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bookmark_borderWhat is a QA tester?

Posted on by BIanca

A Quality Assurance (QA) tester is a professional responsible for testing a software application’s quality. They ensure that the software meets the end user’s requirements and is free of any defects. QA testers use various tools and techniques to test the software, including manual testing, automated testing, or a combination of both.

A QA tester is a quality assurance specialist who tests software to ensure it meets customer expectations and is free of defects. They work closely with software developers to investigate and resolve issues. QA testers typically have a background in computer science or engineering.

Origins of QA tester role

The QA tester role originated in the 1950s with the advent of computer technology in the workplace. Companies began to recognize the need for employees who could evaluate computer programs and hardware for accuracy and effectiveness.

The first QA testers began working closely with computer engineers to learn the programming language, Using hand-drawn flowcharts, they created detailed test plans and organized lists of test cases.

The QA testers would report their findings and lists of test cases after they complete the test. Once the tests were completed, the QA testers would report their findings to programmers. Together, they would analyze the results and identify bugs and critical errors in the software.

Over time, the QA testers developed the skills to perform some of the basic debugging functions themselves. Over the next decades, the QA testing role expanded to include black box testing and other duties.

What do they do?

A QA tester is a professional who evaluates software to ensure that it meets quality standards. They are also involved in writing and executing test plans and test cases.

Automated testing

Automated testing is the use of software to perform the test execution. This allows for many tests to be run in a short amount of time. While this does remove some of the human error from the testing process, it is important to note that automated testing only confirms that the software works according to its internal logic. It does not assess whether the software meets the needs of its users.

Manual testing

Manual testing is the purest form of testing and involves using the software to test its functionality.

This is often the first step in the testing process as it allows testers to discover and report critical bugs. While manual testing is time-consuming, it is highly effective at finding critical bugs and confirming that the software meets the needs of its users.

Black-box testing

Black-box testing refers to the test environment being a black box. The tester has access to an external interface of the application under test and can execute their tests based on their knowledge of the system,

This is the most common testing method and involves both execution time and complexities.

White-box testing

White-box testing refers to a white-box test environment, where the tester has direct knowledge of the application source code.

Using this knowledge, the tester can strategize and effectively test the system.

This highly effective testing method involves both execution time and complexity.

Regression testing

Regression testing refers to the process of re-running previously completed tests to ensure that recently changed code has not altered the functionality of the application.

Most software aims to ensure that all tests are run in each regression cycle to identify any bugs as soon as possible.

What is required to be a QA tester?

QA testers need to have strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and experience with various testing tools and methodologies.

To be successful, a QA tester must be able to work collaboratively with developers and other stakeholders to identify and resolve any issues.

Attention to the details

The ability to look at all the details ensures overall productivity, performance, efficiency, and client satisfaction. This ability can be applied wherever you see an opportunity to implement a higher level of task performance.

Organization

You can become more productive and efficient in the workplace by practicing your organizational skills. While some ways can be learned, others need to be taught.

If you neglect the development in this area, you may have trouble getting things done.

Skills of listening

QA testers need to be diligent as to how they listen to and follow instructions given by supervisors, as well as how they communicate with their QA peers.

Communication skills

It is common for quality assurance testers to communicate with and collaborate with other team members. This communication may be about issues and errors with your product, so the ability to discuss it tactically is a must.

Solving problems

Quality assurance (QA) testers play a key role in identifying errors at work, QA testers often use repetitive, computer-based tasks to identify subtle problems in their work.

Additionally, good thinking and reasoning skills are necessary for these positions.

Showing cause and effect

An important type of logical thought that is part of the Logical Thinking module is Deductive Reasoning.

In Deductive reasoning, we are using statements or conclusions to lead to one or more particular outcomes. We find this in if-then statements.

How to organize your time

Depending on varying wildfire-related issues, the time required by a quality assurance tester to complete their duties and tasks can often vary greatly. They are also often required to thrive under strict and potentially unexpectedly tight deadlines.

Being able to allocate their time efficiently to perform their duties and meet their deadlines is vital to a QA tester’s ability to execute their duties and responsibilities.

What education is required?

QA testers typically have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. They must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills and be able to work independently. Although the position does not require it, many QA testers also have a certification in software testing, such as a CASA or CSTA certification.

QA tester salary

How well you do in your job and your experience level is the two most important factors that influence your salary as a quality assurance tester. Other factors that may be involved are the business’s location, the industry it is in, and the demand for that position.

The government assessed that the national average wage for quality assurance testers is $53,688 per year or $27.73 per hour. This will likely vary depending on your location, experience, and working style and may fluctuate.

 

A QA tester’s job is important because they play a vital role in ensuring that the software meets the quality standards set by the client or company. A career as a QA tester can be both challenging and rewarding, and it offers opportunities for career growth.

bookmark_borderQA vs DevOps

Posted on by BIanca

QA vs DevOps. There are many differing opinions on whether Quality Assurance (QA) or DevOps is the better software development methodology. However, both have their strengths and weaknesses.

QA focuses on testing and ensuring the quality of the software, while DevOps focuses on collaboration and communication between developers and operations teams. To decide which methodology is best for your organization, it is important to understand the differences between QA and DevOps.

 

What is quality assurance?

There are two approaches to ensuring quality in a business: Quality Assurance and DevOps.

Quality assurance (QA) is the traditional approach, involving a separate QA team that tests products before they are released. DevOps is a newer approach that emphasizes collaboration between developers and operations staff throughout the product lifecycle.

So which is better for your business?

There are pros and cons to both approaches. QA can be very effective in catching errors before they reach customers, but it can also slow down the release process.

DevOps, on the other hand, can help speed up releases, but it may result in more customer-facing problems. Ultimately, the best approach for your business will depend on your specific needs and goals.

What is DevOps?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of which is better for your business – quality assurance or DevOps. It depends on your specific needs and goals. However, we can provide some general insights.

Quality assurance is focused on ensuring that the products or services you deliver meet the agreed-upon requirements and standards. DevOps, on the other hand, is a set of practices that emphasize collaboration and communication between development and operations teams to deliver software faster and more efficiently.

If you prioritize speed and efficiency, then DevOps may be the better choice. If you prioritize ensuring that your products meet high standards, then quality assurance may be the better option for you.

It is important to note, however, that quality assurance and DevOps can complement each other in a good DevOps practice.

The benefits of DevOps

DevOps has several advantages that make it a better choice for most businesses.

First: DevOps is a more collaborative approach that encourages communication and collaboration between developers and operations teams. This can help to reduce errors and improve efficiencies.

Second: DevOps automates many of the tasks that are traditionally done manually by QA teams. This can save time and money, and also help to improve quality by reducing human error.

Third: DevOps allows teams to push out code more quickly, which can be beneficial in an agile environment.

Fourth: DevOps provides more visibility into how applications are built and deployed, which can help to prevent errors.

The relationship between Quality and DevOps

DevOps primarily represents a mindset that celebrates communication and collaboration between the development team and the test team.

This was especially true before the 2000s when dev teams were often blissfully ignorant of the work that was going on in the test and operations departments. As a consequence, the software would often be released without adequate testing, and bug issues would go unchecked until customers were affected.

The purpose of DevOps is to bridge the gap between Development and Quality Assurance.

In a traditional, non-DevOps setup, developers write code and throw it “over the wall” for quality assurance.

QAs find bugs and relay them to developers for debugging. Developers complain that the bug reports are not helpful and blame the testing and development environment for the bugs.

