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Black box testing is a popular software testing methodology. It mainly focuses on the input and output of software applications and doesn’t care about the internal code structure of the software.

In this blog, LQA will give you a fundamental guide to black box testing, covering its mechanism, types, techniques, process, and differences from white box testing and gray box testing.

Let’s dive in!

Black Box Testing Fundamentals

What is black box testing?

Black box testing is a software testing methodology in which testers know what the software is supposed to do but don’t know the internal code structure of the software.

Hence, black box test cases are built around specifications and requirements, such as how the application is expected to behave.

Black box testing can be applied to both functional and non-functional testing at every level of software testing: unit, integration, system, and acceptance. Its major objective is to evaluate the software’s functionality, identify errors, and ensure that it meets specified requirements

Example of black box testing

Consider an e-commerce web app. As a black box tester, you check if the app’s login functionality works as expected by entering valid and invalid credentials and verifying the system’s response.

Below is an example of black box test cases to test the login function of the app, in which T = true and F = false.

Black box testing tools

Depending on the specific test types, we have different black box testing tools, such as:

• Functional testing: Selenium, JUnit
• Performance testing: Apache JMeter, LoadRunner
• Security testing: OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite
• Usability testing: UserTesting, Crazy Eg

Pros and cons of black box testing

So, what are the advantages and limitations of black box testing?

Pros of black box testing

The advantages of black box testing include simplicity, realistic evaluation, user focus, early bug detection, and unbiased tests. Here are why:

• Simplicity: Black box testing doesn’t require knowledge of internal code, allowing a quick and easy start compared to white box testing and gray box testing.
• Realistic evaluation: Black box testers focus on the output of the software application and how the software works in reality.
• User focus: Black box testers evaluate software functionality as users, from a user perspective, hence increasing the likelihood of user acceptance.
• Early testing: Black box test cases can be designed right after the completion of specifications and executed in the early stages of software development, allowing for early detection of functional issues.
• Unbiased tests: Black box testers provide an unbiased, fresh perspective as they lack knowledge of the internal workings of the app.

Cons of black box testing

Black box testing also has some drawbacks, such as:

• Dependence on documentation: Black box testing test case design relies heavily on accurate and comprehensive specifications, which may not always be available or up-to-date.
• Limited code coverage: Black box testing may miss certain code paths and internal logic, reducing the depth of testing coverage.
• Inefficiency for complex systems: It may not effectively pinpoint intricate code-related issues in complex software architectures, due to its inability to directly access and analyze the internal code structure.
• Potential for redundancy: Tests can be redundant if already run by the software designer and developers.

Types of Black Box Testing

Black box testing is applied to 3 major test types: functional testing, non-functional testing, and regression testing.

Functional testing

Functional testing ensures that the software functions as intended. It tests features like input validation, user interface, and data manipulation.

Some common types of functional testing include smoke testing, sanity testing, integration testing, system testing, and regression testing.

Black box testing in functional testing involves creating test cases based on external specifications, executing them to validate functionality, and ensuring that the software meets specified requirements without knowing the internal code.

Non-functional testing

Non-functional testing focuses on aspects other than functionality, including performance, security, usability, and reliability.

In other words, while functional testing checks if the software performs a specific action, non-functional testing checks how the software performs that action under different conditions.

In non-functional testing, black box tests can assess whether the software:

• is user-friendly
• performs well under various loads
• is compatible with different browsers, devices, and environments
• remains secure against common threats and vulnerabilities

Regression testing

Testers can use black box testing techniques in regression tests to verify whether new changes affect the existing functioning of the system.

Regression testing is often done when there are modifications to a system, such as developing a new function, fixing a bug, or maintenance. In apps with frequent updates, regression testing is often automated for optimal efficiency.

Also read: Software testing basics, principles, skills, phase

Black Box Testing Techniques

There are many black box testing techniques that apply to different logics within software applications. Here are the 5 major techniques.

Black box testing technique	Description
Boundary value analysis (BVA)	Test the boundaries between partitions.
Equivalence class partitioning	Divide the input domains into equivalent classes and test one input from each class.
Decision table based testing	Used when the output responds to varied combinations of input.
State transition testing	Verify system behavior during state changes.
Error guessing	Use testers’ intuition and experience to “guess” errors.

All the above black box testing methods can be done without knowing the internal workings of the system, hence are called black box testing. Let’s dig into them!

1. Boundary value analysis (BVA)

Boundary value analysis, short for BVA, is a black-box testing technique to test the boundaries between partitions instead of testing multiple values in the equivalence region. In BVA, testers assume that if it is true for boundary values, it is true for the whole equivalence region.

Example of BVA: 

Let’s say you’re testing a system where valid age values are between 20 and 50.

• Test with the minimum boundary value (20). It should be valid.
• Test with the maximum boundary value (50). It should be valid.
• Test just below the lower boundary (19). It should be invalid.
• Test just above the upper boundary (51). It should be invalid.

2. Equivalence class partitioning

In equivalence class partitioning, also known as equivalent partitioning, testers divide all possible inputs into various equivalence data classes (or data groups) and test only one example input from each class, assuming that data in each class behaves the same.

Example of equivalent partitioning:

Imagine you’re testing a system where valid usernames are within 5 – 20 text-only characters. You divide the inputs into 5 groups as below.

Valid input group	Example input	Invalid input group	Example input
Inputs between 5-20 text characters	10 text characters	Inputs below 5 characters	3 text characters
		Inputs above 20 characters	25 text characters
		Empty input	(Leave blank)
		Inputs contain non-text characters	10 characters contain text and numbers

 

Then, you pick one representative input from each group to test. For instance, if you input 10 text characters, it should be valid. But if you input 4 characters, it should be invalid.

3. Decision table based testing

Decision table, also called a cause-effect table, is a software testing technique based on cause-effect relationships. It is used to test system behavior in which the output depends on a combination of inputs, for instance:

• Combination of inputs: all blanks/specific blanks in the log-in section are filled in by a user.
• System behavior: navigate the user to the homepage.

Example of decision table testing: 

An app allows users to log in only when the username, password, and captcha are correct. We have the below table that represents all possible scenarios to test, in which T = true and F = false.

4. State transition testing

In state transition black-box testing, changes in the input make changes to the state of the system and trigger different outputs. In this technique, testers execute valid and invalid cases belonging to a sequence of events to evaluate the system’s behavior.

Example of state transition testing: 

An e-commerce app will lock a user’s account if he/she enters the wrong password 3 times in a row. This means the user will be able to log in if he/she enters the correct password on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd try. Each time the password is entered correctly, the state is transitioned into “Access accepted”. Otherwise, the state turns into “Account locked” after the 3rd time entering the wrong password.

The state transition diagram below represents a sequence of events to test.

5. Error guessing

In error guessing, you rely on testers’ intuition and experience to anticipate and uncover possible errors or error-prone situations in the software, particularly in situations where formal test cases may be insufficient.

In error guessing, the test cases could be based on:

• Previous experience in testing related/similar software products.
• Understanding of the system to be tested.
• Knowledge of common errors in such applications.
• Prioritized functions in the requirement specification documents (to not miss them).

Black Box vs. White Box vs. Gray Box Testing

Black box, white box, and grey box testing make up the three software testing methodologies to test an app as an outsider, an insider, and a partial insider. While black box testing and white box testing are opposite concepts, gray box testing stands in between the two.

Let’s dive into a detailed comparison between black box, white box and gray box testing.

Black box testing	Gray box testing	White box testing
Minimal to no knowledge of internal details	Partial knowledge of internal details	Full knowledge of internal details
Low-level granularity	Medium-level granularity	High-level granularity
Focuses on testing the functionality of the software	Uncover defects, vulnerabilities, and ensure proper functioning of the software	Test the internal logic, code structure, and implementation details of the software
Evaluates a product from the user’s perspective	Considers both the user’s perspective and developer’s perspective	Evaluation happens from the developer’s perspective
Is often done by end-users, testers and also developers	Can be done by developers, testers, and end-users	Is generally done by developers and testers
Test cases are designed on the functional specifications	Test cases are created based on both functional specifications and some internal knowledge	Test cases are designed based on the internal code and structure
Tend to consume the least time among the 3 methods	Tend to consume medium time among the 3 methods	Tend to consume the most time among the 3 methods
Technique: Boundary value analysis Equivalence class partitioning Decision table testing State transition testing Error guessing	Technique: Matrix testing Orthogonal array testing Pattern testing Regression testing	Technique: Statement coverage Branch coverage Path coverage Condition coverage Decision/Condition coverage

 

How To Perform Black Box Testing?

A standard black box testing process takes place as below:

• Examine the requirements and specifications of the software
• Define the testing scope, objectives, and create a test plan
• Develop test cases based on specifications and user scenarios, including choosing valid inputs, invalid inputs, and expected output for each input.
• Execute the test cases, entering inputs, observing outputs, and comparing real outputs with expected outputs.
• Document any discrepancies or defects found during testing.
• Re-run tests after fixes or changes to ensure existing functionality remains intact.

Frequently Asked Questions about Black Box Testing

1. What are the types of black box testing?

Black box testing is suitable for three primary types of tests: functional testing, non-functional testing, and regression testing.

2. Is black box testing illegal?

No, black box testing is not illegal. It is a legitimate and widely used software testing method where testers assess the functionality of a system without knowing its internal code.

However, it’s crucial to conduct black box testing on systems you have permission to test, respecting ethical and legal boundaries. Unauthorized testing on systems or networks without proper consent is considered illegal and can result in legal consequences.

3. Why might companies prefer black box testing over white box testing?

Black box testing is user-focused and doesn’t require knowledge of internal code. Hence, it is often simpler to start and more cost-effective to carry out compared to white box testing and gray box testing. That’s why companies may prefer black-box testing over white-box testing.

Black Box Testing with LQA

As the pioneering independent software testing company in Vietnam, Lotus Quality Assurance (LQA) stands out as a prominent software quality assurance firm with a wide range of software testing services, covering black box, gray box, and white box testing.

Are you looking for experts in conducting black box testing services? Don’t hesitate to contact LQA’s software testing team.

Related resources:

• Black Box Penetration Testing 
• White Box Penetration Testing

 

In today’s ever-evolving software development landscape, functional testing is critical to ensuring that software satisfies its intended specifications and functions seamlessly. Beyond only finding bugs, functional testing examines how well each component works together to contribute to the overall success of the application. 

In this article, we will guide you through the comprehensive exploration of functional test, including its benefits, methodology, and how to complete a successful functional test project. Let’s get cracking!

 

What is Functional Testing Definition?

Functional test is a type of software testing that examines the function of a software application or system. Its main goal is to ensure that the system functions in a way that meets the business demands and conforms to the stated functional criteria.

This involves evaluating the software’s user interactions, data manipulation, input and output from the software, and how it reacts to various scenarios and conditions.

 

Functional vs Non-functional Testing: Key Differences

What is functional testing and non functional testing?

Functional and non functional testing are both popular and essential software testing types that help verify if a software’s features work correctly and assess aspects like performance and security for overall reliability.

The differences between functional and non-functional testing lie in their respective focuses. Functional tests focus on verifying if the required functions are met, whereas non-functional tests evaluate non-function aspects of any software such as performance, stability, efficiency, usability, visuals, etc.

Put simply, functional test tries to answer if the software’s important functions are operating, while non-functional tests care more about how the operations occur.

 

What are the differences between functional and non-functional testing?

