Test data management (TDM) is a method that helps to provide the correct quantity, quality, and format of data for tests. In the test life cycle, data generation is essential because every test requires a large quantity of data. Using test data management solutions aids in shortening the time required for data processing, accelerating the overall application development process.
Benefits of Test Data Management
Cost Efficient
TDM can help reuse data which, in turn, can lower the costs of the testing process. A central memory is used to identify and save the reusable data for later usage.
Due to increased test data coverage and traceability, test data management tools also help in the early discovery of errors and lower the cost of production maintenance.
Customer Satisfaction
When testing is conducted with good-quality data, there aren't many testing faults, and the application remains steady.
A consumer's faith in the company rises when the product is error-free and user-friendly, resulting in customer satisfaction.
Data Security
Better data coverage can help reduce the possibility of security breaches. Traceability of test data can maintain the security of the data management process by providing safe data collection methods.
Efficient Data Management
In a TDM process, data is saved in a single memory space. The same saved data may be used to provide data for many testing types, including functional, integration, and performance testing. This way, using test data management solutions, businesses can prevent the storage of excessive numbers of test data copies.
Challenges of Test Data Management
Lack of Relevant Data
Data testing needs to adhere to safety and privacy regulations because to guarantee effective test case execution, error-free test data is a must. The majority of businesses struggle to get useful data that they may utilize without taking security risks.
Data Accuracy Problem
When any external circumstances cause an application to malfunction, test teams find it difficult to resolve the issue. Both the delivery schedule and the efficiency of the final product may be affected by these data accuracy problems.
Compromised Data Privacy
Data masking is necessary for applications containing sensitive information, and the likelihood of a data leak increases in the absence of effective encryption. Additionally, a data breach may cause that user data to be used for criminal purposes.
Test Data Management Techniques
Exploring the Test Data
Test data may be present in various formats. It could be stored throughout several data collection systems. It is the job of the test data management team to search for the appropriate data sets that meet the demands of the test scenarios. Finding the appropriate data in the necessary format within the allotted time is crucial. And that's where test data management solutions come into action.
Validating the Test Data
Real data from multiple databases that have been verified for data security is necessary for testing. When the application is tested, it is critical that the generated test results provide an accurate representation of the production environment.
Reusability of Test Data
Reusability is crucial to ensure cost-effectiveness and maximize the use of test databases. The goal should be to maintain the value of the saved database and use it whenever feasible.
Using Automation
Data creation, data masking and cloning are some necessary aspects of test data management. However, all of these tasks might be done via data generation through automation.
Not only will it expedite the process, but it will also greatly increase the data accuracy.
Inject automation within your test data lifecycle with test data management tools.
Takeaway
An application's performance is dependent on proper integration and usage of reliable data. It is advantageous to have a detailed simulation of how the users will interact with the software. Test data management can help a business with this simulated testing process.