When dev teams finally fix their codes, QA is supposed to pass everything over to operations. But, since operations are in charge of the stability of the product, they can reject any code that eventually causes their infrastructure to crash. Ultimately, this just slows the process.

Developers perform unit testing on their code before pushing changes to the main codebase. On the other side, QAs and testers participate in brainstorming sessions early in development to understand design requirements.

Naturally, a DevOps team needs to invest in a good software testing setup and strategy to carry their code as smoothly and clean as possible. This is where Quality Assurance (QA) comes in.

The role of the Quality Assurance as Consultants

DevOps is all about shifting the mindsets and behaviors of contributors in more collaborative directions. Developers shoulder the bulk of the testing responsibility so that quality assurance engineers [can] focus on designing and implementing more robust solutions.

But to transition to this approach, developers will require some small training. Eventually, with developers taking on more responsibility,

QAs would transform into a more consultative role, helping them create more accurate tests and do a better job of screening for quality control.

Therefore, QA teams must become coaches for developers, giving them the mindset and skills they need to identify, test, and report quality issues.

The Quality Assurance as a Strategist

The effective form of Scrum includes QA experts from the beginning of the sprint, allowing for targeted, well-thought-out creation.

A good QA engineer can make firm decisions about what is ‘good’ and what isn’t. It’s their job to decide how the software should be when he/she meets their standards.

Because of their deep understanding of the end-users, they are best positioned to advise the dev team on what kinds of users/features go into the final version of the software.

 

 

In conclusion, there is no clear winner when it comes to QA vs DevOps.

Both approaches have their own strengths and weaknesses, and it ultimately depends on the specific needs of your organization as to which one will be more successful. However, what is clear is that both approaches need to be well-planned and executed in order to be effective and that both need to be supported by a strong team of skilled professionals.

If you liked this article, read about “Differences between QA and SDET” too

bookmark_borderWhy do you need Cloud as QA?

Posted on by BIanca

Why do you need Cloud as QA? Because it allows for tests to be run on real-world hardware and software configurations. Cloud-based QA is also more scalable and cost-effective than traditional on-premises QA, making it a great option for companies of all sizes.

 

 

What you should know about cloud testing

Cloud-based testing is an approach to quality assurance that uses cloud-based tools to emulate real-world users and environments. You can utilize cloud-based testing to ensure the quality of your product and process is at an optimal level.

Providing customers with cloud-based testing environments which they can configure according to the application’s requirements is a growing business for quality assurance specialists.

Most providers, or vendors, of cloud services for quality assurance, also offer tools for managing and configuring these environments, in addition to other services such as testing labs and service provider virtualization.

The appeal of on-demand services and simple procedures for acquiring test tools is enabling cloud-based QA to become more and more commonplace.

Cloud-based testing environments enable you to perform different kinds of tests.

  • Functional testing ensures software functions and features work properly
  • Non-functional testing is a wide area as it tests the software for different non-functional aspects
  • The three different types of non-functional testing are business requirements, security, scalability, and performance
  • Cloud-based solutions such as ClickTest, BrowserStack, and Quorum allow organizations to test their applications for compatibility, operability, disaster recovery, and multi-tenancy. The key to these web-based tools is speed.

Cloud as QA

When it comes to quality assurance (QA), the cloud has a lot to offer. For starters, it can help you save money on infrastructure costs. Plus, it provides a scalable and flexible platform for testing your applications.

There are several reasons why you might want to consider using the cloud for QA purposes.

First and foremost, it can help you save money on infrastructure costs. By using the cloud, you can avoid the need to invest in expensive hardware and software for your QA environment. Plus, the cloud is a highly scalable platform, so you can easily adjust your testing needs as your business grows.

What is Cloud as QA?

Cloud as QA is a process that uses the cloud to test applications. You can use this type of testing to often test web applications.

The cloud provides a scalable testing environment that you can use to test applications of all sizes.

You can use Cloud as QA to test applications in a variety of ways, including functional testing, load testing, and performance testing. Cloud as QA can be used to reduce the cost of testing and increase the speed of testing.

Why do you need Cloud as QA?

There are many benefits of using cloud services for quality assurance purposes. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is the cost savings.

Cloud services are typically much less expensive than on-premises solutions.

Secondly, cloud services are usually much more scalable than on-premises solutions. This means that you can easily add more users or increase capacity as needed.

Additionally, cloud services are typically much more reliable than on-premises solutions. This is because they are typically managed by experienced IT professionals.

Finally, cloud services offer several other benefits, such as the ability to access data from anywhere and the ability to share data with others.

In addition, the cloud provides a flexible platform for testing your applications. With the cloud, you have access to a variety of platforms and configurations, such as Windows Server, Linux, MySQL, and more.

The cloud also offers a variety of environments, such as clean environments for starting testing from scratch and dirty environments that include simulated user activity. This variety gives you more options for where and how you do your testing — and potentially saves you time as well.

The cloud also makes it easier to set up and run automated testing platforms, such as LoadRunner, Jenkins, Cucumber, or Selenium, as well as bug tracking systems, such as JIRA. It’s easier because there is usually no need for you to set up or maintain servers; you simply launch virtual machines (VMs) in the cloud and run the software of your choice.

That’s it—it’s automated, cost-effective, and scalable. As a bonus, it is often easier to set up and maintain secure access to testing environments from anywhere.

Cloud as QA can help you save time and money while ensuring that your software meets the highest quality standards.

If you’re looking for a way to save time and money while ensuring that your software meets the highest quality standards, cloud as QA is a great option.

With cloud as QA, you can get your software tested quickly and efficiently. You don’t have to worry about set-up or maintenance costs. Furthermore, because experienced professionals will test your software you can be confident that it will be of the highest quality.

 

Conclusion

Cloud-based quality assurance services offer several advantages over traditional on-premise QA setups. They are more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective. Cloud-based QA also allows for better collaboration between different teams and stakeholders. If you are looking to improve the efficiency and quality of your software development process, then migrating to a cloud-based QA setup is something you should seriously consider.

bookmark_borderDifferences between QA and SDET

Posted on by BIanca

There is a common misconception that Quality Assurance (QA) and Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) is the same.

While both QA and SDET play vital roles in the software development process, there are key differences between the two. Quality assurance is focused on the quality of the software, while, SDET is focused on the quality of the code.

QA testers are responsible for ensuring that the software meets the requirements set forth by the business, while SDETs are responsible for ensuring that the code meets the requirements set forth by the business.

 

Differences between QA and SDET

The importance of Quality Assurance

There are two main topics of quality assurance: QA and SDET.

QA is focused on preventative measures, ensuring that defects are found and corrected before you release the product.

SDET is focused on detecting, and finding defects after you release the product.

Both are important, but which one is right for you depends on your skills and interests.

If you like to find and fix errors, QA may be a good fit for you. If you’re more interested in finding defects after you release the product, SDET may be a better option.

If quality assurance is your interest, consider pursuing both roles to gain a deeper understanding of how the software works and how to make it better.

What is Quality Assurance (QA)?

Quality Assurance (QA) is the process of monitoring the procedures and methods intended to ensure the quality of a product. The term ‘Quality Assurance’ is very familiar in the software industry. It is presumed to be synonymous with ‘Manual Testing’ or ‘Tester’. But this job title does not only exclusively rely upon manual testing; an ‘Individual’ can have the job title of ‘Quality Assurance’ and might also perform Automation Testing.

What is a Software Development Engineer in Test?