Let’s explore the key differences between functional and non-functional testing in the table below:

Aspect	Functional testing	Non-functional testing
Objective	To evaluate if the software app meets functional requirements and operates as intended	To assess non-functional aspects such as usability, security, performance, and more
Test coverage	Typically concentrates on particular features or functions	Covers a larger range of attributes beyond functionality
Examples	User acceptance testing, unit testing,  functional system testing, integration testing	Security testing, usability testing, compatibility testing, performance testing
Test criteria	Criteria for passing or failing are frequently straightforward and determined by expected results	Successful or unsuccessful criteria may include thresholds or benchmarks (for example, a response time of less than 2 seconds).
Tools and technologies	Some examples of functional testing tools are Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, unified functional testing (UFT), etc	Some examples of non-functional testing tools are JMeter, OWASP ZAP, LoadRunner, etc
Objective Measurement	Frequently has binary results (pass/fail) according to the expected behavior	Frequently uses benchmarks and quantitative measurements for non-functional attributes

 

Why is Functional Testing Important?

Software functional testing is an important phase of the software development life cycle (SDLC) for a variety of reasons:

 

• Verification of requirements: Functional test guarantees that the software meets the requirements. By testing each function or feature, you can ensure that the application acts as expected and meets the functional criteria.
• Bug detection: One of the key goals of functional test is to find and disclose bugs or problems in software. It aids in identifying disparities between predicted and actual results, allowing developers to correct flaws before the software is published.
• Software quality improvement: Functional testing helps to improve the overall quality of software by verifying that every module or component carries out its assigned task correctly.
• User experience optimization: Functional tests improve user experience by identifying and correcting issues early in the SDLC. It helps develop a software product that satisfies users’ expectations and reduces post-release problems.
• Cost-effectiveness: Resolving problems at a later stage of the software development life cycle or after the product has been delivered is more expensive than identifying and repairing errors early in the process. Functional test lowers the overall cost of development and maintenance by assisting in the early detection of issues.
• Risk mitigation: Functional testing assists in reducing the risks related to software development by methodically testing the program’s functioning. It gives teams information about the application’s usability, performance, and dependability so they may proactively solve any possible problems.

Types of Functional Testing

What are the most common functionality testing types? Here are the most common functional testing examples:

Regression testing

Regression testing ensures that new code does not break current functionality. It determines whether or not the application’s quality has deteriorated. These tests focus on the changes made and guarantee that the entire application is stable.

Unit testing

Unit testing involves breaking down the desired result into smaller units, which allows functional testers to check if a limited number of inputs, sometimes even just one, delivers the desired outcomes. By focusing on testing a specific part of the code, such as a function or method, unit testing is quick to write and run.

Integration testing

Integration testing verifies whether each software parts work properly together. This testing makes sure that the modules function properly when they are dependent on one another, even if they pass independent tests.

Smoke testing

Smoke testing is frequently used when a new build is developed. As an early-stage testing type, this method provides an additional layer of verification to determine whether the new build can move one or requires revisions. 

Sanity testing

A sanity test is executed for a new build that includes small bug fixes or new code, frequently after smoke testing. This method is to verify if every major functionality of an application operates properly both on its own and in combination with others.

Usability testing

Usability testing evaluates a software product’s user interface and overall user experience and addresses usability issues. In this testing method, real users will test the product in a production environment. Their feedback will be collected for future improvements.

 

How to Perform Functional Tests

QA functional testing typically includes the following essential steps:

Identify test input

Before the testing phase, quality engineers need to determine the function that needs to be tested, along with its requirements, and how it operates. This essential step allows functional testers to understand the function’s goal and learn the potential user paths.

Create test scenarios

Create a list of every potential test scenario—or at least every crucial one—that may be used for a particular feature. Test scenarios demonstrate how a feature will be used in different contexts. For example, test cases for a payment module might include different currencies, managing expired or invalid card numbers, etc.

Create test data

Based on the test scenarios that you selected, create test data that replicates typical use situations. Input the test data manually with tools like MS Excel, or automatically with a script or testing tool that retrieves data from sources such as a database, flat file, XML, or spreadsheet. Make sure that each input data has relevant information specifying the expected outcome it should produce.

Execute test cases

In this stage, the created test cases are run and the results are recorded. After that, compare the expected and real output. The actual output produced after running the test cases is compared to the predicted output to determine the level of variance in the results. This stage indicates whether or not the system is operating as intended.

Why Automate Functional Testing?

There are various advantages of functional testing automation during the SDLC. The following are some reasons why organizations decide to automate functional testing:

 

• Efficiency and speed: Automated functional test can be completed faster than manual tests. This leads to more rapid feedback on the software’s quality, which allows more frequent updates and faster release cycles.
• Reusability: Automated functional tests can be repeated without extra work and reusable at various phases of the development process. This allows consistent testing across different builds and releases, cutting down on redundancy.
• Improved test coverage:  Automated functional test offers wider coverage of test scenarios and data variances. This leads to higher test coverage, ensuring that all of the application’s components are carefully tested.

In summary, automated functional test improves the software development process’s effectiveness, consistency, and dependability, which leads to better products and quicker release cycles.

 

Improve Your Functional Testing with LQA

Enhancing functional testing involves engaging a specialized software QA & testing firm to ensure a comprehensive evaluation and optimal testing performance.

With over 7 years of experience as the pioneering independent software QA in Vietnam, LQA stands out as a leading IT quality and security assurance organization, providing a comprehensive variety of software QA & testing services to fulfill our clients’ diversified needs.

At LQA, we stay up-to-date on the latest functional testing methodologies and employ industry-leading tools.

 

In addition to functional tests, LQA offers full software testing services such as white box, black box, web application, mobile application, API, manual, and automation testing.

Key features of LQA’s functional test solution:

• Comprehensive software QA solutions include consultation, strategy, execution, and ongoing support.
• Ensured bug rate of less than 3% for devices, mobile, and web applications.
• Quick delivery enabled by a wide range of experienced testers.
• Optimal price-to-quality ratio, leveraging cost savings and the knowledge of Vietnamese IT professionals.
• Tailored solutions based on industry expertise.
• Maximum security assured via a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) and optimal security procedures during database access.

Connect with LQA’s professionals to improve your functional test experience, ensuring outstanding software quality, bug-free applications, quick project delivery, cost-effective solutions, industry-specific precision, and maximum security.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Functional Testing

1. What is functional testing in software engineering?

Functional testing is a type of software testing that aims to ensure that a software application performs as planned. It entails testing the system’s functionality by providing input and inspecting the output to ensure that the software satisfies the defined requirements and works as intended.

 

2. What is non-functional testing?

In contrast to functional testing, non-functional testing assesses factors including scalability, performance, usability, and dependability. Rather than focusing on particular features or functionalities, it evaluates the system’s non-functional characteristics, such as reaction time, load management, and security.

 

3. What is the difference between unit testing vs functional testing?

Unit testing is a type of functional testing in which the validity of individual modules or components is verified by testing them separately. More broadly, functional testing evaluates the system’s functionality as a whole.

 

4. What is the difference between functional vs regression testing?

Regression testing makes sure that new features don’t negatively affect already-existing functionalities, while functional test confirms that the program operates as intended. Although being one of the functional test types, regression testing focuses on potential problems with new changes, whereas functional test validates features.

 

5. What is the difference between functional vs integration testing?

While integration testing evaluates the connections between various systems or components, the functional test looks at specific functions on their own. Both are a component of functional testing; integration testing makes sure these features work together seamlessly, whereas functional testing concentrates on features.

 

Final Thoughts About Functional Testing

In conclusion, functional test is the key to ensuring software reliability and user satisfaction. Its comprehensive examination of each function not only addresses and fixes possible issues but also guarantees a seamless alignment with user expectations.

Adopting a strong functional test approach is essential since it will protect against bugs and errors in advance, and increase software dependability, and user confidence.

We hope that with our comprehensive guidelines above, you can approach functional tests with confidence, creating software that not only meets but even surpasses user expectations in functionality and performance.

If you are looking for experts in conducting function testing for your software projects, contact LQA’s expert team today for top-notch functional testing services and consultancy. Let’s ensure your software stands out for all the right reasons.

Gray box testing, also spelled grey box testing, is a common method in software testing. The purpose of gray box testing is to search for defects due to improper structure or improper usage of applications.

In this blog, LQA will give you a comprehensive guide to gray box testing and the differences between black box, gray box, and white box testing.

What is Gray Box Testing?

Gray box testing is a software testing method in which testers have partial knowledge of the internal workings of an application.

The major objective of gray box testing is to combine the advantages of black box testing and white box testing to test the product from a user perspective and improve overall user acceptance of the product.

When doing gray box testing, the testing process is guided by the specifications or requirements set for the software. Testers create test cases based on what the software is supposed to do, hence they are called requirement test cases.

Example of gray box testing: Consider testing a mobile banking app. As a gray box tester, you may have some knowledge about the backend server communication. You design test cases to simulate various network conditions, like low connectivity, to observe how the app handles these situations.

Black-box vs. Gray-box vs. White-box Testing

We all know about the three common software testing methods: black box testing, gray box testing, and white box testing.

In black-box testing, testers have no idea about the system’s internal workings, while in white-box testing, testers have full knowledge of the application’s internal workings. Gray box testing is like a mix of black box and white box testing.

Let’s dive into a detailed comparison between black box, white box and gray box testing.

Black box testing	Gray box testing	White box testing
Minimal to no knowledge of internal details	Partial knowledge of internal details	Full knowledge of internal details
Low-level granularity	Medium-level granularity	High-level granularity
Evaluates a product from the user’s perspective	Considers both the user’s perspective and developer’s perspective	Evaluation happens from the developer’s perspective
Is often done by end-users, testers and also developers	Can be done by developers, testers, and end-users	Is generally done by developers and testers
Test cases are designed on the functional specifications	Test cases are created based on both functional specifications and some internal knowledge	Test cases are designed based on the internal code and structure
Tend to consume the least time among the 3 methods	Tend to consume medium time among the 3 methods	Tend to consume the most time among the 3 methods

 

Also read: Software testing basics, principles, skills, phase

Advantages and Disadvantages Of Gray Box Testing

So, what are the advantages and limitations of gray box testing?

Advantages of gray box testing

In short, gray box testing in software engineering combines the benefits of black box testing and white box testing.

• Testing accounts for user perspective to improve overall user acceptance of the product.
• Testers do not need to have programming expertise or extensive internal knowledge of the target system to start.
• Less chance of introducing bias compared to white-box testing, as testers don’t know the internal details fully.
• More comprehensive test scenario design than black-box testing thanks to partial knowledge of the internal mechanisms.
• Is non-intrusive because it doesn’t require full access to the internal code.

Disadvantages of gray box testing

Due to its partial access to the internal code of the system, gray box testing imposes certain limitations.

• Less test comprehensiveness compared to white-box testing. Due to limited access to complete code path coverage, testers might overlook critical vulnerabilities in the system.
• Difficult to associate defects with root causes in distributed systems. Distributed systems involve various components and interactions, but testers don’t have full visibility into them.
• Algorithm testing is impossible as the lack of access to the complete logic of the algorithms.

Gray Box Testing Techniques

When performing gray box testing, there are various techniques you can choose from.

Matrix testing

Matrix testing is a testing approach that examines all variables in an application, evaluating all business and technical risks associated with them and ensuring their correct and efficient utilization.

