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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//

Software testing 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. Therefore, many software development companies focus on building strict testing processes and investing in in-house testing teams. This article will help you unlock the most common problems before diving in.

1. Why Software Testing 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.

 

2. How many types of Software testing?

Based on different criteria, we can classify Testing in many ways including:

a. According to test levels

• Unit testing: the process of testing corrections on an individual unit or component to assure that they work properly on their own. Unit testing is important because it enables us to find more defects at the unit test level, reduce wasted tests, and speed up testing strategies.
• Integration tests: a level of software testing where two or more modules of an application are logically grouped and tested as a whole. The focus of this type is to search for the defect in communication, interface, and data flow among modules. A top-down or Bottom-up approach is used while integrating modules into the whole system. This type of testing is done by integrating modules of a system or between systems.
• System Testing: a level of software testing that validates the complete and fully integrated software product. The purpose is to evaluate the end-to-end system specifications. Usually, the software is only one element of a larger computer-based system. Ultimately, the software is interfaced with other software/hardware systems. System Testing is defined as a series of different tests whose sole purpose is to exercise the full computer-based system.
• Acceptance testing: ensures that the end-user (customers) can achieve the goals set in the business requirements, which determines whether the software is acceptable for delivery or not. It is also known as user acceptance testing (UAT). Acceptance testing is a type of testing where the client/business/customer test the software with real-time business scenarios. The client accepts the software only when all the features and functionalities work as expected. This is the last phase of testing, after which the software goes into production. This is also called User Acceptance Testing (UAT).

b. According to test types

• Functional testing: a type of testing which verifies that each function of the software application operates in conformance with the requirement specification.
• Non-functional testing: a type of testing to check non-functional aspects (performance, usability, reliability, etc.) of a software application.

c. According to test methods

• Automation testing: a testing technique utilizing tools and test scripts to automate testing efforts. In other words, specified and customized tools are implemented in the testing process instead of solely manual forces.
• Manual testing: the technique in which a tester/a QA executes the whole testing process manually, from writing test cases to implementing them. In manual testing, QA analysts carry out tests one-by-one in an individual manner to find bugs, glitches and key feature issues prior to the software application’s launch. As part of this process, test cases and summary error reports are developed without any automation tools.

 

3. Is Automation Testing the most popular and why?

Manual Testing has been the most popular method of the quality assurance process in general, yet it exposes some limitations that cause many businesses to become testing-ineffective.

Up until now, automated testing is considered a more innovative technique to boost the effectiveness, test coverage, and test execution speed in software testing. With this new “approach”, the testing process is expected to yield more test cases in a shorter amount of time and expand test coverage.

While it does not entirely exclude manual touch within the process, automation testing is a favorable solution for its cost-efficiency and limited human intervention. To put it in other words, automation testing requires manual efforts to make automation testing possible.

The 8 promising prospects of Automation Testing include:

•  High yield of ROI

• Consistent regression testing
• Broad test coverage
• Accuracy and Reliability
• Faster pace
• Developers and Testers unburdened

• Reduce Human Intervention
• Records of measure quality metrics

>> Learn more about From Manual to Automation Testing: Why Even Bother?

 

4. Manual Testing vs. Automation Testing comparison, and when to use each method?

Manual testing is the traditional and fundamental test method in software testing. We often use the manual method to test new products or when we don’t have a clear understanding of the products or when the systems haven’t become stable yet.

Automation testing is considered a high-tech test method in comparison to manual one. We often use this test method to reduce resources and time consumed for testing a system that is stably functioning and we already clearly know about it.

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

 

The answer of whether you should choose automation testing or manual testing depends on your situation.

Choose manual test if:

• Your product is new and you don’t have experience with this kind of product before.
• The AUT (Application under test) changes frequently.
• You have a limited budget.
• You want to ensure user-friendliness in the product.

• You want to handle complex test cases.
• Your team doesn’t have the tech ability (for any reason) to set up and maintain automation.