SDET is the acronym for Software Development/Design Engineer in Test. The position refers to an IT professional who happens to remain engaged, both in the development as well as testing of the software. These are professionals whose skills are in Software Development as well as Quality Engineering. They not only participate in developing and writing test scripts, but SDET testing also helps in fixing bugs as part of the process. Thus, they help in replacing repetitive manual testing with automation.

Two perspectives on software testing

All two professions, namely, Quality Assurance (QA), and Software Development Engineer in Test(SDET), are somehow related to each other.

The professional abilities, the roles and responsibilities, the tasks, and the knowledge required, are factors that differentiate these two from each other.

Qualities of a good quality analyst

  • To succeed in the tool industry, there is no need to strengthen technical knowledge of programming.
  • Proficiency in setting up processes for bug ticket tracking, testing, and maintaining proper communication.
  • Programming skills in Manual and Automated testing, and knowledge of different testing tools.
  • Duties and responsibilities Objective-C, Swift, iOS.

SDET expectations

  • Technical knowledge of languages.
  • Knowing about the available test methods and associated tools.
  • Ability to understand and work with “Agile” and “DevOps” methodologies.
  • Identifying bottlenecks and limitations and automating their resolution.
  • Understanding of design patterns of BDD
  • Understanding and using object-oriented design principles

The two job titles at hand – Quality Assurance (QA) Engineers and Software Development and Engineering (SDET) – have very different skill sets and requirements.

There are also certain soft skills, like teamwork and communication, that tie these two jobs together.

It’s important to keep in mind that despite these similarities, they each possess unique aspects and qualifications that you need to understand. In particular, it’s important to understand that development is a very technical job, while QA and SDET are more focused on problem-solving.
  • Very good interpersonal communication skills.
  • Qualities of a leader.
  • Both are important to writing content.
  • The ability to understand emotions and control them.
  • Able to adapt and able to respond.
  • Study quick.

SDET and QA salary comparison

Salary for SDET/QA Software Engineers will vary depending on their experience, industry, skills, knowledge, employer, and potentially even bias if an employer has a preference for any certain individual or type of applicant.

When it comes to SDETs, graduates from names are most definitely going to earn more than those from an unknown or lesser known school.  Since SDET is a more sought-after position, salaries are higher than for a generic automated tester.

Manual QA testing involves recording and replicating real-world user behavior, producing a stable environment for testing, and ensuring that you’re not releasing an application with defects. These testers have specialized skills, making them a valuable asset to any IT team.

 

In conclusion, there is a big difference between QA and SDET. QA is mainly responsible for manual testing while SDET is responsible for both manual and automation testing. QA is more focused on the business side while SDET is more focused on the technical side.

bookmark_borderDo you need a QA certification?

Posted on by BIanca

If you are looking to get ahead in your career as a quality assurance professional, you may be wondering if you need a QA certification. The answer depends on your experience and goals. If you are new to the field, certification can give you the knowledge and skills you need to get started.

Alternatively, if you have several years of experience, a certification can help you move into a management role. Either way, a QA certification can give you the edge you need to succeed.

 

What is a QA certification?

A QA certification is a great way to set yourself apart from other job candidates. You can show your dedication to quality assurance. There are many benefits to getting a QA certification, including improved job prospects and increased earnings potential. With a QA certification, you’ll be able to show employers that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the field.

To get a QA certification, you’ll need to complete an accredited QA program. During your studies, you’ll learn about various quality assurance concepts and techniques. Once you’ve completed the program, you’ll need to pass a certification exam. Upon passing the exam, you’ll be officially certified. Then you will be able to use the credential to seek out better job opportunities.

Who needs a QA certification?

There are many benefits to getting a quality assurance certification. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that it can help you get a job in quality assurance. However, even if you are already working in quality assurance, a certification can help you move up in your career. In addition, a certification can help you learn new skills and keep up with the latest trends in quality assurance.

There are many different types of QA certification, but they all generally involve learning about quality assurance principles and practices. In some cases, you may also need to take an exam. Depending on the certification, it may be valid for a certain period or it may be valid for life.

If your interest is pursuing a QA certification, there are several to choose from, offered by a variety of accrediting bodies. The International Quality Association (ICA), the Institute of Quality Assurance (IIA), and the International Certification Accreditation Service provide the most popular certifications (ICAS).

Why should you get certified?

In an economy where employees who have recently received some form of education or training are more valuable than those who haven’t. Getting a certification from a trusted source has become important.

Even though you don’t need certification to do the job, it can help you gain practical skills and the confidence needed to do the job well.

Receiving a certificate will help reinforce practical knowledge and skills.

Gain new skills, stay current on industry knowledge, and earn credentials that demonstrate your professional achievements.

Advantages of QA Certification:

If you are new to the software testing world:

  • It creates a unique way to show your audience what you have to offer:

Because the majority of your competitors may not be uncertified, being a certified test analyst sets you apart from the crowd.

  • It’s a chance to show off your top qualities:

Most hiring managers consider technical skills crucial for the initial screening of job applicants. A foundation Level certificate is a significant achievement in its own right. It can help with job search and also partly assures confidence of the resume owner before the actual interview takes place.

This certification ensures that even if a candidate doesn’t have much or any prior knowledge of QA, they will learn the key terms and understand basic concepts.

Most companies do a screening test of a resume, which they do by a non-technical person. Having a certification will improve your chances of getting through the selection process.

If you are an experienced Software Quality Assurance expert:

This tip is for those who are looking for something unique. If you are looking to grow the same form or an existing business, or if are looking to start a new business in the same industry, then an EPO (European Patent) will be an incredible asset.

It’s always valuable to be one step ahead of your competitors. Similarly, you must always keep up to date with the latest certifications. Certifications across several departments within a business ensure that your staff are well-equipped and have the required knowledge to carry out any test required.

Consequently, your most important testing metric is the number of defects you discover.

If you are looking to grow your portfolio:

What this means is that they are limited to testing the software as it’s developed by programmers and designers. They rarely if ever get a chance to develop their skills by focusing on other business areas.

In other words, if a person is working in a functional testing role for a longer period, he/she may become too focused on one type of testing and may lose sight of other possible testing methodologies.

Similarly, a person working in a waterfall-type process will become too biased and will not be able to appreciate the benefits of a more flexible Agile process. This can lead to a disconnect in what processes to use and what is most effective.

Keeping certified is one of the ways to always be updated, being in the know about the certain standard definition and their updates.

Cons of QA Certification:

  1. Certification does not guarantee that you will use your knowledge. You will still be required to use your abilities.
  2. You cannot look for a certificate to be able to get a promotion.
  3. No one can assure you that being certified means you will become the competency of a good tester. You do need all the quality education and learning that you can get, and this is how the competency of a good tester is improved.
  4. Many human resources professionals do not consider certification as a requirement if you have the experience necessary to handle the job.

A salary-centric view

The effectiveness of certifications is not entirely clear. However, experience suggests that certification may help individuals in their career prospects. According to ISTQB, the greater majority of companies would like to have approximately 75% of their employees certified at the Foundation level.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to get a QA certification comes down to a few factors.

Consider your level of experience, your goals, and the requirements of the positions you’re applying for. If you’re just starting, certification can give you the edge you need to land a job. If you’re experienced, a certification can help you move up in your current company or make a switch to a new one.

And if you’re looking for a specific type of job, many employers will require certification. Whatever your situation, getting certified can only help you.

