Your Guide to E-Commerce Website and Application Testing

Your Guide to E-Commerce Website and Application Testing

As we all know, there is a rise in technical innovations in the 21st century, and many of the inventions are based on utility. Many thinkers and developers are creating newer applications and software with the basic thought of bringing ease to the day-to-day actions of common people.

E-commerce is one such field of innovations where most of the technical applications are based on the idea of making financial transactions more optimum and easier. In no time from its invention, it became a common phenomenon to use the digital medium and mobile applications for financial tasks.

As this grew, it has become of utmost priority to test E-Commerce Website and Application regularly. As matters here are related to money, the software base is not supposed to fail in any case, and that’s why the testing process can’t be compromised.

This article focuses on various aspects of E-commerce and the importance of testing them in today’s world. First, let’s look at some of the types of E-commerce Websites and Applications.

E-commerce applications/websites – Types

Just like any other industry, there are two primary elements in the e-commerce industry. The party that buys and the one that sells. Based on these aspects, there are five types of eCommerce software. This classification might help one while strategizing the business plan. It helps in deciding where does the company belong.

B2C

B2C means Business to Customers. Here, the primary focus is directed at customers. The digital aspect of this type of model is online stores and websites that offer goods, and customers buy them. Pandora, LinkedIn, Uber, Zillow, Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter are examples.

B2B

B2B means Business to Business. Here, the primary focus is on selling products to other businesses. The digital aspect of this type of model is the websites where goods like computer tables, files, Desks, Chairs, etc., and other services are sold to other businesses.

It is a lesser-known type than B2C. When it comes to supplies, B2C might have some limits, but B2B will be completely reliable on its inventory. 3DXTech, Amazon Business, Alibaba.com are some of the examples.

C2C

C2C means Customer to Customer. Here, the primary focus is on an individual selling the products to other customers. For example, if an individual wants to sell their handmade textile material, they can do it easily with the help of an application or a website.

They need to execute all the other necessary tasks to sell that product like Product listing, Website maintenance, Shipping, etc.

C2B

C2B means Customer to Business. Here, the primary focus is on individuals selling their products to a more prominent organization. All the freelancers like Artists, Writers, Web designers come under this category.

The main con of this is that it is not scalable. That is why C2B sellers often try and shift to the B2C type, but the transition cost here can be heavy.

C2A

C2A means Customer to Administration. Here, the primary focus is on individuals selling their goods/service to a public administration. Booking an appointment with a doctor by using a website can be a C2A type of transaction.

C2C – Transactions based

C2C is again Consumer to Consumer, but it is considered based on transactions. Gpay, Paypal are some of the examples.

The importance of E-Commerce Website and Application Testing

Utility of the e-commerce industry has increased over the years as the field comprises many smaller aspects like marketing, manufacturing, finance, retail and wholesale market, auctions, etc.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the global e-commerce industry is estimated to be worth $22.1 trillion. This is a sign of a constantly growing industry.

For this estimated growth to be safe and sensible, the companies need to realize the importance of E-Commerce Website and Application Testing. Better testing methods should be used to avoid major and minor failures in the utilization of these apps.

Verification of usability, User-friendly nature, and making the software a bug-free experience are some of the main reasons to test E-commerce applications and websites.

Along with this, maintaining quality assurance standards is a must to show your commitment to giving away a quality e-commerce experience to your consumer base. Below, we have listed out 9 key aspects to consider in E-Commerce Website and Application Testing.

1. Testing functionality

In this aspect of any e-commerce application or website, there are four main elements to consider.

  • Main Pages – Product page, Homepage, Privacy Policy page, Press Releases page, About Us page, Special Offers, Sitemap pages, etc.

  • Category / Product Type Pages – There are various options on the product page like Colour, Size, Type, etc. Also, a feature here allows the consumers to sort the products based on the model, price, size, etc. Along with this, the feature of ‘Add to Wishlist’ or ‘Add to Cart’ is also there.

  • Product Description Page – This page consists of aspects like Description, Related products, Product comparison, Product title, Product Images, Add to Cart feature, Additional information about the product, etc.

  • Shopping Cart – Here, there are options like removing the product from the list, selecting delivery options, Pay now options, Products list view, Cash on delivery option, Card payment, etc.

The features discussed above are standard on many software that consists of any e-commerce aspect in its usability. Still, most of these features are changed and customized as per the needs and requirements of respective businesses.

2. Testing the workflow of an E-commerce website

Below is a step-wise workflow of a typical e-commerce website. Have a look,

  • Login and Signup options
  • Search functionality
  • Feature for posting a Product review
  • Feature for Sorting
  • Feature for Applying filters for choosing the desired products
  • Feature for Adding/removing functionality in the shopping cart
  • Checking out process
  • Order number and invoice generation
  • Payment gateway and payment processing

3. Testing Payment Gateway functionality

One needs to conduct multiple tests to confirm the smooth functioning of payment gateways. Also, it is to ensure its proper working and safe transaction. Here are some of the payment and checkout processes that one needs to test.

  • Checking the correct product price, application of VAT, shipping charge, discount codes, thus verifying that the customer is paying the right amount. This can be tested by changing the final list of products accordingly, applying various coupon codes, and also selecting a different region to see the change in shipping charges.

  • Checking whether the payment is processed correctly. This needs to be done by using all the methods such as Credit/Debit card, Net Banking, Paypal, etc. Using dummy accounts or dummy cards is a widely used way. Also, the order cancellation process and sending back the payment ID needs to be checked.

  • Checking the status of emails generated after the payment and Invoice and confirming that they are correctly sent.