And choose automation test if:

• There are repetitive tasks in a stable-functioning system and you want to reduce these tasks.
• When your system has frequent releases and you want to decrease test cycle time to speed up the processes.

• You have a great budget for building automation testing.
• You consider the test ability is needed in a long-term period.
• You want better transparency of testing activities. Statistics and graphs about the test process, performance, and error rates are explicitly indicated.

> Learn more about Which is the cost-effective solution for your firm?

 

5. Automotive test vs Automation test: Aren’t they the same?

Many people still misunderstand that Automotive testing is Automation testing. Therefore, to better understand Automotive testing, let’s distinguish those two concepts:

Automation testing – is a software testing method with an automated nature, precisely, the Tester only needs to write a piece of code or use some tools such as Selenium, Test Complete, and JMeter,… to run all the stages automatically, including entering information, clicking, checking results, comparing actual results with hypothetical results, etc., without having to perform manual operations over and over again.

Automotive testing – is the testing of embedded software written for embedded systems. Specifically, embedded software is software that is pre-installed by the device manufacturer into a product and that is utilized immediately with the electronic device without the need for the user or third-party installation. An Embedded system is a combination of hardware and software and here the software is embedded in the hardware.

 

6. What are the challenges and difficulties of building a software testing team and process?

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. The IT industry is currently facing a shortage of human resources; therefore, recruitment becomes extremely competitive among businesses. Software testers have a high chance of job hopping when they find a company with better benefits and salary. Employers have to invest a lot of money and effort for headhunt services to successfully recruit a quality employee.

In addition, Software Testers at different levels also have different salaries range. Below is the salary range of a Software Tester from Entry level to Experienced.

The costs listed above are only calculated for one employee. Try to do a quick calculation, multiply this number by 5 or more if you want to build an in-house testing team.

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. If it’s automation testing then you will only need to set up your computer and buy testing tools. But if it is an embedded test, the enterprise will have to invest in more complicated and expensive testing machines such as CANoe and CANat equipment, … Not to mention, when it comes to Integration and system testing, it requires set up for different test environments.

Bias in Software Testing: How Do Testers Miss Bugs?

According to Psychology Today, a bias is a tendency, inclination, or prejudice toward or against something or someone. Some biases are positive and helpful—like choosing to only eat foods that are considered healthy or staying away from someone who has knowingly caused harm. But biases are often based on stereotypes, rather than actual knowledge of an individual or circumstance. Whether positive or negative, such cognitive shortcuts can result in prejudgments that lead to rash decisions or discriminatory practices.

One of the fundamentals of software testing; as referred to by the International Software Testing Quality Board (ISTQB); is that testing helps detection of defects. Taking into consideration that humans are an integral entity in software development, it is impossible to certify a 100% bug-free program when tests aren’t detecting any defects. Human testing detects and reduces the probability of undiscovered defects remaining in the software but even if no defects are found, it is not proof of perfection.

When the testers approach any testing, they are already influenced by their own biases – framing thoughts and judgments based on what to look for, where there would be potential defects coming up, who is developing it, the entire history of the program etc., and the list goes on.

 

7. In-House Software Testing vs. Outsourcing: What should you choose?

For the above challenges, many businesses choose to outsource software testing services. Because a flexible and quick team ramp-up/down on demands will bring benefits to businesses such as:

Cost-Effective and Time Efficient:

As mentioned above, effort, resources and investment costs for an in-house testing team are extremely expensive. Outsourcing a testing team will be the optimal choice to save the above investment costs. In particular, businesses can take advantage of low-cost labor when offshore outsourcing. For example, in Vietnam, the average salary of Software Test Engineer is $18633.55/year, 5 times lower than in the US and 6 times lower than in Japan (according to Salary expert data).

In addition, by outsourcing, your business can set up a testing team immediately, skipping the entire process of recruiting, training, setting up office equipment. An 24/7 available and flexible testing team that can ramp up or ramp down on demand. A team works independently, along with the in-house team to increase work efficiency and speed up time to market. Especially, when the demand for testing is huge due to continuously release, in-house QA team struggle to handle, offshore team can help optimize resource allocation. Your in-house team will not be overloaded and be able to focus on core business.