 

Read about QA testing certifications

bookmark_borderQA testing certifications

Posted on by BIanca

Knowing which software quality assurance courses to take can be difficult. That’s why in this article we’re covering some QA testing certifications you should take advantage of.

Understanding professional certifications for software testing

Software quality assurance (QA) certification is a voluntary program designed to help professionals who work with QA products and testing to obtain and maintain current standards in their industry. This training is for students to get a well-rounded, in-depth perspective on the working principles of Quality Assurance.

What is the importance of building software developments that meet certain standards?

Software quality assurance certifications are essential to career opportunities available that can help the market preserve consistent performance. Earning a software quality assurance certification can assist you in improving your resume and broadening your expertise. The following are some of the advantages of obtaining a software QA certification:

  • Benefitting from your expertise
  • Learning from scratch
  • Showing you how to become the candidate of choice
  • Making you ready for a more challenging position
  • Ensuring you are capable of leading a team

Types of QA Certifications

Below is a list of some software certifications, organized depending on your level of experience from beginner to advanced:

CAST certification

To advance your quality assurance (QA) career, you’ll want to earn a CAST certification. This certification demonstrates an applicant’s foundational understanding of software testing and is awarded by a non-governmental organization. This exam is reasonably priced at only $100, and the fee for study materials is included.

To qualify for this program, you must:

  • Have one of the following licenses: * Code401 * Laravel SSL * WireGuard * Let’s Encrypt * Free Lets
  • Three to four years of intensive study
  • Currently, a university or college degree is required, although some positions accept candidates with a high school diploma and one to two years of experience.
  • 3 years of experience working as …

Becoming an international software tester with ISTQB certification

The International Software Testing Qualification Board (ISTQB) recognizes software testing professionals with standard qualifications around the world.

Similar to other commonly accepted certification programs around the world, ISTQB exams follow a universal syllabus and offer different levels of certification for those with more advanced experience.

The entry-level mandatory exam costs $250, although ISTQB offers other, more specialized, levels of certification for more experienced testers.

It does not require any extraordinary prerequisites, however, it’s advisable to get at least six months of hands-on experience before joining this program.

Certified software tester

The CSTE program certifies that an individual possesses the skills and knowledge he or she needs to be successful as a software quality assurance (QA) engineer.

The program provides clarity on what the industry expects from a QA engineer. To gain certification, applicants must first learn the fundamentals of QA, and then take the test, which will involve a mix of hands-on practical experience and theoretical knowledge.

The CSTE certification program can cost between $350 and $420 depending on whether they are certified as a group by their company or individually. Anyone can take the exam, but passing the test requires a rigorous understanding of the fundamentals of QA.

The CYBR program requires candidates to have a minimum of 18 months of clinical work experience as well as one of the following prerequisites:

  • 2+ years of work experience
  • A required post-undergraduate degree (e.g., master’s)
  • A four-year college degree or higher from an accredited college
  • Six years of experience in the field

CSQA Certification Program

The Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) Program trains individuals on the topics of quality assurance and control.

It consists of three parts: the CSTE (Certified Software Tester), the CSQE (Certified Software Quality Engineer), and the CSQA (Certified Software Quality Analyst).

The Certified Software Quality Analyst qualification is particularly useful for individuals who have earned their CSTE and are interested in making progress in their QA role.

To pass this program, students must earn at least 70% on the exam. The cost for this exam is $350 or $420 for access to the Software.

Candidates must have recent work experience within the cyber security industry or related fields such as chief financial officer, chief information officer, IT security manager/head of security, IT audit, risk management, or compliance.

  • A four-year degree from an accredited college with at least two years of professional experience
  • A bachelor’s degree or college diploma in creative writing, English, or a related field.
  • Three years of experience in a copyediting or proofreading role.
  • (Any) degree on a four-year plan from an accredited college with at least four years of experience in software development
  • Working as a marketing specialist

Becoming CMSQ certified

Those who complete the Certified Manager of Software Quality (CMSQ) program, earning at least 70%, show their employers that they hold the essential capabilities and competencies of software quality assurance (QA).

These individuals also demonstrate that they can manage their testing team effectively by exhibiting expert management and leadership skills.

Those interested individuals who seek this certification will be either a manager-level employees or will have gained enough experience in the quality assurance field to become eligible.

Requirements of this new designation include a completed minimum of 24 hours of continuing education credits in the field of quality management within the last 24 months.

The total cost for this new certification is $450 and includes the PDF application form, study materials, and an exam (which is taken online).

Aiming for a test or test manager job

The ISTQB offers a certification course for test managers who aim to progress further in the field of testing, enabling them to learn the best testing practices and team management skills.

To enroll, individuals must possess a Dilated Skills Certificate.

Then, after paying a fee of $250, they can take the SAQTM examination, which must contain at least 65 correct answers in multiple-choice format.

To earn this certificate, you should have:

  • The Foundation Certificate OR
  • Pass an AWS Technical Professional exam OR
  • Complete an AWS Online Course

 

There are a variety of QA testing certifications available, and the best one for you will depend on your experience and goals. If you’re just starting out, look for a certification that will give you a solid foundation in the basics of QA testing.

If you’re looking to move into a leadership role, look for a certification that covers management and best practices. And if you’re looking to specialize in a particular area of QA testing, look for a certification that covers that area in depth.

Whichever certification you choose, make sure it’s from a reputable source and that it’s updated regularly to keep up with the latest changes in the field.

 

Read about penetration testing certifications too. 

bookmark_borderBlack box web application penetration testing

Posted on by BIanca

If your organization is developing or maintaining web applications, you should consider performing black-box web application penetration testing.

Ethical hackers who have no prior knowledge of the application or its underlying architecture are performing black box penetration tests. The goal of these tests is to identify security flaws that attackers could exploit.

Organizations can benefit from black box web application penetration tests in several ways. First, these tests can help identify vulnerabilities that may not be obvious to developers. Second, black box penetration tests can help assess the security of the applications from the perspective of an attacker.

Finally, these tests can help organizations to understand the types of attacks that could be used against their applications.

What is black box web application penetration testing?

A black box web application test is a type of security testing that an ethical hacker is conducting without any knowledge of the inner workings of the systems. The tester tries to find vulnerabilities by looking at the system from the outside, just as an attacker would. This type of testing is often used to assess the security of web applications.

To conduct a black box web application penetration test, the tester will first need to gather information about the system. The tester can do it by looking at the website, looking for publicity available information, or even conducting social engineering attacks. Once the tester has some information about the system, they can start trying to find vulnerabilities.

Some common techniques used in black box web application penetration testing include SQL injection, cross-site scripting, unauthorized access, and denial of service attacks. It is important to note that before performing a penetration test, you will need to get the go-ahead from the application owner. The tester will need to provide documentation about all the tests they perform, as well as any vulnerabilities they find.

How does it work?

To carry out a black box test, the tester will first need to gather information about the system, such as the URL, any public information about the application, and the type of technology it is using. With this information, the tester can then start trying to find ways to break into the system. He or she can do it by trying to guess passwords, looking for unpatched vulnerabilities, or trying to bypass security controls.

If the tester can find a way in, they can then look for a point where they can maintain access to the system. This means that the attacker can keep coming back to commit crimes and steal data.

Once the tester has found a way to maintain access, they will need to find a way to permanently maintain access to the system. This involves hiding their tracks and preventing the site from being patched.

How to know if a black box tester is good?