In matrix testing, test cases are systematically designed and executed based on a testing matrix structure. The matrix typically represents different combinations of inputs, conditions, or variables that need to be tested.

Orthogonal array testing (OAT)

Orthogonal array testing, or OAT, is basically a systematic and statistically-driven black-box testing technique. It systematically selects specific combinations of inputs to test the system instead of testing every possible combination of inputs.

Imagine you are dealing with a large number of inputs. Now, testing every possible combination of inputs would take a long time. So, you pick a subset of combinations to test from an orthogonal array, which is a structured grid ensuring coverage of various combinations of factor levels.

This method helps achieve a balance between thorough testing and minimizing the number of test cases required.

Pattern testing

Pattern testing in gray box testing involves analyzing historical defects to recognize recurring patterns associated with defects. Then, you can apply those insights to detect anomalies or deviations in coding practices that may lead to errors or vulnerabilities in apps with similar structures.

Example of pattern testing: Checking for consistent coding practices in naming conventions throughout the application.

Regression testing

Regression testing is a technique that verifies whether new changes affect the existing functioning of the system. Common regression test strategies are retest all, retest risky use cases, and regression test selection.

Regression testing is often done when there are modifications to a system, such as developing a new function or fixing a bug. In apps with frequent updates, regression testing is often automated for optimal efficiency.

The Gray Box Testing Process

A standard gray-box testing process comprises 10 steps as below:

#Step 1: Identify and select inputs

Choose inputs for testing from both white and black box testing methods, considering both external user interactions (black box) and partial knowledge of internal workings (white box).

#Step 2: Identify probable outputs

Determine expected outcomes corresponding to the selected inputs to establish criteria for successful testing.

#Step 3: Identify key paths for the testing phase

Recognize critical paths within the system that need to be tested to ensure comprehensive coverage.

#Step 4: Identify sub-functions

Break down the system into sub-functions for more focused and in-depth testing.

#Step 5:  Identify inputs for subfunctions

Determine inputs specific to each sub-function, tailoring tests to assess individual components.

#Step 6: Identify probable outputs for subfunctions

Anticipate expected outputs corresponding to inputs for each identified sub-function.

#Step 7: Execute sub-function test cases

Perform tests on isolated sub-functions to observe how they respond to various inputs.

#Step 8: Assess and verify outcomes.

Evaluate test results to verify whether the system behaves as expected and meets specified criteria.

#Step 9: Repeat steps 4 & 8 for other subfunctions

#Step 10: Repeat steps 7 & 8 for other subfunctions

Frequently Asked Questions about Gray Box Testing

1. What is gray box penetration testing?

Gray box penetration testing is a cybersecurity assessment approach where the tester is provided with some information, such as system architecture or design details, to simulate the perspective of an attacker with limited insider knowledge.

Gray box penetration testing alongside black box penetration testing and white box penetration testing make up the 3 common penetration testing methods in security testing.

2. What is the difference between gray-box and black-box testing?

The fundamental difference between gray box testing and black box testing is how much testers know about the internal workings of a system, which can be a web app, a mobile app, or a desktop app.

Gray box testers have partial knowledge of the internal details of the system, hence testing the system from both a user perspective and developer perspective.

Black box testers have no idea about the internal details of the system, hence testing the system from a user perspective completely.

3. What is gray box testing also known as?

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), gray box testing is also known as focused testing.

Gray Box Testing by LQA

Gray-box testing is beneficial because it merges the benefits of black box testing and white box testing, combining the simplicity of the black-box approach with the code-specific approach of the white-box approach.

As the pioneering independent software testing company in Vietnam, LQA stands out as a prominent software quality assurance firm with a wide range of software testing services, covering gray box, white box, and black box testing.

Are you looking for experts in conducting gray box testing services? Don’t hesitate to contact LQA’s software testing team.

Contact LQA at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://lotus-qa.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lqa

Penetration testing, or pen testing, also called ‘ethical hacking’, in the world of software testing is a cybersecurity practice that involves simulating cyberattacks on computer systems, networks, or applications to identify and address security vulnerabilities.

Black box penetration testing, together with gray box penetration testing and white box penetration testing, makes up the three major methods in the field of penetration test.

In this article, LQA will give you a comprehensive guide to black box penetration testing and its difference from the other two.

What is black box penetration testing?

Black box penetration testing definition

Black box testing in penetration testing is a security assessment where testers, with no prior knowledge of the system, simulate real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities from an external perspective.

The goal of black box penetration testing is to assess the system’s resilience to external threats and provide recommendations for improvement.

Key characteristics of black box testing

• Limited knowledge: Testers have little to no knowledge of the internal workings, code, or architecture of the system being tested.
• External perspective: Testing is conducted from an external viewpoint, simulating how an external attacker with no insider information would approach the system.
• Objective evaluation: Testing is conducted from an external viewpoint, assessing an app’s resistance to external threats without bias from internal knowledge.
• Real-world simulation: The goal is to simulate real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses that could be exploited by external threats.

When your organization might need this type of pen test?

With the above characteristics of back box penetration testing, there are various scenarios when your organization might need this type of pen test. Common scenarios are:

• Early vulnerability detection: Use this type of pen test when your business wants to unveil vulnerabilities at the initial stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC) and address issues before they escalate into significant security concerns.
• Compliance & regulatory obligations: When industry regulations or compliance standards mandate regular security assessments, black box testing can help meet these requirements by providing an unbiased evaluation.
• Real-world simulation: A black box approach helps assess your application, infrastructure, or network in a setting that closely mirrors a real-life attack scenario.
• Third-party vendor assessment: Before onboarding a new third-party service or vendor, conducting black box testing helps ensure the security of their external-facing systems.

Black-box vs. Gray-box vs. White-box Penetration Testing 

You may want to take a wider look at black box, white box. and gray box testing before digging into these software testing methods in the niche of cybersecurity testing.

Aspect	Black box testing	White box testing	Grey box testing
Knowledge of internal details	Minimal to none	Comprehensive (full access)	Partial (limited internal information)
Testing perspective	External (simulates real attacks)	Internal (assumes insider knowledge)	Blend of external and limited internal
Realism	High (simulates external threats)	Moderate (assumes some insider knowledge)	Balanced realism and efficiency
Pre-engagement information	Limited preparation required	Detailed internal information needed	Moderate preparation required
Focus	External threats	Internal and external threats	Both internal and external threats
Use cases	External security assessment	Application and internal network testing	Third-party vendor assessment, balancing realism and efficiency
Efficiency	Quick start	May consume more time as detailed internal knowledge required	Balanced efficiency and realism

 

Advantages and disadvantages of black box penetration testing

Below are the most common advantages and disadvantages of black box pen test during a penetration testing engagement.

Advantages of black box penetration testing

• Realistic testing: Assess your application, infrastructure, or network in a setting that closely mirrors a real-life attack scenario.
• Unbiased evaluation: Testing is conducted from an external viewpoint, eliminating insider bias from internal knowledge.
• Quick start: Back box testing doesn’t require testers to learn about the internal structure of software, hence allowing a quick start.
• Cost saving: It may be cheaper to conduct a black box penetration test compared to other pen testing types, as it doesn’t require much time and resources needed for preparation.
• Reduced chances of overlooking external vulnerabilities: As penetration testers don’t have prior access to the system blueprints and processes, the chances of testers focusing on a specific set of external vulnerabilities and missing out on others are often low.

Disadvantages of black box penetration testing

• Limited understanding of internal controls: The testing team has restricted knowledge of the internal workings, potentially missing nuanced vulnerabilities that require internal context.
• Overlooking internal vulnerabilities: The external focus may result in missing certain internal vulnerabilities that could be identified with more internal knowledge.
• Lack of context: While efficient, the quick start may come at the cost of lacking context for a more nuanced evaluation of internal security measures.

Common Black-box Penetration Testing Techniques

Enumeration

Enumeration is about listing test targets for comprehensive testing.

Enumeration involves identifying and listing all possible test targets, such as IP addresses, services, and applications, to create a comprehensive inventory for testing.

It helps testers understand the scope of the system and potential points of entry.

Full port scanning

Full port scanning is crucial for mapping out the entire attack surface and discovering hidden services that might be overlooked with selective scanning.

Full port scanning is a specific scanning technique that involves checking all possible ports on a target system for open and closed statuses. This comprehensive approach helps identify services running on each port, providing insights into potential entry points for attackers.

Fuzzing

Fuzzing, or fuzz tests, is an automated testing technique that injects malformed or random inputs into an application that the application is not designed to handle.

The purpose of fuzz tests is to detect crashes, errors, memory leaks, and different behavior than expected.

Exploratory testing

Exploratory testing is when you perform tests with minimal predefined test plans and test cases and without an expectation or specific outcome.

Exploratory testing uses a dynamic and unscripted approach with the idea of letting the outcomes of one test guide the others.

This particularly works in black-box penetration testing, in which testers have no idea about the internal workings of the system.

Vulnerability scanning

Vulnerability scanning is an automated technique that systematically identifies and evaluates potential vulnerabilities within the target system, network, or application.

In vulnerability scanning, testers leverage automated tools to scan for common vulnerabilities in the target’s external-facing components.

This type of black-box pen test provides a quick and efficient way to identify potential security issues, such as outdated software, misconfigurations, or known vulnerabilities.

Exploitation

Exploitation involves attempting to exploit identified vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or compromise the target’s security.

During exploitation, testers simulate real-world attacks, crafting malicious requests to exploit weaknesses in the system’s defenses. This process demonstrates the potential impact of successful exploitation and assesses the overall security resilience of the target

Black Box Penetration Testing Steps

A black box pen test process often goes through 8 steps as below.

1. Scoping the test

In this stage of the penetration test, the team defines the scope of the test, outlining the specific systems, applications, or networks to assess.

They also establish rules of engagement, setting guidelines and limitations for the testing process.

2. Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance involves gathering information about the target system, typically publicly known information such as domain names, employee information, IP addresses, and network configurations.

The purpose of the reconnaissance step is to collect publicly known information about the target system to lay the foundation for subsequent testing phases.

3. Scanning & enumeration

Post reconnaissance, testers conduct a further step to identify additional technical data about the target system, such as types of running software, operating system details, connected systems, user accounts, and user roles.

The step aims to enhance the tester’s understanding and inform subsequent testing actions.

4. Vulnerability discovery

Utilize gathered information in previous steps, testers identify public vulnerabilities in the public components target systems and networks. This involves searching for known common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) in system components, versions, or third-party applications.

5. Exploitation

At this stage, pen testers craft malicious requests or use social engineering techniques to exploit the identified vulnerabilities actively. The objective is to penetrate the system efficiently and navigate to the core.

6. Privilege escalation

After gaining initial access, testers attempt to escalate privileges to achieve complete control over the system and database.

This stage is crucial for assessing the potential impact of a successful attack and understanding the extent of compromised access.

7. Reporting and communicating

After completing black box penetration testing, the test team comprehensively documents findings, outlining discovered vulnerabilities, exploitation methods, and potential risks.

Then, the test team presents a clear and actionable report, providing insights for stakeholders on areas of concern and recommended remediation steps.

8. Remediation and follow-up

At the remediation stage, the test team and stakeholders coordinate to fix and address identified vulnerabilities.

Follow-up assessments should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of remediation efforts and ensure a more secure environment.

How To Choose The Right Pen Test Provider?