 

Access to larger pool of Expertise and quicker transformation to another test method

When outsourcing to another country, your business will expand its talent network. This will also make it much easier to switch testing methods or types. No need to compete with domestic enterprises to hunt for candidates, no time to research and train new methods. If you want to move from manual testing to automation testing to optimize testing effort and speed up time to market, why not outsource it?

For example, in Vietnam today, IT resources are growing in both quantity and quality. According to the latest report of TopDev, Vietnam currently has 1.03M IT labor force and 62,000 graduated IT students/year. The Vietnamese government also has policies to support the development of the IT industry and facilitate international cooperation.

In Vietnam, there are also leading testing companies, meeting international standards. LQA is an example when it becomes a silver partner of ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board).

No bias and Fresh perspective:

As shared above, one of the challenges and disadvantages of in-house testing teams is bias. To solve this problem, businesses can ask a 3rd party to cross-evaluate the quality of the product. From there, compare with the results of the in-house team to get the most objective result. Eliminating the trails of in-house testers and approaching fresh perspectives is the special benefit that offshore testing teams bring to businesses.

Below is a comparison table of the most basic criteria between Offshore Software Outsourcing Testing and In-house Software Testing. Businesses can rely on this assessment to choose the most optimal model for their needs at this time.

 

However, every coin has two sides, outsourcing software testing also has some drawbacks, including language barrier and low security. Therefore, businesses must survey, learn and thoroughly evaluate the reputation of vendors before cooperating. Deeply aware of these concerns of businesses, LQA has always focused on improving the English skills of its personnel and always puts security first. With a closed quality management process and absolute security, LQA has been trusted by many large enterprises such as LG Electronics, Toshiba, Qualacomm, FPT, Baoviet,…

 

8. How many Offshore Software Testing Models are there and Which one is the Best-fit?

Once you have chosen a reputable vendor to outsource testing services, the next thing you need to pay special attention to is to agree on technical and engagement models from the very beginning. Working remotely with a team sitting on the other side of the globe will lead to miscommunication, misunderstandings in the process of cooperation. To limit this, businesses must agree on the process and way of working from the beginning. Below are the commonly used models and the cases where each specific model should be applied.

 

Final Thoughts

LQA has listed and answered the above questions based on previous experience working with businesses. The above 8 questions are the 8 problems that many businesses worry the most when learning about Software Testing solutions. With thorough answers, LQA 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, the LQA 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//

 

Hi there! Welcome to LQA’s guide on Manual Testing vs. Automation Testing comparison, their characteristics, applications, and when to use each method. 

We will cover manual testing and automation testing differences in an infographic. But before going into details, we want you to be clear that:

• Manual testing is the traditional and fundamental test method in software testing. We often use the manual method to test new products or when we don’t have a clear understanding of the products or when the systems haven’t become stable yet. 
• Automation testing is considered a high-tech test method in comparison to manual one. We often use this test method to reduce resources and time consumed for testing a system that is stably functioning and we already clearly know about it.

So, an ideal path is to use manual testing for the first time(s) and utilize automation testing to reduce test efforts and increase test productivity when things become stable and predictable!

Also, automation test doesn’t mean that the whole test process will be automated. Such steps like Requirements analysis, Test planning, and Test case design are done manually before a test automation engineer can program the test script and start automation test execution and test report.

That’s a quick look. And now, let’s go into comparison!

 

Manual Test vs. Automation Test Comparison

 

You may want to know: 6 steps to transition from manual testing to automation testing.

So, Manual Testing vs. Automation Testing – Which one is for you?

The answer of whether you should choose automation testing or manual testing depends on your situation. For example, choose manual test if:

• Your product is new and you don’t have experience with this kind of product before.
• The AUT (Application under test) changes frequently.
• You have a limited budget.
• You want to ensure user-friendliness in the product.
• You want to handle complex test cases.
• Your team doesn’t have the tech ability (for any reason) to set up and maintain automation.