Anyone other than the application’s owner cannot tell if the tests were properly performed. There are, however, a few indicators. One of the best indicators is if the vulnerabilities found are serious and already reported.

If the only findings are low-risk issues, such as information disclosure or remote code execution with confirmation, it could be that the tester didn’t find anything serious because the owner already patched those vulnerabilities. It’s also possible that the tester didn’t find any vulnerabilities at all because the application is already very safe and doesn’t have any critical flaws.

Cost of the black box web application penetration testing

Penetration testing can cost a fair amount of money, and the average prices vary depending on several factors. The size of the tester, whether they are recommended by anyone, and the severity of the vulnerabilities found will all play a part in pricing.

Black box testing is usually more expensive than white box testing, though white box testing can be too invasive and expensive for smaller companies. Black box testing can cost between $500 and $20,000 per month, while white box testing can cost upwards of $100,000 per month.

What tools do black box testers use

As a black box tester explores a site, they’ll use a variety of tools to exploit the vulnerabilities they find. The combination of tools used will vary from tester to tester. The one commonality between all black box testers, however, is that they don’t know the architecture or design of the application they are testing. This means they can’t use manual testing tools, like scanners, that request an understanding of the structure of the program.

Cheat sheets and vulnerability databases are also popular tools for black box testers to have on hand. These tools are databases of known vulnerabilities, including information on what causes the vulnerabilities, how to detect if a vulnerability is present, and how to fix it. The most popular vulnerability database is CHECK, Internet Security Pro Community, and NVD.

Parts of a black box test report

As a black box tester finds vulnerabilities in an application, they will document their findings in a report. This report will include information on vulnerabilities found as well as recommendations on how to fix them. A vulnerability report template, or VRT, is the most common format for these reports. A tester may use one or more VRTs, depending on the type of vulnerability they find.

  • Vulnerability Report – You can use this VRT to document critical and high-level vulnerabilities, like cross-site scripting, authentication issues, and logic flaws.
  • Evaluation Report – You can use this to document the quality of a web application, including its architecture, design, processing logic, and the security measures in place.
  • Bug Report – You can use this VRT to document bugs not considered vulnerabilities, like poorly implemented features or user interface flaws.

As black box testing techniques and tools have evolved, so has the format of these reports, and the exact information included in them.

How does black box testing help the client?

As a white box test client learns about the vulnerabilities their application is likely to contain, they can take steps to fix them. They can also use the information to improve the code quality of the application, improving the functionality and security of the code itself.

The tester’s findings are also very useful to the client as they plan a new release of their application. If the application is live on the internet, a released update can cause a lot of trouble if it contains new vulnerabilities.

The tester can help the client release the update in a way that minimizes the impact on its users and keeps the website online.

It is also valuable to know how an attacker would attack your application, so you can build countermeasures to those tactics.

As a tester tells a client how they would attack the application, and countermeasures would work, the client can learn a lot about how to improve their application and how to build a defense against attacks.

What are the benefits of black box web application penetration testing?

Benefits of black box web application penetration testing include the ability to find hidden vulnerabilities, identify weaknesses in security controls, and gain insights into the system from the perspective of an attacker.

Black box testing can help organizations to improve their security posture and make their systems more resilient to attacks. The amount of time required to conduct black box penetration tests is relatively short, and the cost is also low.

 

Black box web application penetration testing is becoming increasingly important as the world becomes more interconnected. As more and more businesses move their operations online, the need to ensure the security of these systems becomes more and more pressing. By utilizing the techniques described in this article, you can help to ensure that your system is as secure as possible.

Read more about penetration testing here

bookmark_borderList of penetration testing certifications

Posted on by BIanca

We’ve compiled a list of penetration testing certifications for you in this article so you can understand what they mean and possibly choose the right one.

There are many reasons to get a penetration testing certification. With certification, you can prove your skills to potential employees and customers, and help improve your career prospects.

A penetration testing certification can also help you to keep up with the latest tools and techniques and learn new skills. There are many different certification programs available, so you can choose one that fits your needs and interests.

Whether you’re just starting in penetration testing, or you’re a seasoned professional, a certification can help you stand out from the crowd.

List of penetration testing certifications

What is penetration testing?

Penetration testing is a type of security testing that you can use to evaluate the security of a computer system or network Penetration testers attempt to find vulnerabilities in systems and then exploit them. This can help organizations to find and fix security weaknesses before they are exploited by attackers.

There are numerous penetration testing certifications available, but they are not all created equal. Here is a list of ten penetration testing certifications for you to consider.

10 penetration testing certifications

1. The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

This is one of the most popular and well-recognized in the industry. It covers a wide range of topics related to ethical hacking and is a great starting point for anyone interested in this field. The Ethical Hacker Association (ECA) claims that individuals with the CEH certification can identify and assess system vulnerabilities by identifying classifying and explaining the hacking activity. They can also develop a defense against these attacks.

Although this is a great entry-level certification, it is not up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity and penetration testing trends.

Cost: $399 (requires membership to the Ethical Hacker Association)

2. The Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

This certification is another well-known and respected certification. It focuses specifically on offensive security and is a great choice for those who want to specialize in this area.

The cost and time to complete this certification may seem high (around $2,000 and six to nine months to complete the course work), but it is worth it because this is one of the few certifications that test your hacking skills.

The Certification Review gives the OSCP four out of five stars for difficulty and effectiveness.

3. The GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)

GSEC certification is a good option for those looking to prove general knowledge in the cybersecurity field.

Cost: $399 (discounts available if you bundle multiple certifications)

The GSEC certification is also offered through several other providers, such as Citrix and Ivanti (formerly Microsoft)

The 200-question exam takes four hours to complete and covers topics like risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, applying security policies to systems and applications, and monitoring systems for anomalies.

Like the CEH, the GSEC is a well-known certification among IT professionals.

4. EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (EC SA)

This one is another entry-level certification that certifies individuals in the area of systems security. This certification certifies individuals in the area of systems security. It covers security architecture, design, implementation, and administration. US Department of Defense recognizes this certification, which is another benefit.

EC-Council is a well-known name in the tech industry, known for hosting hacking conferences and providing high-quality training materials. The International Certification Accreditation Consortium (ICAC) and the Commission on Accreditation for Compliance Assessment have both accredited EC-Council certifications (CAChe).

Cost and duration: $3,395.00 with a duration of five days.

5. EC-Council Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT)

The LPT exam will challenge you to understand the most advanced attack techniques, including vulnerabilities in cryptographic protocols, identity services, and application-level messaging. You will also be able to develop advanced payloads and malicious bots.

This certification is highly in-demand and will enable you to land a job as a security consultant or a penetration tester. You will also receive a pay increase and enjoy job safety.

You will also learn how to develop advanced malicious bots and payloads used in application-level attacks. This course is instructor-led with lab sessions that follow a daily outline.

Cost: $500 and every year you have to renew it for $250

6. Hacker Guardian Certified Security Penetration Tester (HCPPT)

There are no prerequisites for taking this exam.

Cost: $150 – discounted bundle price of $350 for the entire set (CEH, CHFI, CPT, HCPPT)

The Hacker Guardian Certified Security Penetration Tester (HCPPT) exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes long and has 45 to 55 questions. The exam format is multiple choice with four to five answer choices for each question. Candidates need to correctly answer 70 percent of the questions to pass. You can take the exam online through the HackerGuardian portal.