    Ensuring the refund process, refund receipt, email, etc., is working correctly.

4. Testing Vulnerability and Security

As we all know, with a sense of security, the E-commerce industry might be the most sensitive one as the matters here are monetary. There is a lot at stake when one makes a simple transaction. These applications hold very valuable personal information about the customers, and that’s why they are very delicate.

This is why it is essential to conduct security and vulnerability tests on this software. Testing methods like Ethical hacks on the login, Payment gateway, register, or SQL injections can be used.

5. Testing compatibility

As the software usage is very much varied and vast, e-commerce applications and websites need to be tested on various browsers. The browser compatibility test is a must for delivering a smooth customer experience.

6. Testing Mobile responsiveness

As the digital world is growing more compact, mobile usage of the world has increased, making it more essential for e-commerce websites and applications to run without any hassle on any given mobile phone. That is why one needs to test the e-commerce app concerning the responsive design of mobile phones and their varied screen sizes.

7. Testing Performance and SEO-related elements

You must have heard about performance testing. It is as important in the e-commerce section of apps as in others. Parameters such as throughput, efficiency, Database performance, error messages, webpage loading speed, data transfer rate, uptime, website traffic load tolerance, etc., are verified in this process.

The search engine visibility of your website must be high to increase the reach of your website to more consumers. It is necessary to increase traffic. By utilizing Search Engine Optimization, i. SEO on your website can be achieved. Strategies such as Meta descriptions, image alt tags, title tags, URL structure, etc., must be tried and implemented.

8. Testing other common things

Other crucial but uncategorized aspects like Webpage format, cookies, adding/deleting content, web standards, changing the shipping settings, website content, website accessibility, social buttons, removing/adding links, analytics, etc. should also be tested for a smooth user experience.

9. Executing Social Media integration

In any E-commerce application or website, social media integration is one of the primary factors which affect the reach of the thing. But, remember, the integration must be in alignment with the website’s workflow and design architecture.

A/B testing can be used to test the social media workflow of your application as it will confirm whether the content is working for a certain bunch of consumers or not.

Integration testing will confirm whether social media API is working fine for your website or not and also, if yes, whether it is doing what it is supposed to do.

To summarize the above points in the list of testing methods, we can say any given E-commerce application must be tested using the following methods.

  • Usability testing
  • Database Testing
  • A/B Testing
  • Functional Testing
  • Performance Testing
  • App Testing

And, here is a list of 11 prominent features in any given E-commerce application that needs to be tested to authenticate the application.

  • Search button
  • Shopping cart
  • Order From page
  • Account pages
  • Category page
  • Home Page hero image
  • Product details page
  • Payment module
  • Login forms
  • Filter for products
  • Social media buttons

Conclusion

No one is happy if some software bug spoils their e-commerce experience. And if you are in the testing field, you certainly would not want a person to experience such catastrophic errors with something that is most personal to them.

That is why E-Commerce Website and Application Testing are a necessity, and doing it correctly is a need of today’s world.

VTEST It!


About VTEST

VTEST is an independent software testing company catering to product and services teams across the globe. We are a team of software testers that are passionate about quality and love to test. We develop an in-depth understanding of the applications under test and include software testing services strategies that deliver quantifiable results. <br>
In short, we help in building incredible software.

 

Defining Scalability testing: Needs and Stepwise execution

Defining Scalability testing: Needs and Stepwise execution

When testing software, one of the important factors to consider is the scalability of your app. There are various ways to go about verifying the scalability of a given software. It is the meter to decide how much one can scale the product with the increasing workload.

Let’s take an example. If the users of the given software increase by 2 times the load it can carry, we will have to increase the degree of the server’s performance as well as decrease the server’s response time for a good experience with the user interface.

By doing scalability testing, one eliminates all the minor anxious issues in the system. It is the answer to several questions like,

  • When the software and hardware are changed, how does the server perform?
  • In this situation, Can the system’s productivity be increased and capability upgraded?

Scalability Testing – Need

There are several reasons why scalability testing is important in the testing process. Firstly, It helps one decides the software’s behavior when the load is increased. Secondly, It gives clear insights about the total number of end-users it can carry.

All this aside, the primary reason behind this is to comprehend the point at which the software starts lagging and to analyze the potential solution’s to these lagging challenges.

Scalability Test – Creation

Scalability testing is executed by performing several load tests, one by one, with complementary software and hardware changes, and by keeping all the other variables unchanged. Also, it tests multiple elements in the system like,

  1. Network/Memory Usage
  2. Load with several end-users using the software
  3. Request and Response Time
  4. System Throughput
  5. Performance Measurement
  6. Screen Transition
  7. Hits/Transactions Per Second

The execution of the scalability test should be systematic to ensure that all the elements are getting tested and all the necessary data is collected. For obvious reasons, the type of load differs from software to software. It depends upon users, web servers, and type of software. When performing, try to think about all other variables that might affect when the load is increased.

Scalability Test – Essential requirements

Now, let’s discuss some basic prerequisites that are needed before performing scalability testing.

Memory:

The memory requirements for all virtual users using the software must be evaluated.

Processor:

The respective processor requirements must be verified before initializing the process.

Operating System:

Verification of the OS acting as an agent and testing the load must be done.

Load distribution capability:

A centralized system in which all the results are gathered and analyzed from various machines and individuals must be in place.