There are cases when a company lacks internal capabilities for implementing penetration tests and seeks outsourcing. In such instances, choosing the right provider is crucial to delivering the expected outcomes.

Here are LQA’s suggestions for choosing the right pen test vendor:

• Prioritize providers with expertise in your industry and familiarity with your specific systems and technologies.
• Look for a provider willing to customize their testing approach to address your company’s unique security concerns and priorities.
• Consider the vendor’s price-to-quality commitment, which assesses the cost of the services in relation to the value offered.
• Investigate the provider’s reputation by reviewing testimonials, case studies, and online feedback from previous clients.
• Emphasize the provider’s commitment to ethical hacking practices and integrity in handling sensitive information to ensure a trustworthy collaboration.
• Your vendor should also communicate clearly, detailing their methodologies, findings, and recommendations in a way that is easily understandable for your team.

Black Box Penetration Testing by LQA

Enhancing cybersecurity testing involves engaging a specialized security firm to assess your business’s vulnerabilities and deliver a detailed report with recommended solutions, a crucial step in preventing cyber attacks.

Having more than 7 years of experience, and as the pioneering independent software testing company in Vietnam, LQA stands out as a prominent software quality and security assurance firm, offering a complete range of penetration testing services to fortify businesses against security threats.

Alongside black box penetration testing services, LQA provides comprehensive software testing services including white box, black box, web application, mobile application, API, manual, and automation testing services.

At LQA, we maintain up-to-date expertise on the latest threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities, employing industry-leading tools to conduct comprehensive penetration tests.

Frequently Asked Questions about Black Box Penetration Testing

1. What is the timeline for black-box penetration testing?

The timeline for black-box penetration testing can vary based on factors such as the scope, complexity of the target environment, and the specific testing objectives.

Below is a typical timeline for black box penetration testing:

• Planning: 1 – 2 weeks
• Target system’s information gathering: 1 – 2 weeks
• Execution: 1 – 2 weeks
• Reporting: 1 week
• Communicate reports: 1 day

2. What is more costly: black box or white box penetration testing?

The cost comparison between black box and white box penetration testing is context-dependent. For example:

• In case you develop the system in-house and have an internal test team who deeply understands the internal structure of the system, you can quickly kick off white box testing with minimal preparation. On the contrary, black box testing demands additional time and resources for information gathering, potentially costing more.
• In another scenario, where a legacy system lacks documentation and internal teams lack technical insights, white box testing may become more expensive. This is because it necessitates a substantial investment in understanding the system, while black box testing can commence more promptly.

3. What is the difference between gray-box and black-box penetration testing?

Black box penetration testing requires no knowledge of the internal workings of the target system. Meanwhile, gray box penetration testing requires partial knowledge of the internal workings of the target system.

Final Notes On Black Box Penetration Testing

Black box penetration testing is among the three major pen test approaches: black box, grey box, and white box. Among them, the black box method serves as an independent and objective method, simulating real-world cyber threats without prior knowledge of the system’s internal workings.

If you are looking for experts in conducting black box testing services, don’t hesitate to contact LQA’s security testing team.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, safeguarding software integrity is a top priority. White box penetration testing is a crucial cornerstone in the proactive defense strategy against emerging cyber threats. This detailed testing approach offers a unique viewpoint, much like a hacker’s perspective from inside the system, enabling a thorough exploration of potential vulnerabilities deeply embedded within the software. 

As the digital world continues to expand and evolve, so do the sophisticated techniques of cyber attackers, white box penetration testing serves as a crucial tool in staying ahead of these threats by revealing weaknesses in the system’s core, allowing for proactive reinforcement of security measures.

Understanding the pivotal role of this method within software quality assurance is essential, as it not only identifies existing vulnerabilities but empowers organizations to proactively strengthen their software, fostering resilience against potential breaches and cyber-attacks.

 

What Is White Box Penetration Testing?

White box penetration testing definition, referred to as clear box or structural testing, is a technique that grants the tester access to the internal structure of the system to replicate a hacker’s actions and uncover potential vulnerabilities. This method provides a comprehensive understanding of the application, identifying all possible entry points into the system.

White box pentest is frequently employed to examine a system’s essential parts, particularly by companies that develop their software products, or integrate multiple applications. It is a method to evaluate a system’s security by assessing its capability to withstand various real-time attacks.

 

Benefits of White Box Penetration Testing

An efficient white box penetration test helps avoid the issues, errors, and oversights that can leave your businesses vulnerable to hackers. Let’s explore more benefits of white-box penetration testing:

• Comprehensive oversights of possible issues: White box penetration testing offers the most comprehensive analysis of internal and external vulnerabilities from the internal point of view, which is not available to typical attackers.
• Early detection: White box penetration testing is integrated into the early development stages, when there is no user interface, and even before the software application is available to users, which enables detecting the vulnerabilities at a very early stage.
• Extensive testing coverage: White box penetration testing can identify weaknesses in areas that are unreachable for black box testing, for instance, an app’s source code, design, and business logic.
• Precise identification of weaknesses: Since testers have detailed knowledge of the internal workings of the system, they can pinpoint specific weaknesses, potential security gaps, and flaws in the code logic. This level of detail often leads to more accurate identification of vulnerabilities.

Disadvantages of White Box Testing

Despite all the appealing advantages, white box penetration testing shows some drawbacks in certain situations:

• High programming language requirements: Implementing white-box penetration testing involves internal network testing, which requires the testers to be familiar with critical programming tasks, like performing port scanning, SQL injection, and common attacks. By this, they will have a better understanding of the potential access points.
• Limited real-world simulation: White box testing operates with complete knowledge of the system, which doesn’t accurately replicate real-world attack scenarios where attackers have limited or no knowledge. This approach might overlook vulnerabilities that would be apparent to external attackers working with less information.
• Risk of biased testing: Testers, armed with complete system details, might inadvertently focus on known weaknesses or areas they are more familiar with, potentially overlooking other vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers with different perspectives.

 

Black Box, Grey Box and White Box Penetration Testing Differences

Black box, grey box and white box testing are all types of penetration testing – the practice of testing a computer system, network, or web app to find issues, errors, and vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit. 

 

To help you distinguish between black box, grey box and white box penetration testing, understand the benefits and limitations of each type, and when to apply it to get the best results, we have summarized it in the following comparison table:

Aspects	Black box penetration testing	Grey box penetration testing	White box penetration testing
Level of knowledge requirement	Require little or no knowledge of infrastructure and network	Require basic knowledge of the internal codebase, architecture, and infrastructure	Allow complete access to knowledge about the system’s infrastructure, codebase, and network
Level of programming language requirement	Require no syntactic knowledge of the programming language	Require a basic comprehension of the programming language	Require high and professional understanding of programming language
Standard techniques	Boundary value analysis, Graph-Based testing, Equivalence partitioning, etc	Regression testing, Pattern testing, Matrix testing, Orthogonal array testing, etc	Decision coverage, Path testing, Branch testing, Statement coverage, etc
Advantages	– Mimics real-world attacks – Provides an outsider’s perspective – Encourages creative problem-solving	– Balances realism and deeper insights – Enables access to some internal system knowledge – Optimize time and resources	– Understands thoroughly of the system’s internals – Delivers comprehensive coverage of system security – Pinpoints vulnerabilities in code and architecture
Disadvantages	– Limited insight into internal structures – Incomplete view of vulnerabilities – Possible overlook of certain critical vulnerabilities	– Restricted insight compared to White Box – Dependent on available information – Possible miss of certain system areas	– Time-consuming due to in-depth analysis – Costly due to skilled personnel and time- Prone to false positives if not done carefully
When to use	– Simulating external threats – Testing overall security posture – Assessing response to unknown attackers	– Balancing depth and efficiency – Targeted testing with some internal insights – Limited access but need for deeper insight	– Assessing specific system components – Analyzing code, architecture, and design – Identifying and fixing intricate flaws

 

The selection of Black Box, Grey Box, or White Box Penetration Testing depends on the level of internal knowledge required, the depth of the assessment needed, and the specific objectives of your security testing rpojects. It’s often beneficial to employ a combination of these methodologies for a comprehensive security assessment based on the unique needs of the system or software being evaluated.

 

White Box Penetration Testing Techniques

When it comes to software security testing, security testing white box techniques review source code (the internal structure of the software application) to detect gaps that can make an application vulnerable to cybersecurity threats.

One of the main goals of white box penetration testing is to cover the complete source code as extensively as possible. Three main types of techniques for use in white box penetration testing include Path coverage, Statement coverage, and Branch coverage.

Path coverage

This white box test methodology pays attention to all the paths. The path is a flow of execution that follows a set of instructions. The path coverage examines all possible paths of the software and ensures each path is traversed at least once. The path coverage is far more powerful than the branch coverage and is useful for testing complicated builds.

 

Statement coverage

Statement methodology checks if each functionality was tested one time. A statement indicates a functionality or set of actions for the application to decode depending on its programming language. 

An executable statement is when the statement is put together and transformed into an object code, which will subsequently execute the action it was designed for. It helps to uncover unused or missing statements and branches as well as leftover dead codes.

The statement coverage evaluates if each line of code is executed at least once and helps find unnecessary or missing lines.

 

Branch coverage

A branch is one of many execution paths that the code can take after processing a decision statement like an if statement. This method is to confirm that all branch codes are tested.

The branch coverage is tested to check whether all branches in a codebase are exercised by tests and no branch leads to abnormal behavior of the application. It maps the code into branches of conditional logic and ensures that all branches are covered by unit tests.

One should ascertain that all codes have been launched at least once.

 

Common White Box Penetration Testing Tools

Several common tools/libraries employed in white-box penetration testing include:

1. Metasploit: Penetration testers utilize Metasploit to create and authenticate exploit code before deploying it in real-world scenarios. It’s instrumental for network security testing or remote system intrusion.
2. Nmap: As an open-source network administration tool, Nmap monitors network connections and scans extensive networks, aiding in host and service auditing as well as intrusion detection. It offers packet-level and scan-level analysis and is freely available for download.
3. PyTest: Pytest, a comprehensive Python testing tool, facilitates writing more efficient programs, supporting test-driven development (TDD) and behavior-driven development (BDD).
4. NUnit: NUnit is an open-source unit testing framework beneficial for the .NET Framework and Mono, aiding in writing better code and reducing application bugs.
5. John the Ripper: This fast password cracker identifies weak Unix passwords and is compatible with various operating systems such as Unix, Windows, DOS, BeOS, and OpenVMS. John the Ripper supports multiple password hash types commonly found in Unix systems and other patches contributed by users.
6. Wireshark: Functioning as a network traffic analyzer, Wireshark enables monitoring and analyzing traffic within system networks. It is open-source and widely recognized as the foremost network analyzer globally, primarily used by network administrators and professionals to troubleshoot network and system performance issues and filter various network protocols.

The tools employed in white-box penetration testing are similar to those used in other penetration tests, but the methodology for employing these tools differs significantly.

Essential White Box Penetration Testing Steps

A process of software white box penetration testing comprises the following steps:

Source code review

The initial step is understanding the internal structure and functionality of a target software application. This crucial step requires a test engineer to review thoroughly the software’s source code, and understand clearly how it works in order to set the foundation for designing test cases that will help encounter security weaknesses.

 

Select the testing areas

After understanding completely the software’s internal structure and how it functions, the next step is determining the areas that need to be tested. 