HackerGuardian is a cybersecurity company based in Aptos, California that develops security training courses and solutions to protect organizations from cyber attacks. The HCPPT is one of three versions of the Penetration Tester certification offered by HackerGuardian, along with the HackerGuardian Certified Pentester (HCP) and the HackerGuardian Certified Penetration Test Specialist (HCPS) certifications.

7. Infosec Institute Certified Penetration Tester (CPT)

The CPT is a highly specialized and in-demand security certification that tests your skills in penetration testing and vulnerability analysis. It’s an independent, objective measure of your skills as a white hat hacker.

Cost: $899 -$1499 (includes training, exam, and 120-day membership)

8. Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT)

The Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT) credential is a globally recognized benchmark for professional penetration testers. To provide a comprehensive, real-world understanding of the skills and techniques the CEPT designed the program to successfully conduct a professional penetration test. The program covers a wide range of topics, including information gathering, scanning, enumeration, exploit development, and post-exploitation. The CEPT credential is awarded to individuals who complete the program and pass the associated exam.

The CEPT program requires significant skill and expertise. It takes most candidates between six weeks and three months to pass the CEP experience exam.

Training and the CEP experience exam may cost several thousand dollars. Maintenance fees are approximately $50 per year.

9. Certified Red Team Operations Professional (CRTOP)

The new Certified Red Team Operations Professional (CRTOP) designation from the ISA will help professionals excel in this specialized area of security. CRTOPs will develop a red team operation plan, perform an attack simulation, assess findings, and generate security improvement recommendations. Like other professional certifications from the ISA, the CRTOP certification is based on hands-on skills and a proven track record.

The ISA will offer a free-of-charge online course in January 2020 to prepare candidates for the red team operation practice exam. This online course will cover the basic principles and techniques of red team operations, including scheming, deception, penetration testing, information gathering, and more.

10. Certified Mobile and Web Application Penetration Tester (CMWAPT)

The Certified Mobile and Web Application Penetration Tester (CMWAPT) certification are designed for professionals who want to demonstrate this expertise. Obtaining this certification confirms that you have the skills needed to identify, detect, and mitigate web and mobile application security vulnerabilities.

There are many different types of penetration testing certifications, but the most important thing is to find one that is well respected and will give you the skills you need to be successful. Do your research and make sure you are getting the best training possible. With the right certification, you can become a valuable asset to any organization.

Read about “What is web application penetration testing”

bookmark_borderQA outsourcing or in-house

Posted on by BIanca

Outsourcing or In-house QA testing? The answer to this question depends on many factors. Some say that outsourcing is a wiser choice, and others argue that having your team is more practical.

 

QA outsourcing or in-house

Outsourcing quality assurance

List of advantages:

It saves you time

If you have a team specialized in QA, you can free up that team to focus on other core activities that will grow your company at a scale. By outsourcing your QA, you free up valuable time to focus on the important things.

It lets you do business fast

This means you can launch your product pretty fast and because you can get things done in parallel, therefore, you can grow your business faster than if you had to do everything in-house.

You can get access to experts

You can gain access to experts who you don’t have on staff. A lot of businesses struggle to spend time and money on hiring qualified staff. So, if they can outsource to a partner, they can access his knowledge and skills (that he has built up over the years of experience), as opposed to having to spend time or money training themselves.

No need to hire a full-time employee to do the Quality Assurance (QA) for you

Hiring a professional third-party QA company is more budget-friendly than hiring your employees with expertise in varying fields that will be best suited for the job. Although your employee is experts in their fields of work, the expertise in other domains may cause potential roadblocks and get your website and application flagged as spam or unsafe by major search engines and browsers.

List of disadvantages:

It may take some time

To outsource your QA, you need to give clear instructions to the outsourced team. This can take a lot of time, and you may end up spending a lot of time training them about your project. With quality assurance, you are looking for a long-term relationship. So, the outsourcing team must be in alignment with your business objectives.

Sometimes, it can be very expensive

If you don’t put the effort into hiring the right QA partner, you might spend days, even weeks, hunting for bugs in your app.

Outsourcing is not the best option for every business

Also, you don’t need it everywhere. Many entrepreneurs have launched successful products and applications by going solo.

Risk to your software security

Even though most outsourcing companies may not intend to misuse the information you give them, there is always the risk of them misusing your proprietary information. A good QA provider should never disclose your code to third parties unless they are legally bound by the contract.

Quality assurance in-house

The advantages:

Training your employees

You can train the people on your own by getting the skills you require from the economy. Training on your own will help to save time with briefing an outside firm. You will be able to do the things you needed to do very well on your own.

The risks of confidentiality breaches are minimal

With your team made up of your employees, you can minimize the risks of a confidentiality breach.

You can build your QA team

It’s uncommon for eCommerce platforms to take on the function of product quality assurance-given its inherited value. Like other eCommerce platforms, your company can develop your internal Quality Assurance team, which you can contract out to third-party companies for testing teams. This will save you considerable costs and time when looking to outsource your testing needs.

The disadvantages:

Take time and money to train your staff

This is especially true when all members of the team are at the limit of their skills and are unable to perform the tests precisely and efficiently.

You don’t have an efficient team on staff

If you do not have efficient team members in place, or they lack expertise in a certain area, Quality Assurance testing is a task that you should do in an external place to get the most out of it.

You are unable to enjoy economies of scale

Economies of scale arise when a large group of projects is outsourced to a specialized vendor. Outsourcing leads to efficiencies as fixed costs are shared across many projects and the savings are passed on to the customers.

 

Conclusion

QA outsourcing or in-house has been a very popular concept in the business world. It is the process of hiring an outside firm to handle certain tasks for you. There are many benefits to QA outsourcing or in-house, including better use of resources, and improved quality.

bookmark_borderWhat is web application penetration testing

Posted on by BIanca

Web application penetration testing is a process of identifying, exploiting, and mitigating vulnerabilities in web applications. It is a proactive approach to secure web applications from attackers.

The goal of web application penetrations testing is to find all the vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker and to harden the application against these attacks.

 

 

What is penetration testing?

Penetration testing, also known as pen testing, is a type of security testing that you use to evaluate the security of a computer system or network.

Ethical hackers conduct those pen tests to gain unauthorized access to systems and data. The goal of penetration testing is to identify security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.

What is web application penetration testing?

Web application penetration testing is a process of testing a web application to identify security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. By identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities, web application testing can help improve the security of a website.

Web application penetration testing process:

  • Propose information gathering
  • Conduct a vulnerability scan
  • Find and exploit vulnerabilities
  • Report results to the customers

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What are the different types?

There are four main types of web application penetration testing:

  1. Black box testing
  2. White box testing
  3. Gray box testing
  4. Adaptive/hybrid testing

Black box testing

A black box when used in the context of web application penetration testing means that the security tester has no prior knowledge of the system or applications tested. The tester has access to a firewall or network where the tested and located website is, as well as access to the website itself but with fabricated credentials.

White box testing

A white box testing means that the security tester has full knowledge of the system of applications tested. The tester has full access to the application, databases, and infrastructure that are being tested, with valid credentials.

Gray box testing

Gray box testing means that the security tester has partial knowledge of the system or applications tested. The tester has partial access to the infrastructure that is being tested, with federated credentials.

Adaptative/hybrid testing

Adaptive/hybrid testing means that the tester follows a black box approach for the initial phases of testing and then switches to a white box approach. This occurs if the hacker discover vulnerabilities during the first stage. It allows the tester to try and gain more persistent access to the system or application. A hybrid test combines all three of the above approaches, starting with a white box approach, transitioning to a grey box, and then ending with a black box approach.