Scalability Test – Stepwise Creation

  1. First, create all the scenarios and regulate them.
  2. Change the scenarios and look for the elements that are affected by that change.
  3. Re-verify the scenario to ensure their performance to be the same every time.
  4. Decide and define a group of virtual users for testing the software.
  5. By clearly specifying the settings that permit you to analyze the performance of the application, create the load tests.
  6. Execute the tests.
  7. If you find any lags, make the respective changes to the server and repeat the execution of the tests.

Analyzing the Test Results

When you execute the test cases, what you are doing is deciding just 40% of your performance testing goals. The important part here is the analysis and correction of the results. The analysis of the results gained in the scalability tests can be done in several ways. Some of them are as follows.

1. Virtual Users v/s Response time

Many organizations use this method by deciding a specific time interval. Let’s say it is 2 minutes. Now, they increase the number of users for that specific server load and then verify the software behavior. They test the software’s response time for a given number of users.

2. Users v/s Latency

This is the type where the latency of the network on which the users are operating is checked.

3. Hits v/s users

The observation of hits per second is done after 3 minutes of response. After this, the latency time starts.

4. Users v/s errors

Errors and bugs created by the software when under load are tracked and compared with the number of users at that time.

Conclusion

Once the testing is done, keep in mind to check that you have all the data in the record for further increasing the capacity of the load in the future.

In general, it is a good habit to keep the data backup for the planning of the tests so that when you perform the same tests in the future, you will have a meaningful and relative reference.

How VTEST can help

At VTEST, we have employed individuals who not only excel at their software testing skills but are also creative and open-minded in the strategic decisions. We take it as our utmost priority to enhance software reliability and usability in every way possible.

VTEST it!

Unit Testing and Coding Best Practices for Unit Tests

Unit Testing and Coding Best Practices for Unit Tests

It is necessary to understand that in software testing, there are different aspects by which the process is handled. Unit testing is one of the most prominent processes involved in the whole architecture of software testing.

In this article, we discuss what is unit testing and what are its various stages. After that, we will mainly focus on the various practices that a good software tester must follow to execute a fine unit testing session.

So first, let’s dig into the definition of unit testing and its stages.

Unit Testing – Definition

A unit testing session verifies every minor functionality and feature of your software. It authenticates the behavior of every element of the software individually. The process of unit testing mainly comprises of 3 parts. They are as follows:

1. Initialization:

A minor element of the application which is to be tested is initialized. The application under test is generally called System under Test i.e. SUT.

2. Stimulus:

After the first stage of initialization, a stimulus is triggered by the system under test. Generally, it is done by invoking a method that will have the code that is required to test the functionality of the system under test.

3. Result:

After the second stage, the result comes. There is a process of comparison here between the expected result and the actual result. If this comparison is satisfactory, then it can be said that the functionalities of the system are working fine. If not, one needs to diagnose the system in more detail.

Now, let’s have a look at some of the best practices followed by a good software tester while executing unit testing. These are the qualities a newbie in the testing field must follow. Let’s go!

Unit Testing Best Practices that should be followed while writing Unit Tests:

  • Tests should be isolated

While writing unit tests, it is important to keep in mind that the unit tests are written individually from each other. The arrangement of the cases might vary from person to person. The clusters also can be defined by your own choice. Just note that each test must be orthogonal in a certain way that it must be different from other test cases.

If not, any change in the execution of a certain test case might affect the behavior of the other test cases. That’s why remember; don’t try to add unnecessary assertions.

The assertions must be those that match the specific execution behavior of the software. They must be isolated and executed individually without any dependencies on external factors.

This verifies the addition of zero to a number. In this stage, multiplication functionality assertions should not be covered in this step.

Unit Testing Best practices to be followed while executing Unit Tests:

1. High Speed

Unit tests are planned by developers to be executed repeatedly to make sure that there are no errors and minor bugs in the system.

If the time taken to execute these tests is more and the speed is slow, it will consequently increase the execution time of the test cases. Even the speed of one slow test case will have an impact on the overall speed of execution of the test cases.

That’s why, developers must use the best coding methods to lessen the execution time of every test case, which will result in an overall decrease in the execution time.

Using stream concepts in the writing of unit test code is a good practice to increase the execution speed. If not, the whole process becomes exponentially slower.

2. High Readability

The readability of any unit test must be very easy and high. The test has to be clear and readable. One must be able to understand the functionality error the test is explaining only by reading it.

It must properly state the scenario that is going under test and if it is failing, it should mention the reasons for the failure in a clear way.

One should be able to know and comprehend the problem in no time and that’s why the design of the test cases must not be complex. To make comprehension easy, they should be well-structured.

A proper name must be given to the test case and its every variable. This name should also include the functionality and the operation that is being tested.

The naming style should not be anything fancy or overly irrelevant. For example, a name like ‘Show logical exception’ won’t work as it doesn’t mean anything specific and is kind of vague.

3. Good Designing of Tests

Just like the designing process of production tests, the process of designing these tests should be intense and careful. The framework used here must be good and qualitative.

Let’s say, the coupling between test code and production code should be low. The dead code must be cleared to gain more test efficiency.

The management of memory should be done well along with the efficiency of time. If you have a good codebase, it will make your maintenance and re-factoring very easy in the subsequent stages.

4. High Reliability

The unit tests that you are designing must be reliable in design. They should only fail when there is a bug or error present in the system. If they fail on these events, the whole testing process becomes useless.

Sometimes, when you run a test individually, it gets cleared but when ran in the test suite, it fails. Also, many a time, when tests are migrated to a continuous integration server, the tests fail. This is the sign of some design flaws in the system.

A fine unit test must always be independent of external factors like environment or hardware technical base etc.