And choose automation test if:

• There are repetitive tasks in a stable-functioning system and you want to reduce these tasks.
• When your system has frequent releases and you want to decrease test cycle time to speed up the processes.
• You have a great budget for building automation testing. 
• You consider the test ability is needed in a long-term period.
• You want better transparency of testing activities. Statistics and graphs about the test process, performance, and error rates are explicitly indicated.

Want to dig deeper into manual testing vs. automation testing and decide the one suitable for your business? Contact LQA now for a FREE consultation with our specialists and experts.

• Website: https://www.lotus-qa.com/
• Tel: (+84) 24-6660-7474
• Fanpage: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lqa

 

Kiểm thử phần mềm là một quy trình quan trọng trong vòng đời phát triển phần mềm. Tuy nhiên, nhiều doanh nghiệp với sự hạn chế về nguồn lực cũng như chuyên môn và thời gian đã lựa chọn thuê ngoài dịch vụ testing như một giải pháp thay thế hữu hiệu cho nguồn lực nội bộ. 

Trong bài viết này, chúng ta sẽ tìm hiểu 5 lý do tại sao nên thuê ngoài dịch vụ testing nhằm giúp các doanh nghiệp có thêm thông tin trong việc lựa chọn giữa insourcing và outsourcing. 

1. Hiệu quả về chi phí 

Sử dụng dịch vụ testing thuê ngoài giúp doanh nghiệp giảm thiểu các chi phí về nhân sự, quản lý và cơ sở hạ tầng cho hoạt động kiểm thử phần mềm.  

Đầu tư nguồn nhân lực và cơ sở hạ tầng cho một quy trình kiểm thử phần mềm nội bộ luôn là một thách thức với các doanh nghiệp có nguồn lực hạn chế. Bằng việc sử dụng dịch vụ testing của công ty kiểm thử phần mềm, doanh nghiệp có thể tránh được một số vấn đề như sau: 

• Sự thiếu hụt nguồn nhân lực testing trong bối cảnh cuộc chiến nhân tài công nghệ ngày càng gay gắt. 
• Chi phí tuyển dụng và phúc lợi cho nhân viên trong ngành IT cao. 
• ROI thấp do nhu cầu sử dụng thấp nhưng chi phí đầu tư cho cơ sở hạ tầng (phần mềm, thiết bị test) cao. 

2. Cải thiện chất lượng kiểm thử 

Thuê ngoài dịch vụ testing giúp doanh nghiệp tăng chất lượng kiểm thử nhờ nguồn nhân lực có chuyên môn cao, đa dạng phương pháp kiểm thử và tiếp cận nhiều luồng quan điểm khách quan hơn. 

Lợi ích về nguồn nhân lực 

Nguồn nhân lực testing tại các công ty chuyên về dịch vụ kiểm thử phần mềm thường được đào tạo bài bản và có nhiều kinh nghiệm trong ngành. Ngoài ra, các công ty dịch vụ chuyên nghiệp có khả năng thu hút được các chuyên gia trong ngành cao hơn. Do đó, thuê ngoài testing giúp doanh nghiệp ở mọi quy mô tiếp cận nguồn nhân lực chất lượng cao và thực hiện việc kiểm tra chính xác hơn. 

Đa dạng phương pháp kiểm thử 

Trong một số trường hợp, việc kết hợp các phương pháp kiểm thử khác nhau giúp gia tăng hiệu quả phát hiện lỗi và giảm chi phí kiểm thử phần mềm về lâu dài cho doanh nghiệp. Tuy nhiên, để đầu tư một đội ngũ kiểm thử nội bộ đa chuyên môn luôn là một thách thức. 

Ví dụ: Xu hướng kết hợp phương pháp Kiểm thử thủ công và Kiểm thử tự động trong một sản phẩm phần mềm đang trở nên phổ biến.   

• Kiểm thử thủ công cho functional testing, compatibility testing. 
• Kiểm thử tự động cho API testing và performance testing, cũng như các thao tác lặp đi lặp lại. 