Why is web application penetration testing important?

You can use penetration testing to test the security of both internal and external-facing websites and web applications. When testing externally facing systems, penetration testers will attempt to gain access to sensitive data or functionality. For internally facing systems, testers will attempt to elevate privileges or access sensitive data.

Penetration testing is an important part of website and web application security. By identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, you can help to protect your website or web application from unauthorized access, data theft, database corruption, or website defacement.

What are the different types of web application penetration testing?

There are three main types of web application penetrations tests:

  • Independent

A third-party firm or security testers conduct this type of test. Usually, they aren’t affiliated with the organization that owns or operates the website tested.

  • Coordinated

In this type of test, the organization that owns or operates the website tested works with the tester to establish testing objectives and define when the testing will take place.

  • Ad-hoc or incident-based

This type of test is conducted when a vulnerability is discovered that may immediately pose a risk to the organization, its users, or its reputation.

Testing can also be categorized based on the level of access attempted during the test.

  • Low-level access tests

Low-level access tests attempt to gain access to systems without authentication (aka authentication without credentials).

  • Authentication-aware penetration testing (AUP)

Authentication-aware penetration tests attempt to gain authenticated access.

  • Authentication less penetration testing (ALP)

Authentication-less penetration testing attempts to gain unauthenticated access to a system.

It’s important to note that these categories aren’t mutually exclusive. A single test may incorporate multiple levels of access and types of testers.

How can web application penetration testing improve your website’s security?

While you can use web application penetration testing to find vulnerabilities in any type of web application, it is especially useful for finding vulnerabilities in custom-built applications.

Application security testing using application performance testing tools and automated testing tools can also identify vulnerabilities in off-the-shelf applications. But, it is possible that a web application penetration test will miss some vulnerabilities.

Penetration testing can also identify insecure configurations, such as ports that should be secured but are left open. Which is another vulnerability.

Penetration tests, both authentication-aware and authentication-less, can also be more accurate than vulnerability scans in identifying application-level vulnerability. Especially in complex custom-built applications.

Those tests are more likely to identify all the vulnerabilities that exist in a web application. This information is critical for developing a secure configuration for the application. Is also important for understanding how the application should be.

What happens after a pen test?

The insider will communicate their results with the target company’s security team after completing a penetration test. This data can then be utilized to enforce security improvements to address any flaws found during the test.

New WAF rules, stricter form validations, rate limiting, and DDoS mitigation are some examples of these improvements.

 

Penetration testing is an important aspect of web application security. By performing penetration tests, organizations can identify vulnerabilities in their systems and take steps to mitigate the risks. While penetration testing can be costly and time-consuming, the benefits of doing so far outweigh the costs.

bookmark_borderWhat is software testing and why it is so hard

Posted on by BIanca

Software testing is the process of verifying the functionality of a software program. It is a critical part of the software development process, as it helps to ensure that the software meets the requirements of the end user.

However, testing can be a very challenging and time-consuming task, as it is often difficult to identify all of the potential errors in the programs. As a result, it is important to carefully plan and execute the testing process so that the software is of high quality.

What is software testing?

Software testing is a process that assesses the functionality of a software program.

Testing must be thorough to be effective, which can be challenging and time-consuming. However, it is essential to ensure that software is error-free before it is used, as errors can cause significant problems and even crashes. By thoroughly testing software before it is released, we can avoid these costly and frustrating problems.

The software testing lifecycle identifies the steps involved in the software testing process. These steps include preparing for testing, executing test cases, analyzing results, and reporting findings.

Software Testing Stages and Phases

The software testing process implements a testing lifecycle, which identifies the steps involved in the testing process. The software testing lifecycle has four main stages:

  • Pre-release testing
  • Developing (construction) testing
  • Verification and validation testing
  • Post-release testing

In most cases, these four stages can be broken down into several sub-stages or phases.

1. Pre-release testing

The purpose of pre-release testing is to ensure that the software meets the developer’s specifications before it is made available to the public or other users. As such, this stage primarily employs black box testing techniques, which evaluate a system based on the definition of its requirements. During this stage, testers also identify and resolve bugs.

2. Development (construction) testing

During development (construction) testing, testers employ white box testing techniques, which evaluate a system based on the definition of its requirement and the code base. This stage focuses on evaluating the internal quality of the software and ensures that it meets the defined standards. Development testers also fix minor bugs found during this stage.

3. Verification and Validation

Verification and validation, commonly referred to as V&V, is the last stage in the software testing process before a product is released to the public. During this stage, testers use the white box testing technique to evaluate the internal quality of the code base and the software. Testers also evaluate experimental or proposed solutions, systems, or technologies. During V&V, testers also document test cases and result.

Final validation is followed by final validation, which is followed by release.

4. Post-release testing

Post-release testing follows the deployment of a product to the public. This stage primarily focuses on validating that fixes to bugs introduced during development or construction were successful. This stage also focuses on evaluating the stability of the software and identifying any usability issues for end users. Performance testing belongs in this stage as well, though it is mostly carried out during verification and validation. Post-release testing also involves monitoring and evaluating the software in production, which involves observing user behavior as well as detecting new issues.

Why is software testing so hard?

There are many reasons why software testing is so difficult. One reason is that there are so many different types of software, and each type has its own unique set of challenges. Another reason is that software is constantly changing, so testers have to constantly adapt their methods and approach.

Another challenge is that software is often complex, with many different layers and components. This can make it difficult to identify all the potential areas that could fail. And even when all the potential problems are identified, it can be hard to know how to create tests that will reliably find them.

There are also challenges related to the people involved in software testing. Testers need to have strong technical skills, but they also need to be able to communicate well with other team members. Developers often think their code is perfectly logical, but that’s hardly the case. There will be bugs, and there will be misunderstandings between developers and testers.

So communication is essential, but it’s often a problem. There can be a lot of friction between developers and testers, in part because developers don’t always see the need for extensive software testing. They might feel like their time would be better spent developing more code instead of testing someone else’s.

On the tester side, there may be a lot of jealousy over the developer’s freedom to modify and rewrite code, while testers are confined to using the software differently every time.

Also, there can be a lot of pressure on testers. If the software fails, it’s often in the news. People lose money and their lives are disrupted. The public sees testers as the ones who are supposed to protect against that from happening. That can create a lot of anxiety and stress that testers don’t need.

Hands-on testing to find bugs

Testing can feel like a never-ending task. Every time you finish testing one part of a product, developers add more code to the program. So the tester’s job is never finished. That can be frustrating, especially when much of the testing process seems like a repeat of what’s already been done.

There’s a saying among software testers that you’re never done until the software is done. What that means is that as long as the software is in development, testers must continue testing it. The finished product may work correctly now, but the developers will likely add new features in the future. Unless those parts of the software

But although software testing may seem like a tedious and repetitive task, it’s essential to creating a working product. There are often many different ways that a program can break. Only by testing a program repeatedly can testers find and fix all the bugs before the product is released to the public. That’s why testers need to have a clear understanding of what has and hasn’t been tested.

But despite these challenges, software testing is becoming more and more important, and more companies are realizing the need to invest in testers. According to statistics, the number of jobs for software testers is growing at a rate of 12 percent a year, making it one of the fastest-growing professions.

How to make software testing easier

Software testing is essential to the software development process, but it can be difficult to do effectively. Many factors can make software testing difficult, including the complexity of the software, the possibility of errors in the code, and the need to test all possible scenarios. However, there are also ways to make software testing easier. For example, using automation can help to reduce the amount of time needed to test the software, and using test management tools can help to keep track of the tests that need to be run.