Conclusion

These were some of the Unit Testing best practices that a software tester must follow to execute reliable and flawless unit tests. A reliable, confident, and efficient work ethic will always lead to optimum output.

How VTEST can help

Efficiency in the work culture is always promoted at VTEST. It is the basis on which the whole environment of VTEST runs. Using the time and resources most efficiently to gain an output which is both, seamless and improvised is what VTEST stands for.

Work with us and you see the difference yourself.

VTEST it!

 

10 things to consider for successful Test Automation

10 things to consider for successful Test Automation

With automation rising in every industry, software testing has also implemented it on different scales. Starting from smaller implementations in the software development life cycle to bigger uses in the testing process. Though the implementation is quick, the quality is not always good.

Poor implementation of test automation does not help in building a good testing system. Rather it blocks the way to execute many things smoothly. Many big organizations fail to do it smoothly and this is a bad thing because if used rightly, Automation technology might be the future of software testing.

So, what are the factors to attempt a successful execution of automation testing? In this article, we will discuss 10 things to consider while automating any testing process.

1. Build a Dedicated Team –

The first thing one needs to start with is building a dedicated team. A team that devotes its total creative and intellectual energy to the testing process. Employing newly graduated smart students’ local institutes might help. Younger employees like these students have more theoretical knowledge and have a knack of the ongoing digital scene.

The staffing must be preferably flexible as it gets easy to make changes in the team as per the business demands. For reference on solutions to eliminate the recruiting process, check out various sites that offer this. These sites will offer you the best people in business at an affordable price.

2. Selecting Tool:

A selection method that is completely tailored as per your needs is the best way to go forward. If you don’t evaluate and analyze the utility of the automation testing tool beforehand, it may have poor consequences on selecting a tool that is not compatible with your requirements. Identifying the needs and requirements and then choosing the best tool accordingly is one of the essential things to do in the testing process. If a wrong tool is selected, it will cost you money, time, and efforts.

Wait, Apache JMeter, Selenium, Wapt, etc. are some of the best automation testing tools in the market right now. Look for these tools as per your requirements, and you will get the best suited for your process right away.

3. Automation Framework:

Even if one selects the right tool, the process doesn’t end. You cannot automate anything even with the correct tools. Just like all other processes, a proper framework must be made to implement the tool.

Ina framework, there are certain guidelines by which one should execute the process of automation. It is like a rule book. It maintains testing consistency and hence minimal changing of code. Reusability is improved by this.

There are 4 types of frameworks in automation testing –

  • Keyword-driven automation framework
  • Hybrid automation framework
  • Data-driven automation framework
  • Modular automation framework

Choose the appropriate framework, and you are good to go.

4. Measure Metrics:

To measure the success of automation by comparing it with the manual work is pointless. It should be measured in different variable metrics like Productivity improvement, percent of errors found, etc.

These things matter to industry persons and all the people as it justifies investments and Quality assurance.

Initially, the analysis of the amount of time one gets from a manual test and the money saved per annum should be done. After that, there are certain things that one must look for. Such as –

  • Defect reduction (reduce production defects by 60%)
  • Accelerate time to market
  • SAP transport impact analysis
  • Improve productivity with automation

5. Finding the Right Tool:

When anyone thinks about automated testing, selecting the right tool and framework is the topic that takes up most of the focus. Choosing the correct framework and tools is the basis for a healthy automation process.

There is hardly any example of a company that aims at full automation and is successful. One must have a good plan with balancing strategies.

Hence, one must think properly and take the time to decide how automation is going to help their particular testing plan. It will make the whole process more optimum and valuable and will increase the success rate.

6. Budget Cost and Process:

Going over budget or having a surplus amount at the end are both signs of a bad costing plan. Budgeting should be precise in the case of automation testing, involving costing for different aspects including development, training, test tool, and resources.

Also, a maintenance cost is involved while we talk about automation testing. As the testing process defines test-coverage, it must be well-defined and precise in defining the quality control and process and execution of the test. Also, the test criteria must be defined at each stage.

7. Preference of Tool Selected:

The technology used for the development of the application is one of the major impacting factors in the selection process of the testing tool.

To take an example, Informatics won’t be supported by QTP, hence it won’t be used for testing informatics applications. To conduct proof of concept of the respective tool on AUT sounds like a sensible idea.

Many a time, choosing the right tool can be a complex and tricky task. If you do the research right, you will find some essential criteria that will help you in selecting the best tool. Which scripting language the tool uses is one of them.

Also, it will support numerous types of tests including test management, Functional, mobile, etc. and will sustain the support for different testing frameworks.

8. Automation cannot be Done for Everything:

Before initiating the process, the scope of automation must be determined in detail. To select which test cases are to be automated, there are certain criteria. Check out the list below.

  • Tests that are difficult to perform manually.
  • High-risk business
  • Tests that are executed on a regular repeated basis.
  • Tests that are time-consuming.

However, for eliminating the tests from the automation list, there are other criteria. These factors determine which tests are not suitable for automation. Check out this list below.

  • Tests that have changing requirements.
  • Tests that are not executed manually and are newly designed.
  • Tests that are executed on an Ad-HOC.

9. Reducing Time for Testing and Test Automation:

Another important goal of the software testing process is to reduce the testing time. But generally, the part of the process which is time-consuming does not have anything to do with automation.

The main time-taking task in the testing process is the detection of bugs. The detection and correction of bugs take place in a repeated manner. In the case of automation testing, maintenance, Execution, and Step-up may take longer compared to manual testing. Also, Analysis of Clear-ups and failures may take more time. In an ideal scenario, all these activities will take less time if the right kind of matured automation process is executed.

