminals always manage to stay one step ahead. Strict vigilance, adherence to security guidelines and protocol and enabling security testing services may be the only guard against them. Hence people need to stay informed, be alert and vary of phishing messages and emails, enable strict monitoring of all aspects of cyber security and keep changing passwords with regular frequency. This is the only way organizations will be secure and will also be able to counter potential cyber-attacks and threats especially when they have employees working from home.