As the test aims to encompass every potential scenario for running code systematically, it proves more effective to explore the numerous possibilities within a smaller area rather than a larger one, as the latter wouldn’t ensure the same comprehensive coverage.

Covering a vast area is feasible, yet it demands significant effort, resources, and labor for test coverage. Consequently, it’s not recommended to execute this extensive coverage only on demand. For instance, it becomes essential in situations where it’s crucial to safeguard every aspect of the system; in such cases, it would be deemed necessary.

 

Code & flowchart identification

This step adds a structured approach to the white box penetration testing by visually mapping the code execution process, facilitating a more organized and systematic analysis of the system’s functionalities.

• Identify potential code lines: Thoroughly examine the system and identify all possible code segments associated with the functionalities or aspects under test. This involves a comprehensive review of the codebase, focusing on critical areas that could be potential sources of vulnerabilities.
• Create a flow chart: Outline the flow of the identified code segments. Create a flow chart or diagram to represent the flow of code execution, including input points, processing stages, and output results.
• Output tracing: Document and trace the output of each code segment within the flow chart. This helps in understanding how inputs are processed and how outputs are generated, aiding in the identification of potential vulnerabilities and understanding the system’s behavior.

 

Design test cases

Designing test cases is a pivotal phase in white box penetration testing, involving the creation of detailed scenarios for every identified code segment and system functionality. 

Each test case outlines potential vulnerabilities, failure points, and specific testing procedures. It includes boundary testing, attack scenario simulations, and meticulous recording of testing outcomes to comprehensively evaluate the system’s security posture and ensure a systematic approach to identifying and addressing vulnerabilities.

 

Execute testing 

The execution phase in white box security testing involves putting the devised plans into action, rigorously conducting tests according to the outlined strategies, and repeatedly iterating through the testing process until all identified systems are thoroughly examined, leaving no vulnerabilities unchecked.

This phase includes comprehensive testing, meticulous documentation of findings, validation of vulnerabilities, and continual refinement of testing procedures to ensure the system’s robust security against potential threats.

 

Reporting 

Compile a detailed report that includes identified vulnerabilities, their potential impact, and recommendations for mitigation. This report should prioritize vulnerabilities based on their severity and guide how to address them.

 

Continuous improvement

Security is an ongoing process. Continuous monitoring, regular security assessments, and improvement in policies and practices are essential to maintain a robust security posture.

 

White Box Penetration Testing by LQA

Enhancing cybersecurity testing involves engaging a specialized security firm to assess your business’s vulnerabilities and deliver a detailed report with recommended solutions, a crucial step in preventing cyber attacks.

Having more than 7 years of experience, and as the pioneering independent software QA in Vietnam, LQA stands out as a prominent IT quality and security assurance firm, offering a complete range of penetration testing services to fortify businesses against security threats.

Alongside white box penetration testing services, LQA provides comprehensive software testing services including white box, black box, web application, mobile application, API, manual, and automation testing services.

At LQA, we maintain up-to-date expertise on the latest threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities, employing industry-leading tools to conduct comprehensive penetration tests.

Key features of LQA’s white box cyber security solution:

• Comprehensive software QA solutions covering consulting, planning, execution, and ongoing support.
• Ensured bug rate lower than 3% for devices, mobile, and web applications.
• Rapid delivery facilitated by a diverse pool of proficient testers.
• Optimal price-to-quality ratio, leveraging cost benefits and expertise of Vietnamese IT human resources.
• Tailored solutions based on industry-specific experience.
• Maximum security ensured through a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) and best security practices during database access.

Connect with LQA’s experts to safeguard your data and assets from potential hackers today!

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Haptic Feedback

1. What is white box penetration testing?

White box penetration testing is a comprehensive security assessment method where testers have complete access to the internal architecture, design, and system details of the target. In this approach, the tester possesses full knowledge of the system’s infrastructure, including source code, network diagrams, and system configurations.

2. What is a white box penetration testing example?

An example of a white box test could involve analyzing the source code of a web application to identify vulnerabilities. Testers would scrutinize the code, look for potential security flaws, and examine the database structure and application logic to uncover weaknesses in the system.

3. What are black box grey box and white box penetration testing?

Black box, grey box, and white box penetration testing are distinct approaches used in security assessments to evaluate the vulnerabilities of a system. Here are the brief definitions of each type of penetration testing:

• Black box penetration testing: A security testing method where testers have no prior knowledge of the system. They approach it as an external hacker would, without any internal information about the system’s architecture or design.
• Grey box penetration testing: A security testing method where testers have partial knowledge of the system, such as limited access or some details about the internal architecture. This approach combines elements of both white and black box testing.
• White box penetration testing: A security testing method where testers have complete access to the internal architecture, design, and system details of the target. Testers possess full knowledge of the system’s infrastructure, including source code, network diagrams, and system configurations.

4. What is the difference between black box and white box penetration testing?

The main difference between black box vs white box penetration testing lies in the level of information and access the testers have. White box testing involves complete access to the internal structure, code, and system design. On the other hand, black box testing operates without any knowledge of the internal system; testers approach it as an external attacker.

5. What is more costly black box or white box penetration testing?

Typically, white box penetration testing is more resource-intensive and thus can be more costly. It demands a higher level of expertise, time, and resources due to the need for in-depth knowledge of the system’s internal workings, including analysis and evaluation of code, architecture, and configurations.

6. What is the white box penetration testing methodology?

White box penetration testing is not just a single test but a methodology involving a structured and systematic approach. It involves various steps such as reconnaissance, scanning, vulnerability assessment, exploitation, and reporting. The white box security testing methodologies focus on a deep dive into the internal workings of a system to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities and security risks. White box testing is an essential part of a comprehensive security assessment, ensuring a thorough evaluation of system security from an insider’s perspective, and it plays a crucial role in strengthening the overall security posture of an organization’s infrastructure.

 

Final Thoughts About Whitebox Penetration Test

White box penetration testing serves as an effective method to strengthen software security. The level of complexity varies based on the application under assessment. Evaluating a small application that conducts straightforward operations is a swift process, often taking only a few minutes. However, larger applications necessitate significantly more time, ranging from days to weeks or even months.

Conducting these tests is crucial during the software development phase, both after its initial writing and following any subsequent modifications. Integrating white box penetration testing into your security strategy is pivotal, as it aids in preventing mistakes and oversights that could potentially expose your company to cyber threats.

If you are looking for experts in conducting white box testing for your IT environment or apps to check if they’re secure, don’t hesitate to contact LQA’s security testing team.

 

In today’s software development, quality assurance (QA) has solidified its position as an integral component to guarantee flawless software. The evolving landscape of websites and applications constantly necessitates more efficient QA measurements. This is where QA metrics come in to make QA processes more systematic and efficient!

In this article, we will delve into 12 absolute QA metrics and 7 derived QA metrics that will help you maximize the effectiveness of your test process and the productivity of the QA team.

QA Fundamentals: What is QA Testing

Quality Assurance (QA) in software development refers to the systematic process of ensuring that the final product meets specified requirements and standards. It involves comprehensive testing, identifying defects, and ensuring that the software functions smoothly before reaching the end users.

In the software development life cycle, QA plays a pivotal role. From the initial stages of requirement analysis to the final product launch, QA teams combine manual and automation testing methods to ensure the software aligns with the envisioned goals. They work closely with developers, detecting bugs and issues early, which minimizes costs and guarantees a higher-quality end product.

QA Metrics Fundamentals

What are QA metrics?

QA metrics are measurable standards used to measure and monitor the quality of the deliverables, processes, and outcomes.

For example, numbers of determined/passed/failed/blocked test cases.

QA metrics make QA processes more systematic and efficient. By quantifying key parameters such as test coverage, defect rates, productivity, and more, QA metrics aid in making informed decisions, mitigating risks, and continuously improving the software development process to align with QA goals and objectives. 

Types of QA metrics

There are two major categories of software QA metrics: quantitative metrics (absolute number) and qualitative metrics (derived metrics).

• Quantitative metrics: Quantitative metrics are absolute numerical values that measure specific aspects like the number of defects found, the number of test cases executed, or the percentage of code coverage.
• Qualitative metrics: Qualitative metrics are derived numbers that evaluate the effectiveness and quality of processes and products. They involve analyzing trends, patterns, and data relationships to draw meaningful insights.

At LQA, our testing team excels in both categories, leveraging quantitative metrics for precise measurements and qualitative metrics for deeper insights into the overall software quality and testing effectiveness.

Why Do QA Testing Metrics Matter?

Of course, a software quality assurance process can function without specific QA test metrics. Yet, the presence of precise QA metrics significantly elevates QA’s effectiveness and efficiency by providing measurable insights into the testing process and product quality.

QA metrics in agile empower project managers and decision-makers to

• allocate resources effectively,
• manage timelines,
• ensure a smoother development process.

These metrics enhance the software’s overall quality and streamline development workflows, leading to successful project outcomes.

Also read: Top countries for software quality assurance services

Types of Quantitative Metrics

Quantitative metrics, in particular, offer a clear and numerical insight into the various dimensions of the testing process, ranging from testing coverage to defect identification and overall efficiency.

Top-used quantitative QA metrics examples include:

• Total number of test cases
• Number of passed test cases
• Number of failed test cases
• Number of blocked test cases
• Number of identified bugs
• Number of accepted bugs
• Number of rejected bugs
• Number of deferred bugs
• Number of critical bugs
• Number of determined test hours
• Number of actual test hours
• Number of bugs detected after release

Gain a practical guide to test case design with examples with our blog: Test case design techniques. 

Types of Derived QA Metrics

Derived QA metrics, a step beyond quantitative metrics, are derived from various quantitative data points collected during the software testing process.

At LQA, besides absolute numbers, we often implement derivative QA metrics to help clients get a better grip on the effectiveness and thoroughness of testing efforts.

Test coverage

Test coverage measures how much of the software has been tested. It ensures that all critical parts of the software are verified.

Below are common test coverage metrics:

• Percentage of code coverage: The proportion of lines of code tested compared to the total lines of code, reflecting the thoroughness of testing.
• Percentage of requirements coverage: The percentage of requirements addressed by test cases, indicating requirement validation.
• Percentage of critical paths tested: The critical paths executed out of the total possible paths in the software, revealing critical path coverage.
• Percentage of high-risk modules covered: The high-risk modules tested compared to the total high-risk modules identified, indicating risk mitigation.
• Percentage of interfaces tested: The interfaces tested compared to the total interfaces in the software, ensuring proper integration testing.

Test effort

Test effort metrics evaluate the human and time resources invested in various testing activities, providing insights into the efficiency and resource allocation.

Typical metrics to measure test effort:

• Total person-hours spent on testing: The sum of hours each team member has spent on testing, reflecting the overall effort invested.
• Average time to design a test case: The total time spent on test case design divided by the number of test cases designed, indicating design efficiency.
• Average time to execute a test case: The total time spent on test case execution divided by the number of test cases executed, revealing execution efficiency.
• Time spent on defect management: The total time spent on defect handling divided by the number of defects found, showing defect resolution efficiency.
• Time spent on test environment setup: The total time spent on setting up the test environment divided by the number of test cycles, indicating environment setup efficiency.

Test execution

Test execution metrics provide an overview of completed tests and those awaiting execution. When recording test results, testers often classify them as passed, failed, or blocked.