All in all, it is not easy to reduce the testing time using automation, but it is not impossible. One must consider it as a long-term goal to achieve.

10. Automated Maintenance:

The scripts of these automation tests must be added to the system that is under test with successive cycles. For each release cycle, they have to be thoroughly verified and maintained.

Maintenance is one of the primary factors that help improve the effectiveness of automation scripts.

Try using automation in simple routine tasks like cleaning out temp files, Restarts, and Defrags. Assurance of the up-to-date nature of your client’s machine with the latest software patches and assurance of a stable system can be confirmed by automating patch management.

You can either upload your script or run scripts from the library. Plan a proper schedule to execute tests on a certain date. You can also trigger them to run automatically after a failed monitoring check.

Even if anyone is not familiar with these scripts, various communities provide useful scripts like Fixit scripts, etc.

Conclusion

Considering all the aspects of software testing, one must figure out the prominent factors that play into the process of automation testing. The testing process, Selection of the right and most compatible automation tool, etc. are some of the crucial factors that matter.

How VTEST can help

By researching and executing both the software testing methods with perfect balance, VTEST carries out the automated tasks with fine precision. Knowing the Pros and cons of automation testing, VTEST executes it on the right processes and in the right amount.

VTEST it!

Software security threats in 2021 and preventive measures

Software security threats in 2021 and preventive measures

As the years are passing by, the intensity and viciousness faced by the software industry are getting severe. There are innumerable hackers and cyber criminals out there who are like vultures trying to attack their food in the form of information and data.

Consequently, Software Security has become a pretty important subset of any software development organization. It has become merit of success in today’s digitally outgrown world.

All the old software companies and the upcoming ones are slowly beginning to understand the importance of a tight security manifesto for their companies.

If we look closely, there are different elements to this. One has to consider the roles played by AI and the cloud system here. Also, certain technical angles are to be explored. In this article, Let’s have a look at some of these elements.

IoT and Ransomware

Working on the fuel of the clickbait culture, Ransomware is that part of the digital crimes where moneymaking is one of the primary intentions of the hacker. Many hackers rely on it.

A large number of people who use the internet are not aware of good and secure software and applications. This makes the overall usage more vulnerable increasing in cyber-crimes and software hacking cases. Due to this poor techno-literacy, criminals benefit financially. One shouldn’t underestimate the potential threat caused by Ransomware.

Let’s say a group of cybercriminals attack a certain city’s energy grids. If the city refuses to pay the ransom or doesn’t do it on time, the attackers threaten to close the whole circuit and might do it.

Moreover, the world is becoming a more digitally-driven place. With the rise of smart and technological innovations like Smart fridge, Ovens, Smart cars, Television set, the whole affair becomes more delicate.

This is the reason why one shouldn’t underestimate the potential threats coming in from the hackers using the ways of Ransomware and IoT. The upcoming software companies and organizations must consider this while making a business plan as this is going to be an increasing approach in 2020 and the subsequent years.

Artificial Intelligence

Yes, we all know the benefits and the great potential Artificial intelligence has. It can do wonders in the coming future but what we are not seeing is that it can also become a great threat.

As it gets more developed, it will replace humans from many parts of the software work culture. This will make us more dependent on the software to create software. This removes the control of the software from our hands and that might create some severe problems.

Using AI, hackers will be able to threaten the software more intensely and indirectly. QA experts and Security personnel in Software development companies must utilize AI to tackle this before it goes out of control.

If we go deep down in this way, as the risk gets broader, AI might be a bigger tool used by countries to protect themselves and even in some cases attack others. Protectionist policies might be drafted to make the threat more dilute.

Software Update Supply Chain Attack

Another risk one should consider is the software update supply chain attacks. Here, a part of malware is embedded into an authorized software package at the respective delivery area.

It generally takes place in the development stage of the product seller, by redirection or by third party storage area.

This kind of attack takes place due to the rapid increase in the number of infections during the update of the product. Hackers most frequently target specific areas or divisions.

In the coming years, organizations must focus on their most vulnerable and weak areas in the product update supply chains. Many a time, some odd security breach can be counteracted before it happens. It’s rare but security developers and maintainers must be aware.

General Data Protection Regulation

In May 2018, a regulation named the GDPR, i.e. General Data Protection Regulation came into practice. It suggests many imperative changes to the current Data Protection Directive. Expansion of the regional scope, Stricter consent laws, and Raised rights for data subjects are some of them.

With this regulation. The organization doesn’t stand a chance to ignore software security. If any international organization fails to comply with this method, the penalties can go up to 4% of the annual global turnover.

This is a major test for software developers and testers. Some of the motives for a software developer in today’s era are Database testing, Handling of data and storage, adding cookies, etc.

Due to GDPR, the whole affair got more complicated for entrepreneurs, developers, and marketing divisions. But at least it triggers the need for security in all their minds.

Cloud-based security

Security departments of many organizations are walking on a tight rope and struggling to maintain security in old school ways. The new age of security demands a more flexible way to do things and Cloud-based security is one hell of a solution.

Well, it is a solution but not at all times. With the rise of cloud-based systems, the digital attack surface increases resulting in more vulnerable security space. With ignorant protection policies, this space tends to be the primary attack approach taken by hackers and cyber-criminals.

Cloud exploitation is easier and more dangerous than the Legacy management server’s stimulation to the cloud. The forerunners of SRM must consider taking full benefit of staff optimization, API-based access, Cloud scale, increased data telemetry, and other services and products that are problematic to the model.

