The IT test environment is not a new word, at least for IT organizations as the word has proved its significance in many ways by offering some unmatched benefits to the organizations. IT test environment management is a comprehensive process with various phases such as risk analysis, test planning, resource allocation, test monitoring & control, issue management, test report, test execution and others. However, when we evaluate something, we have to do it 360 degrees and IT environment management has its share of challenges too.
Some of the challenges are lack of time, lack of resources, and absence of personnel and ambiguity of test results. If you want to create the best IT environment management process in your organization, you need to see face to face these challenges and address each one of the first.
In this post, we will discuss some of the best practices for the IT test environment. Keep reading!
Start testing activities in the SDLC itself for better results
When we don’t identify and address bugs and other issues in the development phase, they will be identified at the later stage and it would become very difficult to deal with them at that point. It will require extra efforts, money and resources to eliminate them. The best way is to start testing activities from the SDLC to keep identifying and eliminating them at one go. As soon as a few test cases are written, you should start the test process without any further delay.
Perform iterative tests
Even experts believe that when you test the software product iteratively, it will help organizations to generate significant testing assets. In addition to that, it will also help you to address bugs and other functional or operational issues when they are found in the system. It will make it possible to deliver the product on time without any additional costs.
Reuse test assets
You have the best of the class IT environment management tools and other assets to be used again and again. When test procedures and test automation objects are recycled and reused, it will improve the quality and efficiency of the software product. Furthermore, it will also save money and efforts of the teams. However, you will need a team of experts who can foresee such assets that can be used in the future.
Utilize testing and testing strategies based on requirements
One size fits all strategy does not fit when it comes to software testing. The testing team perform various types of tests such as agile, security, mobile, big data and analytics and others and they need to use different testing approaches for each of them. Each type of testing has a specific test management framework. In other words, the whole point here is to follow a requirements-based testing approach which can assist in the testing effort calculations and application validation.
Coordination among testing resources
This principle applies to everything that we do, doesn’t it? In the test environment management, when different teams work collectively by sharing information and resources, they will be able to overcome issues, maximize productivity and improve timelines. They can use different communication tools and technical channels to collaborate in a better manner.
Define & enforce flexible testing processes
If you want to develop the best IT environment management implementation, you need to have a defined automated workflow, developed after considering different testing needs and efforts of each project. This workflow must be designed in a manner that it can be modified and optimized at the later stage as and when required. When your organization adheres to regulations and guidelines such as CMMI- SVC v1.3, Maturity Level 5, ISO 9001:2008, ISO 27001:2013, or HIPPA, it is extremely important.
Coordinate & integrate with the development teams
Most of the organizations lack clear communication between testing and development teams and they suffer a lot due to it. You need to address this issue from the beginning and ensure that both teams communicate and integrate well.
Conclusion
IT environment management is the need of the hour and establishing it in your organization requires some micro-level monitoring. Use these new approaches that we have discussed in this post and you can overcome all the issues and obstacles, preventing you from developing an IT test environment management model within your organization.
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