Typical metrics for test execution:

• Number of test cases executed: The total count of test cases executed during a testing phase, reflecting the scope of testing.
• Execution time per test case: The total execution time divided by the number of test cases executed, indicating the efficiency of test case execution.
• Number of test cases automated: The count of test cases automated out of the total, revealing automation coverage.
• Number of passed/failed test cases: The count of test cases passed or failed, indicating test success.
• Number of test case iterations: The number of times a test case is repeated or iterated, revealing reusability and robustness of the test case.

Defect distribution

Defect distribution metrics provide insights into the distribution of defects across different mediums. Hence, aiding in identifying common sources for potential improvement.

Here are common defect distribution metrics:

• Number of defects per module/component: The count of defects identified in each module or component, aiding in defect prioritization and resource allocation.
• Defects categorized by severity: The count of defects categorized by severity levels such as critical, major, and minor, aiding in priority-based resolution.
• Defects categorized by functionality: The count of defects categorized by functionality like UI, database, and security, aiding in targeted testing.
• Number of defects by testing phase: The count of defects detected in different testing phases like unit testing and system testing, aiding in process evaluation.
• Defect distribution by cause: Defect distribution by cause involves categorizing defects based on their origin or cause, providing insights into areas for improvement.

Defect detection and recovery

Defect detection and recovery metrics measure the efficiency of defect detection and the speed of recovery processes, ensuring effective defect resolution.

Here are useful metrics for defect detection and recovery:

• Defects found per hour of testing: The count of defects identified per hour of testing, reflecting detection efficiency.
• Average time taken to detect a defect: For example, if it took 100 hours to detect 20 defects, the average time to detect a defect is 100/20= 5 hours. Moreover, for a quick and accurate average of the time use the average calculator by Allmath without using any formula.
• Time taken to recover from a defect: The time taken to recover or resolve a defect, reflecting defect resolution efficiency.
• Number of retests after defect fixes: The count of retests conducted after defect fixes, indicating the need for revalidation.
• Defect reoccurrence rate: The percentage of defects that reoccur after being marked as resolved, indicating the stability of defect resolution.

Test team metrics

Test team metrics assess the productivity, efficiency, and performance of the testing team, aiding in team management and resource allocation.

Here are popular QA metrics to evaluate a test team:

• Team productivity: The rate at which test cases or components are developed or executed by the team members, reflecting team efficiency.
• Number of defects logged by each team member: The count of defects logged by each team member, aiding in defect tracking and individual performance evaluation.
• Test case execution rate per team member: The rate at which test cases are executed by each team member, indicating execution efficiency.
• Number of test environments set up by each team member: The count of test environments set up by each team member, reflecting efficiency in environment management.
• Defects validated per team member: The count of defects validated or verified by each team member, indicating validation efficiency.

Test economy

Test economy provides insights into the cost-effectiveness and financial aspects of the testing process, aiding in budgeting and cost optimization.

Below are commonly used test economics metrics:

• Cost per test case: The cost incurred for testing each test case, aiding in cost allocation and optimization.
• Total cost of testing per module/component: The total cost incurred for testing each module or component, aiding in budgeting and resource allocation.
• Cost per defect found and fixed: The cost incurred for finding and fixing each defect, aiding in defect management efficiency.
• Return on investment (ROI) of testing efforts: The ratio of the benefits gained from testing efforts to the cost invested in testing, reflecting the effectiveness of testing.
• Cost of testing as a percentage of the total project cost: The percentage of the total project cost attributed to testing, aiding in project budgeting and financial planning.

These quantitative QA metrics provide measurable data corresponding to each derivative QA metric, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of the testing process.

Frequently Asked Questions for QA Metrics

1. What are quality standards for QA?

Quality standards for QA involve predefined criteria and benchmarks that a product or process must meet to ensure its quality.

These standards can encompass various aspects such as functionality, reliability, performance, usability, security, and compliance with industry regulations. They provide a clear framework for evaluating and assuring the quality of software throughout the development life cycle.

2. How do you measure quality in QA?

Measuring quality in QA involves a comprehensive evaluation of the software against predefined quality standards. This assessment is facilitated through a variety of quantitative and qualitative metrics in this blog.

Quantitative metrics include aspects like the number of defects, test coverage, and performance metrics. Qualitative metrics involve assessing user experience, feedback, and adherence to design guidelines.

A combination of these metrics offers a holistic view of the software’s quality.

3. How is QA productivity measured?

QA productivity is measured through various quantitative metrics that evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the QA process. These metrics include:

• the number of test cases executed
• defects detected
• test coverage achieved
• time taken for testing.
• person-hours spent on testing
• test case execution rates

Final Thoughts on QA Metrics

QA metrics help managers estimate the efficiency and effectiveness of test procedures. Embracing both quantitative and qualitative metrics yields a multitude of benefits. From cost-efficiency and resource optimization to product-market fit assurance, these metrics align development efforts with strategic goals.

Have an idea of outsourcing software testing in mind? Our insights will help:

• Top software testing companies in 2023
• Practical case studies for offshore software testing

In the field of software testing, there are many software Testing methods applied today. In this article, we will share three basic methods that are most commonly applied and its advantages and disadvantages. They are black box testing, white box testing. and gray box testing.

1. Black Box Testing Method

1.1. Black Box Testing Method – Definition

Black box testing is a method of software testing that examines the functionality of an application (eg: what the software does) without peering into its internal structures or workings

1.2. Black Box Testing Method – Advantages:

• Testers will not need to understand any code knowledge.
• Can find more bugs.
• Testing is done independently by developers, allowing objective views.

1.3. Black Box Testing Method – Disadvantages:

• Only a small number of inputs can be checked and many program paths or few sections will not be checked.
• The tests may be redundant if the software designer / developer has run the test.

2. White Box Testing Method

2.1. White Box Testing Method – Definition

White box testing (also known as clear box testing, glass box testing, transparent box testing or structural testing) is a method of testing software that tests internal structures or workings off an application, as opposed to black box testing.

While white box testing can be applied at the unit, integration and system levels of the software testing process, it is usually done at the unit level.

2.2. White Box Testing Method – Advantages:

• Automate easily
• Provide clear technical-based rules when stopping testing.
• Forcing testing experts to think carefully about error testing so the bug will be thorough.

2.3. White Box Testing Method – Disadvantages

• It takes time and effort.
• There will still be errors.
• Testing by this method requires extensive experience and expertise in testing.

3. Gray Box Testing Method

3.1. Gray Box Testing Method – Definition

Gray box testing is a combination of white box testing and black box testing. The aim of this testing is to search for the defects if any due to improper structure or improper usage of applications.

3.2. Gray Box Testing Method – Advantages:

• It is a combination of black and white box testing, so might be more optimal.

• Testing by gray box method can design complex test scenarios in a smarter way.

3.3. Gray Box Testing Method – Disadvantages:

• It is difficult to link errors when performing a gray box test for a distributed system application.

4. Comparison Between 3 Software Testing Methodologies

Black-Box Testing	Grey-Box Testing	White-Box Testing
The internal workings of an application is necessary	The tester has limited knowledge of the internal workings of the application.	Tester has full knowledge of the internal workings of the application.
Performed by end-users and also by testers and developers.	Performed by end-users and also by testers and developers.	Normally done by testers and developers.
Testing is based on external expectations – Internal behavior of the application is unknown.	Testing is done on the basis of high-level database diagrams and data flow diagrams.	Internal workings are fully known and the tester can design test data accordingly.
It is exhaustive and the least time-consuming.	Partly time-consuming and exhaustive.	The most exhaustive and time-consuming type of testing.
Not suited for algorithm testing.	Not suited for algorithm testing.	Suited for algorithm testing.

Above are the 3 most basic software testing methods that any programmer needs to know. Choosing which method depends on the ability as well as the project you carry out.

Final Thoughts on Software Testing Methods

The diverse landscape of software testing methods plays a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability, functionality, and user satisfaction of software products. 

By strategically incorporating Black Box, White Box and Gray Box testing approaches, development teams can uncover issues early, enhance overall software quality, and deliver products that meet both user expectations and industry standards. Embracing this trinity of testing methods empowers developers to navigate the complexities of modern software development with confidence and precision.

Should you have any questions related to methods of testing, contact us for further support.

Lotus Quality Assurance (LQA)

• Tel: (+84) 24-6660-7474
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.lotus-qa.com/

Frequently Asked Questions about Methods of Testing

 

 

Quality assurance (QA) is always of paramount importance to any IT business as it can make or break an IT product or service. That’s why millions of IT firms outsource software testing to top software testing companies to ensure the highest caliber for their web apps, mobile apps, and electronic devices.

Among a handful of software testing companies, we have delved deep, synthesized, and analyzed data to shortlist the top 10 trusted testing partners for businesses in all industries to pick and choose.

• Criteria for this list boil down to:
• Considerable years of experience (>5 years);
• Prestigious awards and global certification in testing;
• Verified client reviews (>4.7 average scores);
• Large-scale IT talent pool (>90 employees);
• Diverse domains, and technology expertise.

Let’s zoom in on juggernauts in software testing and honest reviews of their service!

Top 10 Software Testing Companies

1. Lotus Quality Assurance

Lotus Quality Assurance is the first independent Software Testing Company in Vietnam. Currently, we have subsidiaries in Japan & the United States to completely fulfill clients’ demands for quality assurance of diverse domains regardless of geographical distance.

During the years of operation, LQA has developed experience in industry specialization to best support our client’s growth. Thanks to the relentless efforts of our passionate and talented team throughout the years, we have earned trust from clients in the most demanding markets of the USA, Japan, Korea, and more.

Besides, belonging to LTS Group’s solution ecosystem, LQA can also provide software development services, becoming a one-stop destination for businesses when looking for technology or digital transformation solution.

• Headquarters: Vietnam.
• Founded year: 2016
• Employees: 300+
• Hourly rate: <25$ / hr
• Core Services: SW/HW integration testing, Mobile Application Testing, Automation Testing, Web Application Testing, Embedded Software Testing, Quality Assurance Consultation, QA Staff hiring, etc.
• Key Clients: TOSHIBA, Panasonic, Sk Telecom, LG Electronics, MB Bank, Infiniq, SQC, Perxtech, Verb Data, Ascentis, Qualcomm, Kick ID, etc.

• Rankings and International Certifications:

1. Top Vietnam IT Outsourcing Service in 2021 (Sao Khue Award – the most reliable and prestigious assessment program of Vietnam in the field of software and IT services)
2. ISTQB Silver Partner
3. #1 Software Testing Company In Vietnam recognized by Clutch

2. DeviQA

DeviQA is one of the well-known software testing outsourcing companies that collaborate with large enterprises and SMEs across diverse domains. Whether you need to set up a QA team from scratch, optimize an existing QA process, or scale up an in-house team, DeviQA is a global leader in Quality Assurance to go for.

• Headquarters: Poland
• Founded year: 2010
• Employees: 200+
• Hourly rate: $25 – $49 / hr
• Core Services: QA outsourcing, QA consulting, automation testing, manual testing, performance testing, functional testing, full cycle testing, mobile app testing, web app testing, API testing, etc
• Key Clients: Mimecast, Biznessapps, Sprinklr, WeHeartIt, SoftNas, UBTteam, Connexient, SimplePractise, etc
• Rankings and International Certifications:

1. ISO 9001:2015
2. ISO 20000:2018
3. ISO 27001:2013
4. Top Company for Software Testing in 2022 recognized by Clutch
5. Top 1000 Companies Global in 2022 recognized by Clutch
6. Leading Testing Providers in 2021 recognized by Software Testing News
7. Top QA & Software Testing Companies in 2020 recognized by techreviewer.co

3. QualityLogic

QualityLogic is a well-established and fast-growing software testing company. With over 30 years of experience in the QA industry, they yield seasoned testing experts for myriad companies working in multiple domains. QualityLogic supports businesses with QA processes and proven QA solutions.