Tuy nhiên, kiểm thử tự động yêu cầu người kiểm tra có khả năng về code và các công cụ phần mềm hỗ trợ như Selenium, Katalon và không phải nhân viên kiểm thử thủ công nào cũng có thể nhanh chóng chuyển qua kiểm thử tự động. Do vậy, việc thuê ngoài testing sẽ giúp doanh nghiệp liên tục cập nhật các công nghệ, phương pháp testing mới nhất, mang lại hiệu quả phát hiện lỗi và lợi ích về đường dài cao hơn. 

Tiếp cận nhiều luồng quan điểm 

Một nhóm kiểm thử nội bộ có thể có các thiên kiến hoặc những hiểu biết trước về sản phẩm và chỉ chăm chú vào các khía cạnh đó. Tuy nhiên, một nhóm kiểm thử bên ngoài không có kiến thức trước đó về sản phẩm sẽ chú ý đến mọi góc cạnh và có xu hướng đánh giá lỗi khách quan hơn, nhìn ra nhiều vấn đề hơn và thực hiện testing toàn diện hơn. 

3. Giảm thời gian đưa sản phẩm ra thị trường 

Một lợi ích khác của việc thuê ngoài testing là sự linh hoạt trong việc tăng/giảm quy mô nhóm để nhanh chóng đáp ứng với các biến số và tránh sự gián đoạn trong quá trình phát triển phần mềm.  

Ngoài ra, quy trình làm việc tối ưu cùng năng suất làm việc cao của công ty kiểm thử phần mềm cũng góp phần đẩy nhanh giai đoạn kiểm thử, giúp rút ngắn thời gian phát triển và đưa sản phẩm ra thị trường nhanh hơn.  

4. Giảm rủi ro mâu thuẫn nội bộ 

Thuê ngoài dịch vụ testing giúp doanh nghiệp giảm được rủi ro về mâu thuẫn giữa nhóm phát triển và nhóm kiểm thử trong một quy trình phát triển phần mềm.  

Trong khi các nhà phát triển muốn hoàn thành công việc trong thời gian ngắn nhất, các chuyên gia kiểm thử thường vô tình kéo dài thời gian phát triển với việc cố gắng tìm ra lỗi và yêu cầu sửa lỗi. Do đó, mâu thuẫn này luôn tồn tại trong các công ty công nghệ và việc thuê ngoài đội kiểm thử sẽ giảm thiểu tình trạng xung đột trong nội bộ công ty. 

5. Tập trung vào lĩnh vực cốt lõi 

Một lợi ích rõ ràng khác của việc thuê ngoài dịch vụ tesing là doanh nghiệp có thể tập trung nguồn lực vào các hoạt động quan trọng và mang lại hiệu quả sử dụng nguồn lực cao hơn. Ngoài ra, việc chuyển giao bớt công việc cho đối tác giúp giảm áp lực lên các nhân viên của công ty, giúp mọi người làm việc năng suất hơn và tạo nên môi trường làm việc hiệu quả hơn.  

Lựa chọn đối tác kiểm thử tin cậy với LQA 

Như vậy, có nhiều lợi ích để một công ty quyết định thuê ngoài dịch vụ testing. Nếu bạn đang tìm kiếm những yếu tố này thì kiểm thử phần mềm thuê ngoài rất đáng để cân nhắc: 

• Tiết kiệm chi phí 
• Cải thiện hiệu quả kiểm thử 
• Hiệu quả về đường dài 
• Giảm thời gian phát triển sản phẩm 
• Giảm rủi ro mâu thuẫn nội bộ 
• Tập trung vào lĩnh vực cốt lõi 

LQA là một công ty chuyên về dịch vụ kiểm thử và đảm bảo chất lượng phần mềm với 6 năm kinh nghiệm cung cấp giải pháp tùy chỉnh cho khách hàng đến từ 9 quốc gia. Liên hệ LQA ngay để được tư vấn về dịch vụ kiểm thử phần mềm cũng như các kiến thức liên quan!