To ensure that software testing is effective, you will need to consider several factors when figuring out how to test your software. The level of uncertainty concerning these factors will determine how much human supervision and iteration your tests will need. The more complex and/or critical the software, the more manual testing will be required.

 

Here are some factors to consider when testing software:

Know the functionality and purpose of your software

This seems like a fairly simple factor to keep in mind, but it’s important to test the functionality of the software you’re developing against the purpose it is intended to serve. This will help to avoid creating an application that looks great technically but doesn’t solve the problem it was designed to address.

Make a list of objectives and features to refer to when testing

Talk to the people who will use the software daily to get an idea of their goals and expectations. This will help to ensure that your software meets those goals and expectations in a useful and effective way.

Choose the right software testing techniques

There are many software testing techniques to choose from, but the following are some of the most effective:

  • Test-Driven Development (TDD)

Test-driven development is a software development process that requires developers to write a failing unit test before writing any code. When the developer writes the code that passes the test, they also write another test that could fail. The biggest benefit of test-driven development is that it ensures the code is thoroughly tested and that any new code is written in a way that ensures both stability and flexibility.

  • Behavior-Driven Development (BDD)

Similar to TDD, BDD focuses on describing the software’s behavior in a language that everyone can understand. The tests are written in a text file or an editor and read like simple English specifications. As the code changes, so do the execution of the tests.

  • Test-based sampling

This technique involves running some samples of the software’s source code through an automated test tool to obtain check data. This data is then used to estimate the quality of the rest of the code.

  • Exploratory testing

This is a form of agile software testing that involves the tester “flying blind” without any formal scripts or plans. The tester executes an automated test tool in an exploratory manner to identify bugs and other defects. Once an error is discovered, it is labeled as such and set aside until the end of the testing cycle, at which point all the bugs have been organized by category.

  • Software testing in real-time

The best way to ensure that the software is meeting its goals and expectations is to test the software daily. This will allow you to catch bugs as they arise and address them quickly.

  • Simplify your testing process

The more products you test, the slower your testing process becomes. To avoid sinking into this quagmire, you need to find ways to simplify your testing process so you can test more products in less time.

Automated testing

Software testing is essential because it allows us to find bugs in our code and ensure that our code works as intended. However, it can be difficult to do effectively, especially when we are working with complex codebases. Automated testing can help to make our testing more efficient and accurate, but it can also be difficult to set up and maintain. Ultimately, though, the benefits outweigh the challenges, and it is essential to the success of any software development project.

Software testers are constantly trying to find ways to make testing easier and more effective. Over the last few decades, software testers have developed a variety of testing approaches and techniques for finding bugs. One helpful approach is automated software testing. When implemented effectively, automated testing can help to make testing faster, more accurate, and more consistent.

Testing in the cloud

Software testing is an essential but difficult process. Here’s why: testing in the cloud can be challenging and time-consuming. In addition, cloud-based applications can be difficult to test because of their distributed nature. Finally, cloud-based applications can be difficult to test because they are often built on top of complex infrastructure.

The various challenges in software testing

Software testing is essential but difficult: Here’s why. The various challenges make it difficult to ensure that software is error-free. These challenges include the need to test for a wide range of potential errors, the need to test complex software, and the need to test software promptly. Despite these challenges, software testing is essential to the development of high quality.

The following are among the most common software testing techniques:

  • White box testing
  • Black box testing
  • Unit testing
  • Integration testing
  • System testing
  • Manual testing
  • Automated software testing
  • Code coverage
  • Functional testing
  • Performance testing
  • Sanity checking
  • Shadowing

What are the benefits of software testing?

Software testing is essential because it helps ensure that software meets its requirements and performs as expected. However, testing can be difficult because it can be time-consuming and expensive, and there is always the potential for errors.

 

Here are several reasons why you should be glad that software testing is so important:

1. IT safety

Software testing ensures that software performs as expected and that it doesn’t contain any bugs that could cause crashes or other problems. This prevents risks such as system outages, malware infections, and other problems that could potentially put your

2. Customer satisfaction

Software that contains errors is frustrating for customers and can result in decreased satisfaction, as well as negative online reviews that could negatively impact your brand.

3. Revenue growth

Software that works well will increase revenue, both through retaining existing customers and attracting new ones.

4. Resource optimization

Utilizing tools such as Software Testing Service provides the ability to maximize the efficiency of your software assets, which can save you money in the long run.

 

Testing is essential to the quality of software but it is often hard to do well. This is because testing is about finding bugs, and bugs are by definition difficult to find. The best way to find bugs is to have a good understanding of the code and the system and to think creatively about how it could fail. Good testing is a combination of art and science, and it takes time and experience to get good at it.

bookmark_borderQuality assurance in healthcare – what it is and why it’s important?

Posted on by BIanca

Quality Assurance (QA) in healthcare is the systematic process that ensures continuous improvement of healthcare services. QA activities include setting goals and standards, measuring and assessing performance, and taking corrective action when necessary. QA is essential to ensuring that healthcare services meet patients’ needs and the healthcare system’s standards.

 

What is quality assurance in healthcare?

Quality assurance in healthcare is a process or set of procedures to ensure that a healthcare provider meets certain standards. These standards can be set by providers, accreditation organizations, or government agencies. Quality assurance is important because it helps to ensure that patients receive safe and effective care. It can also help to identify areas where you need improvements.

Why is quality assurance in healthcare important?

QA is important because it helps to ensure that patients receive the best possible care. QA programs can help to identify and correct problems in the delivery of care, and can also help to improve the overall quality of care. Is an important part of ensuring that patients receive the best possible care and that the healthcare system as a whole is providing high-quality care.

How quality assurance in healthcare it’s done

Quality assurance in healthcare is a process of ensuring that the care provided to patients meets certain standards. Quality assurance works through a variety of methods, including monitoring and evaluating the care provided, setting standards for care, and providing training for healthcare providers.

Interventions to improve the quality of care

The 2014 Annual Update of the Guide to Community Preventive Service (CCPS) – a public health roadmap – identifies five high-impact interventions that can help whittle the US mortality rate from hospitalization for pneumonia by two-thirds and cut the number of deaths from the condition by 80%, saving more than 15,000 lives annually.

Monitoring and evaluation of the care provided

To ensure that the care provided to patients is of high quality, the quality of that care should e monitored and evaluated. You can do this by reviewing patients’ medical records and interviewing patients or family members. Feedback from these reviews should then be used to identify problems in care and to educate healthcare providers so that similar problems do not occur in the future.

More interventions to improve the quality of care are:

  • Practices
  • Programs
  • Policies
  • Systems

Benefits

Health care quality assurance is a process or set of processes used to measure and improve the quality of health care delivered to patients.

There are many benefits to quality assurance in healthcare. QA can help to improve patient safety, reduce errors and improve the overall quality of care.

QA can also help to identify areas where improvements can be made, and can help to ensure that health care providers are meeting their quality standards.

The challenges

There are many challenges associated with quality assurance in healthcare. One of the biggest challenges is the fact that it can be difficult to measure the quality of care. Another challenge is that quality assurance can be time-consuming and expensive. Despite those challenges, QA is an important part of healthcare. It can help improve patient care and make the healthcare system safer.

As more people become concerned about the quality of care provided at different medical institutions, public and private organizations are developing ways to make this information available.