• Headquarters: Idaho, USA.
• Founded year: 1986
• Employees: 51 – 200
• Hourly rate: $25 – $49 / hr
• Core Services: Mobile App Testing, Web App Testing, API Testing, etc.
• Key Clients: Verizon Wireless, Cisco, OpenADR, Hawaiian Electric, etc.
• Rankings and International Certifications:

1. Top Software Testing Company in 2023 recognized by Clutch
2. Top Software Testing Company in the United States (2023) identified by Clutch

4. QAMentor

QA Mentor is an award-winning software testing company headquartered in New York with 15 offices worldwide. Serving 437 clients from startups to Fortune 500 organizations in 28 countries and nine industries, QAMentor is a reliable partner when it comes to software testing services.

• Headquarters: New York, USA.
• Founded year: 2010
• Employees: 313
• Hourly rate: <$25/ hr
• Core Services: Mobile Testing, Functional Testing, Automation Testing, Compatibility Testing, Load/Stress/Performance Testing, Security/Penetration Testing, Crowdsourced Testing, Regression Testing, Migration Testing, Database Testing, API Testing, AI Testing, Internet of Things Testing, Big Data Testing.
• Key Clients: HSBC, Citi, Experian, Amazon, Zyto, BrainMatch, ChefMod, ITCInfotech, etc.
• Rankings and International Certifications:

1. CMMI Level 3 SVC + SSD v1.3 appraised;
2. ISO 27001:2013, ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 20000-1 certified;
3. 102 Industry Awards

5. A1QA

A1QA provides Software QA and Testing Services to critical players in the global market including Fortune 500 companies. The global presence gives A1QA an opportunity to deliver QA services in any time zone and comply with any project requirements.

• Headquarters: Colorado, USA.
• Founded year: 2003
• Employees: 1100+
• Hourly rate: $25 – $49 / hr
• Core Services: Full-cycle testing, Consulting, Web Applications, Automation, etc.
  Key Clients: Adidas, QIWI, Pearson, Kaspersky, InterCall, Equisys, ForexClub, etc.
• Rankings and International Certifications:

1. ISO 9001:2015
2. ISO 27001:2013
3. Agile certifications: PMI – ACP (Agile Certified Practioner)
4. PMP certification (Project Management Professional)
5. IAOP Global Outsourcing 100 in 2023 recognized by Forrester
6. Leading Testing Providers 2023 recognized by Software Testing News
7. Globee Awards Gold Winner (IT World Awards Information Technology Cyber Security)
8. Top Software Testing Companies recognized by Goodfirm

6. QASource

QASource is one of the renowned software testing companies in the USA providing QA services for over 23 years to industries like Cyber Security, Legal, Healthcare, Finance, Retail, Startup, etc. On-time delivery and customized solution are what make QASource a chosen partner for businesses of all kinds and sizes to manage the quality of their software products while keeping cost efficiency.

• Headquarters: USA.
• Founded year: 2002
• Employees: 1400+
• Hourly rate: $25 – $49 / hr
• Core Services: Automation Testing, Manual Testing, API Testing, Mobile QA, Security Testing, Performance Testing, QA Analysis, Salesforce Testing, etc..
• Key Clients: eBay, Ford, TechSmith, IBM, Facebook, etc.
• Rankings and International Certifications:

1. Top Software Testing Company in 2023 recognized by Clutch
2. ISO 9001:2015
3. ElectronicsForYou #1 Software Testing Company

7. ImpactQA

ImpactQA is regarded as one of the giants in software testing and QA consulting. They serve businesses of all sizes, from startups, and SMEs, to Fortune 500 companies across multiple domains including healthcare, e-learning, eCommerce, media, logistics, real estate, etc.

• Headquarters: USA.
• Founded year: 2011
• Employees: 250+
• Hourly rate: $25 – $49 / hr
• Core Services: automation testing, functional testing, mobile app testing, security testing, IoT testing, performance testing.
• Key Clients: Panasonic, Starbucks Coffee, Deloitte, KFC, National Geographic Learning, KPMG, Honda, etc.
• Rankings and International Certifications:

1. Managed Cybersecurity Service Provider of the Year (2022) recognized by The Cybersecurity Vision & Innovation Summit & Awards
2. Top Software Testing Companies in 2020 recognized by Clutch
3. Top Independent Software Testing Company recognized by Manifest

8. AppSierra

AppSierra is known as a fast-growing company in QA services providing software testing solutions to businesses of all sizes and across various domains. From microservices testing, blockchain testing, IoT testing, and Big Data testing, to CRM testing – all of these are within the coverage of AppSierra capabilities.

• Headquarters: Vietnam.
• Founded year: 2015
• Employees: 150+
• Hourly rate: $25 – $49 / hr
• Core Services: compatibility testing, functional testing, performance testing, automation testing, usability testing, localization testing, QA engineering, etc.
• Key Clients: Swiggy, Barcode Inc, Stax by Fattmerchant, Rocketium, Avora, Ubibot, MoneyView, Leap Finance, EnthusiastGaming, etc.
• Rankings and International Certifications:

1. TOP 100 Software Testing Companies in the UK recognized by Manifest
2. Top Software Testing Company in 2021, 2022, and 2023 recognized by Clutch

9. QA Madness

QA Madness is a leading independent software testing company from Poland. They help businesses unleash high-quality software products by creating custom-testing solutions and plans tailored to your project requirements.

• Headquarters: Poland.
• Founded year: 2013
• Employees: 50 – 249
• Hourly rate: <$25 / hr
• Core Services: Functional Testing, GUI Testing, Regression Testing, Acceptance Testing, Compatibility Testing, Load Testing, Integration Testing, Localization Testing, QA Audit & Consulting, etc.
• Key Clients: Orderly, Varis, Vaimo, DotcomWeavers, Lunaphore, Solarflare studio, Fishermen Labs, Naduvi, Rock Paper Reality, Acumen Commercial Insights, etc.
• Rankings and International Certifications:

1. ISTQB® Partner Program Silver Member
2. 1 On G2 “Best Testing and QA Providers” List

10. PFLB

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, PFLB is a provider of premier load and performance testing services for enterprises in all industries. They help businesses test their applications’ performance, resolve bottleneck localization, and craft performance optimization guidelines.

• Headquarters: USA.
• Founded year: 2008
• Employees: 50 – 249
• Hourly rate: $50 – $99 / hr
• Core Services: Performance Testing, Website Performance, Mobile Application Performance, Enterprise System Performance, IVR & Contact Centers Performance, etc.
• Key Clients: Samsung, Tinder, Moody’s, Udacity, KFC, SolwarWinds, RiptLabs, Raiffeisen Bank, etc.
• Rankings and International Certifications:

1. The European Software Testing Awards Finalist 2019
2. Top Testing Services Companies recognized by Goodfirms
3. Top QA and Software Testing Companies in 2022 recognized by techreviewer.co
4. Top BPO Companies in 2021 recognized by Clutch

How to Choose the Best-fit Quality Assurance Company?

Before choosing any vendor, you have to define a clear requirement first. Clearly identifying the testing types needed for your projects, working scope, timelines, and any technologies or framework involved is essential. This first step will allow you to easily assess if the outsourcing vendor meets your needs.

When choosing an outsourcing software testing provider, decision-makers should consider several fundamental requirements. In order to help you make an informed decision, we have created a list of key considerations:

• Experience and Expertise: When choosing a provider, it is crucial to select one with a proven track record and relevant experience in executing successful testing cases, preferably in your domain. In addition, it is necessary to thoroughly review their industry knowledge, industry awards, and certifications.
• Privacy and Confidentiality: Security is a considerable concern when outsourcing IT projects to an external testing vendor. Therefore, you have to ensure that your outsourcing vendor has strict protection policies, confidentiality agreements, and any relevant certifications (e.g., ISO 27001) to protect your sensitive data and information.
• Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication between your in-house team and outsourced software testing vendor is the key to every outsourcing project’s success. Hence, you have to ensure that your vendor has the ability to provide regular updates and reports while delivering transparent and responsive communication channels.
• Staff Testing Skills and Certifications: When evaluating a potential outsource software testing team, it is imperative to assess the qualifications and skills of its members through their certifications, training, and experience. Furthermore, you must ensure that the team possesses the expertise needed to handle your project’s specific requirements.
• Scalability and Flexibility: Given the importance of flexibility in a software testing services provider, you should consider if they can adjust their testing efforts and necessary resources (staff, infrastructure, etc.) based on your project’s needs. It is crucial that you evaluate their ability to accommodate changing requirements, timelines, or project scope.
• Cost-effectiveness: Even though cost shouldn’t be the deciding factor, it’s important to make sure “you get what you paid for”. Therefore, make sure you’ve compared the cost to the value they provide, including their expertise, quality, and continual support.

LQA’s Tailored Testing Services for IT Businesses

Among so many good choices, which companies are best for testing? We understand the challenges that you, as decision-makers have to face, in how to balance between quality and cost-efficiency. That’s why LQA works hard not to deliver mediocre off-the-shelf services like thousands of independent software testing companies. We aim to deliver a customized software QA solution package for your business’s requirements. We stand out by:

Industry specialization

LQA can fulfill your requirements and exceed your client’s expectations in a time-efficiency way with our experience in industry specialization.

Being the first independent software testing in Vietnam, we have more than 7 years of experience in being a reliable safeguard to detect all software bugs and issues before being delivered to the market.

Our QA solutions and processes have been proven by international and prestigious awards and certifications in software testing including ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board), PMP (Project Management Professional), and ISO.

Cost-effectiveness

LQA offers IT experts who can efficiently handle tasks while assuring your optimized budget by taking advantage of the cost gaps in the Vietnam outsourcing market:

• Lower labor costs compared to many Western countries enable businesses to access high-quality quality assurance engineers at more affordable rates (only around $12,000 to $18,000 per year)
• Lower cost of living and operating a business in Vietnam than many other developed countries allow businesses to reduce overhead expenses (infrastructure, equipment, training, and hiring, etc)

Favorable location

We can ensure timely project delivery thanks to Vietnam’s stable socio-economic status and supportive policies:

• The Vietnamese government has been proactively promoting and supporting the IT industry through The National Digital Transformation Programme 2020–2025
• Vietnam’s tax incentives indirectly help foreign businesses reduce costs for IT outsourcing projects. Science, and technology businesses in Vietnam are eligible for a 4-year tax exemption and a 50% reduction in corporate income tax for the following 9 years. Additionally, software projects are eligible for VAT exemption, including outsourced software projects in Vietnam.

Compliance with TCoE

TCoE (Testing Center of Excellence) is a framework to optimize strategic assets such as processes, resources, and technologies. ​LQA’s commitment to TCoE compliance empowers us to provide your testing project with a seamless blend of top-notch resources and methodologies, assuring exceptional results and satisfaction.