Botnets and DDOS Attacks

You must have heard about the botnets. These are systems of mediated machines. The primary feature of this is that these can be remotely accessed and managed and mainly utilized to dispatch breaches on a bigger scale.

The Botnet control chain starts from Cyber criminals who control Command and Control networks, which leads the botnets. Mainly they can be used to release attacks named DDOS, i.e. Distributed Denial of service. It makes a certain site so engaged that it doesn’t process the correct requests.

DDOS can also completely crush any given web page. It works on the ransom give and take method.

Similarly, botnets can be used to breach secure frameworks. Here, each bot works at a low intensity to hide from detecting but the sum intensity of all the botnets turns to be a major security threat.

Using antivirus software and regularly updating the software is the best way to avoid such breaches.

Another aspect of this is the regulation of third-party organizations to breach your system. Considering the scale of this, a collaborative methodology involving law enforcement agencies, working with respective ISP, and system software vendors are demanded to resist.

Container Adoption

The infamousness of software container systems is that companies search for different ways to let applications run reasonably when a shift between environments takes place. On the other hand, every application on a respective server gets its environment to drive which shares the OS of a host server if a container is in place.

As there is no need for a container to load an operating system, it can be easily and quickly created. Also, they are movable. They are individual complex software into modular micro-services and are simple to scale.

In either way, the components that give power to the containers to build liveliness subsequently lead to many security-related concerns. The use of a shared OS model suggests a breach in the host OS. This could compromise the security of every container.

But, as containers are easy and quick to make, it is inexplicable for endpoint controls and conventional networks to stay alert of the developments needed to control them.

They create a different attack surface through the APIs and command plane. It presents itself as more delicate in the expression of the actual assessment setting and imperils application internals.

Members of the security must know about ongoing container deployments in the company. A persistent weakness assessment and remedial structure are a must for utilizing the container system.

Also, many suppliers of container security provide various tools for companies that offer full life cycle vulnerability management and application-customized run time security to secure containers from threats.

Preventive measures

Any single micro attack on any given system can make the system collapse. Until now, the article must have been all about the potential digital dangers we are about to face, but now we will focus on the preventive measures one should and must take to tackle the threats.

As we all know, Prevention is better than a cure. Taking immediate and careful actions is a way to tackle such attacks.

Using versatile and updated cyber security systems and solutions, strictly instructing workers, gaining in-depth knowledge of the dangers faced by your system are some of the ways to defend the attacks. These requirements are quite challenging for cyber security administrators.

Conclusion

In this blog, we discussed some very intense potential threats the software development industry might face in the coming years. With the rise of various technical innovations in the modern world, the number and vigorousness of threats will increase and software development organizations must take action against it.

How VTEST can help

With a high-end, regularly updated infrastructure, VTEST is set to change the software security game in the coming years. The cyber-attacks will be on a rise and so will be the defending models of VTEST.

Giving the utmost attention and priority to the security code of any system, VTEST confirms a safe environment for any software.

VTEST it!

Building a Dream QA Team – 5 Qualities

Building a Dream QA Team – 5 Qualities

May it be any field, one can never ignore quality. Both as a customer and even as a businessman, we need quality. Quality work, Quality Products. It is the one parameter that cannot be compromised.

Software companies with the most efficient, intelligent, and hardworking development team make a strong mark on the market. May it is any company or organization, Quality is always the main ingredient in the making of its impression.

A company should constantly focus on the maintenance of the quality of their product. There are so many variables in place. Only with a good management team and efficient work ethic, quality maintenance becomes possible.

To assure the quality of their products, every company must have a proper Quality Assurance department and a team of individuals who won’t pass any product with even a single mistake. Without it, the product will fail to deliver a quality standard, and eventually, the company will suffer loss.

For all the software enthusiasts out there, we have listed 5 pointers to go about while approaching a good QA assessment session. Have a look!

1. Be Doubtful

Always be dubious and curious towards everything in your testing zone. Do not blindly trust the software developers’ work and try to find errors even in the obvious and simple things.

If on any occasion, you find the system to be bug-free, then appreciate the assembly for it.

Implement your insights into the testing process. Don’t trust anybody under the influence of their respective positions or the assignments they hold. Trust your instincts and try to find the bugs with an unbiased approach.

Pursue this approach throughout the whole quality assurance process.

While examining, being open to new ideas, and still questioning everything and being a skeptic in the process is the balance one needs to achieve. If and when this balance is achieved in the Quality Assurance process, a satisfactory outcome will be achieved.

2. Explore newer Ideas and Keep an open mind

Consider everyone’s opinions and suggestions while approaching the process. Having insiders as well as outsiders’ insights helps in giving the whole process a wider approach.

There is a wide scope for many updates and upgrades in the system and that’s why to cover all the aspects, taking suggestions from fellow testers helps.

Every Quality assurance team should have the capability to react to change because as we know Change is an inescapable truth of life.

If a situation arises when the testing of all the elements of the system is not completed and the deadline has come, a proper report of all the executed and non-executed tests should be made and to be given to the developers’’ team. This helps them decide the actual status of the software and leads to the decision as to whether the application should be released or not.

3. Organize Tests and Plan Tasks

In the initial stages of the process, the Quality assurance team should decide their priorities well and fine and plan and organize the whole process accordingly. The overall execution and implementation of the testing process depend on this planning.

This ensures that all the complex and critical experiments get completed early and there won’t be any need to fasten things up at the end due to a time crunch. Also, they should include different parts of the product that are either obligated to the administrative system, most basic to execute, or bound to carry disastrous errors.