An abundant IT talent pool

You can accelerate time to market by leveraging our vast pool of on-demand enthusiastic testers, including:

• 50% of QA engineers for Mobile and Web app testing
• 18% of QA engineers for Automation Winform, Automation Web UI, Automation API, Performance, and Pen Test
• 20% of QA engineers for Automotive and Embedded IOT test
• 12% of QA engineers for Mobile & Web Game testing

Furthermore, the skills and qualifications of our 150 highly-skilled software testing engineers are proven by prestigious international certifications such as ISTQB, PMI, PSM, etc. In addition to that, our software testing engineers are constantly learning and honing their technical skills on a daily basis.

Language competence

Language ability is a fundamental aspect of our testing process, as effective communication is critical for successful collaboration. Our software testers are not only fluent in your language but also open to adapting to your country’s cultural context to deliver exceptional collaboration.

Advanced Technology

By leveraging leading-edge testing devices, tools, and frameworks, our team ensures your software runs smoothly, ensuring a flawless user experience and a competitive edge in the market. With our advanced and diverse technological solutions, you can be confident in detecting all the possible bugs and issues promptly before your users do.

The Brand You Trust, Trust Us

When it comes to reliability, our track record speaks for itself. Big names such as TOSHIBA, Panasonic, Sk Telecom, LG Electronics, MB Bank, Infiniq, SQC, Perxtech, Verb Data, Ascentis, Qualcomm, Kick ID, and many more have placed their faith in our solutions.

Our Clients Also Asked Us

The Bottom Line

Software Quality Assurance (SQA) is an essential phase in every software life cycle. It helps prevent bugs, decreases development costs, and enhances performance. Many companies choose to outsource to external software testing companies, while others choose to set up their own in-house quality assurance department.

Software QA Outsourcing has its own pros and cons. However, setting up an in-house software quality testing team can present much more challenges such as costly infrastructure and resources, time-consuming recruiting and training processes, limited expertise, and scalability. That’s why many global companies now prefer outsourcing their software testing to an external vendor.

Searching for a reliable and suitable vendor of software testing services requires considerable effort and time as IT businesses are supposed to investigate vendors’ expertise, language proficiency, cultural compatibility, time zone differences, and pricing. Each provider has their advantages and disadvantages, therefore, before IT firms make the final call, dig deep into the project’s requirements to pick the right partner.

Should you have any further inquiries regarding software testing, please drop LQA a line to find the best answers.

Offshore Testing Center is an outsourcing testing company that supplies you all the infrastructure, support, human resources and equipment necessary to remotely run an entire software testing team, but located in another country where it has much lower living standards.

>> Learn more about Market Insights – Why IT Outsourcing To Vietnam?

7 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD SET UP OFFSHORE TESTING CENTER

• Time Efficiency: Take advantage of time zone differences to optimize 24 hours of work. OQAC as an “extended arm” helps to shorten life cycle but improved quality.
• Team Scalability: To meet the everchanging demand of HR, OQAC can apply different engagement models with flexibility.
• Cost Saving: Thanks to geographical pricing, OQAC ensure highly skilled employees while reducing operating expenses.
• Focus on Core Competencies: In-house QA team can focus on strategic business tasks, unbothered of the trivial ones.
• High Quality: An OQAC allows you to access to a larger pool of IT talents, diversify skill sets, eliminate the burden of staff shortage.
• No Bias: Eliminating the trails of in-house testers and approaching fresh perspectives from OQAC to get the most objective and accurate quality assessment
• Quick team ramp-up: OQAC allows businesses to set up on-demand teams flexibly, quick team ramp-up or ramp-down anytime.

The specific and practical case studies below will demonstrate 7 benefits that Offshore Testing Center brings to businesses.

Offshore Testing Center Case Study 1: A well-being measurement instrument save 50% test effort and speed up time to market with Automation testing

Client’s Description

The client has the definitive well-being measurement instrument, and they use it to help their clients understand the opportunities for improvement in the populations across five key well-being elements: purpose, social, financial, community, and physical. 

They apply comprehensive, highly configurable Well-Being Improvement Solutions to keep people healthy, mitigate lifestyle risks and optimize care.

Business Need

They deliver 3-month releases and they are doing testing manually. They need to apply automation to reduce time to market and reduce test effort.

Challenges

The system is complicated, including Embrace (desktop app), Well Being Portal (web app), Well Being Plus (mobile app), Data Warehouse, and Web services. The automation solution must do End-2-End Test.

LQA’s Offshore Testing Center Solutions

• Provide the set of tools for each component: Ranorex for the desktop app; Selenium for the web app with multiple browsers; ETL Validation for ETL Testing.
• Use CI – Jenkins to integrate tests to automate End-2-End tests.

Test Result:

• Automated test cases: 36
• Bugs detected: 92
• Regression runs: 2000

Offshore Testing Center Case Study 2: Leading restaurant chain model in Vietnam maximized end-to-end test flow and achieved 30% faster time to market

Client’s Description

• The client is the pioneer and the leading restaurant chain model in Vietnam.
• They currently own more than 21 brands and nearly 400 restaurants, serving 17 million customers annually, and is still expanding.

Business Need

• They have approximately 20 applications and each has 5-6 releases per year. The demand for testing hence is huge, which makes their current QA team struggle to handle it.
• They need to apply UI automation testing for their mobile and web applications. Additionally, they require APIs for backend testing to reduce the time to market and test effort, as well as increase quality.

Challenges

• End-2-end test flow is complicated. It requires actions on various platforms.
• The data test is huge for the API test, making it hard for the current manual test to cover.

LQA’s Offshore Testing Center Solutions

• Build automation framework for both mobile testing and web testing.
• Develop API test program (using Java), support data-driven to test with a huge dataset.
• Java, Maven, TestNG, Appium (to support mobile), and Selenium (to support Web applications) are used.

Test Result:

• Test cases: 71
• Bugs detected: 3
• Regression runs: 10
• The time for executing a regression cycle has been reduced from 7 days/week to 4 days/week.

Offshore Testing Center Case Study 3: Big Insurance Company in Vietnam Achieved 30% Faster time to market 

Client’s Description

The client is a big insurance company in Vietnam. They have a wide relationship with other insurance groups such as AIG, AXA, Amlin, Munich Re, Swiss Re, Hannover Re, Lloyd’s, Atrium Space, Catlin, ACE, Hiscox, SCOR, SpaceCo, Watkins… They work in areas of Insurance, Life, Securities, Funds, Banks, and Invest.

Business Need

The client maintains more than 40 applications and 30 services but they did not have enough effort to run regression testing for new changes.

Challenges

We have to increase testing coverage by automation testing and continuously integrating with the development environment which can make it easy to see test results for each deployment.

LQA’s Offshore Testing Center Solutions

• Do POC and assessment with the current system.
• Propose a solution to automate testing for web, and mobile applications.
• Implement automation testing for systems.

Test Result:

• Test cases: 41
• Regression runs: 27
• Time for executing a regression cycle: for one app, it is reduced from 2 hours to 45’; for another app, it is reduced from 1.5 hours to 13’.

Offshore Testing Center Case Study 4: A Marketing and Loyalty Platform achieves 40% faster time to market 

Client’s Description

The Marketing Analytics module acts as a real-time universal cockpit, allowing you to review and manage the performance of your loyalty programs, membership tiers, rewards, and merchants.

Loyalty Management gives large companies the ability to connect with customers on a more intimate level. Small businesses have the advantage of being able to micromanage relationships and truly get to know their consumers — one by one, person to person. They can personalize service based on a customer’s likes, dislikes, and behavior.

Business Need

• Optimize testing effort by automation test.
• Programming language: JavaScript
• Automation Framework: Cypress, Mocha
• Process: Agile

Challenges

• End-2-end test flow is complicated.
• The data test is huge for the API test, making it hard for the current manual test to cover.

LQA’s Offshore Testing Center Solutions

• Build automation framework for web testing.
• Develop API test program (using JavaScript), support data-driven to test with a huge data set.

Test Result:

• Test cases (updating): 250
• Bugs Detected: 15
• The time for executing a regression cycle has been reduced from 7 days/week to 3 days/week

Offshore Testing Center Case Study 5: A Mobile Game App maximize test coverage with 2000 test cases and more than 1 million actual users 

Client’s Description

• The client has over 45 free multiplayer games.
• Public rooms/Private rooms/Tournaments are created to allow many people to play games together. Also, users can chat, create rooms, create groups, create impress profiles, participate in tournaments or buy gifts/IAPs.
• Millions of players are enjoying games and creating lasting friendships daily.

Business Need

• Thoroughly testing all scenarios of all games
• Ensure that the system is always stable
• Ensure that the system is compatible with multiple types of devices

Challenges

• The client has more than 1 million actual users from many countries around the world, so we must resolve the huge request number every time.
• Maintaining a stable server all the time and diversifying with many devices is also one of the big difficulties.
• The client has a lot of scenarios with each game to be thoroughly tested.

LQA’s Offshore Testing Center Solutions

• Cross-testing with multiple devices to minimize bugs associated with specific devices. Also, the client created an environment called Unrelease Production. It is linked with real user data to help QA easily manage quality in a real environment.
• Testing types: Functional & Non-functional testing, Cross testing

Test Result:

• Test cases: 2000+
• Bug found & verified: 500+

Why Choose Lotus Quality Assurance Solutions?

We, at Lotus QA, are just a contact form away:

Website: lotus-qa.com/

Tel: (+84) 24-6660-7474

Fanpage: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lqa//

Software Quality Assurance (SQA) is an important part of the entire software development life cycle. Through the testing phase, software defects can be identified early and remedied before final product delivery.

Why Software Quality Assurance is a MUST in every software development life cycle?

Software bugs can cause serious loss of money and people. Starbucks was forced to close about 60% of its stores in the United States and Canada, even serving free coffee because it was unable to process the transaction due to a software bug in its POS system. In 1994, China Airlines Airbus A300 crashed due to a software error, killing 264 people.

The examples above show that businesses can save up to millions per year, minimizing serious problems if they have a reliable and strict testing process. Besides, a software that is error-free and undergoes many rigorous quality checks will easily win the trust and satisfaction of customers; bring efficiency in both cost, security, as well as sustainable development.

>> Learn more about Software Testing And 8 Common Questions

What are the challenges and difficulties of building a software quality assurance process?

However, enterprises will face many challenges to be able to build an optimal testing team and a strict quality management process such as:

• High initial investment cost for human resources: According to Payscale, based on the latest updates on Jan 04 2022, the average salary for a Software Tester is $56,468. However, the investment cost for a Software Tester Engineer does not just stop at salary, but also includes the cost of recruitment, training and other employee benefits.
• High initial investment cost for testing tools: Besides the investment in human resources, businesses will have to prepare a budget for both facilities and testing tools. It can be the cost of investing in machinery, testing tools, and even in different testing environments.
• Bias in Software Testing: How Do Testers Miss Bugs? When the testers implement any test case, they might be influenced by their own biases – framing thoughts and judgments based on their previous experiences such as where there would be potential defects, the history of the program, who is developing it and what might be their common mistakes,…

The following infographic will give you the deepest knowledge about SQA to help you overcome these challenges more easily.

To Know Deeply About Software Quality Assurance Infographic

 

>> You can find a more specific comparison between Manual Testing and Automation Testing in this infographic.

Final Thoughts 

With a profound and specific infographic above, LTS hopes to help you understand more about this field and find the best solution to optimize your business’ QA process and speed up time to market. If you are still struggling and need further professional advice, our experts can help!

 

We, at Lotus QA, are just a contact form away:

Website: lotus-qa.com/

Tel: (+84) 24-6660-7474

Fanpage: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lqa//