4. Learn Basic Coding and have a basic debugging knowledge

Well, we know that Coding and Debugging come under the work territory of a software developer/designer. But it is highly recommended that software testers in the QA team of a company must have a basic knowledge about coding. Let’s see why.

In automation testing, a fundamental sense and knowledge about programming is a must. Similarly, in manual testing, if a tester is supposed to create and utilize snippets to revive manual testing tasks, a sense of programming helps.

Also, this basic knowledge of different coding languages like JavaScript, etc. helps one to increase his/her credit as a software quality assurance tester.

Though it is not a must-have skillset as testing is not primarily about the code, one must fabricate his/her fundamental learning of programming dialects such as VBScript, Java, etc as it is vital to the process.

Also, knowing DBMS ideas, SQL ideas helps.

5. A constant learning approach

As in the current world, technological innovations are getting rapid and more creative. If the people in the quality assurance and checking industry won’t learn the new techniques, they will get left behind and the world will experience a decrease in the quality of the products.

The only constant thing is change and one should be able to embrace it.

And lastly, a proper sense of analytics and good testing skills are the primary things a tester requires to be good. Also, the capability to work individually will sail the ship of a good QA software tester.

Conclusion

As we discussed above, these 5 tips are the essentials of a good QA team.

Always questioning the software and being curious, exploring newer ideas, and keeping an open mind towards any good suggestions, A Proper planning, and organization of the assigned tasks with prioritizing based on their significance, learning basic coding and debugging, and having a consistent learning approach are the basics of an incredible QA team.

Trust, Actions are taken without any dread, Unity, and Respect for other team members is the basis to build any effective QA team. Revise your current work ethic and implement these 5 tricks to make it better!

How VTEST can help

With conducting reviews regularly, VTEST assures an efficient and hardworking software testing team. The build of any software is nothing without a quality assurance team to verify it and VTEST knows it.

We work with the most optimum work ethic and leave no stones unturned to deliver a product with the best quality and fine code.

VTEST it!

Software Testing Models: 6 Methods and their Pros and Cons

Software Testing Models: 6 Methods and their Pros and Cons

Without testing, any software is incomplete. The codes and other elements in software must be tested before launching it in the market or else the software might be full of bugs and errors and it directly affects the user experience. To avoid this and have a good image of your software in the market, software testing is a must.

There are various models and styles used in the software development process and we are here to discuss all of those. Well, each model has its pros and cons, and it’s upon the complexity and overall technical nature of your project. In this article, we will be digging deeper into all of those and have a wider analysis of each.

Let’s go then!

1. Waterfall Model

Waterfall Model is a well-known model which is followed broadly in the software testing industry. Like implied in the name, this process starts from a bigger source and subsequent phases fall done under it. Various steps. Each step or phase has its intention and functionality.

There are 4 stages in this as follows,

  1. Requirement gathering and Analysis
    All the needs for the development of the required software are listed and analyzed. This involves detailed data of end-user requirements.
  2. Software Design
    Using the document created in the earlier phase as an input, this phase tests the design of the software.
  3. Programmed implementation and Testing
  4. Maintenance

Now, we will have a look at the pros and cons of this method.

Pros

  • Smooth and Easy implementation and Maintenance.
  • The opening stage saves a lot of time and effort in the developmental stages.
  • Minimal requirement of resources.

Cons

  • Impossible alteration of the requirements later.
  • Have to stick to the model as no changes can be made in later stages.
  • Have to wait until the previous step is finished to start the next phase.

2. V Model

This is a well-known competitor of the Waterfall Model and many believe that it is better than that. In this case, the Test execution and development goes on in a simultaneous time frame. The testing initiates at the unit level and then spreads throughout the system.

This one is divided into five phases. Those are Unit testing, Integration testing, Regression testing, System testing, and Acceptance testing.

Pros

  • Planning the test and designing it is done before writing the actual code which makes this model easy to use.
  • Time saver and therefore increasing the chances of success.
  • The downward flow of defects is avoided as errors are found at the initial stages.

Cons

  • It is a rigid and uncompromising testing model.
  • The software is developed at the implementation stage so early prototypes of the product cannot be available to have a look at.
  • If any changes are suggested by the team in the middle of the process, the whole test document has to be updated.

3. Agile model

Different cross-functional teams collaborate and discuss to evolve requirements and respective solutions. This one has a wide reputation for being an incremental and iterative model.

Pros

  • It makes sure that the consumer is satisfied with the quick and constant developmental flow and delivery of the products.
  • The 3 pillars of this dynamic, Developers, Testers, and Customers, constantly interact with each other in this phase.
  • The quick development of working software can be done and the changing requirements can be easily and smoothly adapted.

Cons

  • In a larger case where the complexity of the software is more, the assessment of efforts that go at the initial stages becomes hard.
  • Though it is a pro, a constant consumer interaction can distract the ultimate aim of the project as the developers know more about the whole process, and it not always the case that customers know what they want.

4. Spiral model

This one is more similar to the earlier phase with a slight modification. It gives more importance and emphasis on Risk Analysis. The 4 stages it involves are as follows. Planning, Risk Analysis, Engineering, and Evaluation. Here, the base level involves requirement gathering and risk assessment on which every subsequent upper spiral has been built.

Pros

  • Risk is avoided as risk analysis is considered as an important part.
  • Fantastic model for larger and complex systems.
  • Additional functionalities can be added later if any circumstances change in the middle of the process.
  • Early production of software in the cycle.

Cons

  • A heavy budget and expensive model. It also requires proper expertise in risk analysis.
  • A low rate of smooth working in simpler projects.

5. Rational Unified Process

Each stage in this model is organized into various iterations. It involves 4 stages. The different aspect of this model is that each iteration here should differently satisfy the said criteria before the initiation of the next phase.

Pros

  • This method emphasizes accurate documentation which indirectly resolves the risks involving in the ever changing needs of the consumer.
  • The process continued through the Software Development Life Cycle and therefore the integration takes much less time.

Cons

  • It’s not a layman’s job. The team members have to be technical experts in the respective fields.
  • Constant integration gives rise to confusion in the big projects.

6. Rapid application development

Again, this one is also similar to the Agile model. It is incremental. The development of the components here is parallel. After that, the developmental assembly takes place.

Pros

  • The simultaneous development of components makes it a quicker method as the development time gets lessened. Also, the components can be reused.
  • Integration issues are easily and quickly solved as integration begins from the initial stages.

Cons

  • This method needs a strong team of very capable testing hands. The team members should be individually efficient in recognizing business needs and requirements.
  • Many systems that can be modularized can be developed in this and only this model as this one is a module-based model.
  • Again, a costly budget makes this model an unsuitable option for cheaper projects.

Conclusion

The SDLC i.e. Software Development Life Cycle consists of the various methods and the 6 methods which we just discussed are not the end of this. With the rise of innovations in the technology and software development fields, hundreds of new methods have been introduced by the experts in the industry.

The newer methods and stages in these methods change constantly as more efficient ways are being discovered. One needs to understand all the elements of these methods and then plan the SDLC according to their Project requirements and preferences.

How VTEST can help

With a team of young and dynamic testers who are not only updated with the new and upcoming technology but also know the old methods which are helpful and working, VTEST can change the game for your SDLC. Keeping a cooperative approach towards the work, VTEST will help you go through the SDLC like butter, resulting in very crisp and tasteful user experience for your customers.

VTEST it!

Avoiding dangerous web browser security threats: An efficient guide

Avoiding dangerous web browser security threats: An efficient guide

With the rise of the internet in the recent era, the accessibility to these pieces of software technology has also been an important factor. The very common and popular software invention which enables every common person to access the internet is the Web browser.

A web browser allows one to explore the wide world of the internet with user-friendly features and efficient user experience.

But even if these browsers are of great use to the people, the threat of losing security always hovers above this dynamic. Web browsers are generally more inclined towards affecting themselves with security threats. Even when the user is accessing the internet through it, it carries with it the probability of malware and many other breaches.

In this blog, let’s discuss some of the most talked-about browser security threats. We will also look into different ways to protect the software from them.

Let’s start!

Removal of Saved Login Credentials

We know that it is a user-friendly feature but when you log in to any website and bookmark it, your credentials get saved. This is not good for your system. Any novice hacker can hack it.

Well, some websites avoid this by using a two-factor validation. Sending a text with OTP before giving access is one of the methods of this type.

But many others don’t. Many of them use this approach as a one-time code to confirm the person’s identity on the system which it is being connected from.

Also, it is not healthy for the browser and the whole system to delete the pre-saved credentials. Any hacker or criminal on the web can reset the important data from every website you visit like your important IDs, profiles, etc. It is not a one-time thing. They can execute such crimes anywhere anytime. And once, they get your credentials, they can illegally operate your account from any device and system of their convenience.

Browser history permissions

This is like a map of all your activities on the internet by that browser through time. It’s not just the basics. It also saves the information about what sites did you visit and for how much time did you do it.

When a cyber criminal gets access to your browsing history, He/she can easily steal your other important credentials and commit some serious crimes. Hence, Browser history can become a source of leakage.

Cookies

One of the other commonly discussed security breach possibilities is Cookies. They comprise of local files and decide the link to various files. The threat here is similar to Browsing history, the attackers can trace your activities and gain important data like credentials.

Browser Cache

The cache of a browser comprises of various storage sections of web pages. This is the element that makes the loading and accessing the websites much easier and quicker.

These can also detect the name of the site you visited and what is the content that you have looked for. It automatically saves your device discovery and location. This makes it a risky affair as the vultures of the internet can locate you in such a case.

Auto fill Information

The auto fill feature can be a prominent threat to your browser. Many browsers including Mozilla’s Firefox and Google’s Chrome, save the information you put in like Profiles, Address Info, and other personal data.

Again, this is most convenient to you as a user but it can be harmful as the hackers can get access to the auto fill information.

Tips and Tricks to save trouble from these dangerous threats

1. Saved Login Credentials

Well, not saving the important credentials on any browser is a suitable solution for such cases. Using password managing software like KeePass or Password Safe is a recommended option.

These password managers work more securely as they have a main central password to operate others.

One can also plan and use the password manager to access the previously saved URL or login as per your comfort and other security-related reasons.

2. Removable Browsing History

Well, let’s accept it. We all have deleted the browsing history at some point in our life. Whatever may be the reason, it is aid that it is a good practice to clear your browsing history for security reasons. Activities like online banking can be done safely in this way. The deleting can be done manually or you can also change the settings to automated where it deletes the history when you close the browser.

In another confrontation, we all have used incognito mode to search something which we don’t want anyone to know about. This is also a good practice in general as it ensures the security of the credentials.

Note that when you are using a public internet system, ensure that you are doing it in incognito mode.

3. Disable Cookies

There is always an option of disabling cookies when you open any website. Always opt for that option whenever possible. Here, we are saying whenever possible because it’s not always possible to turn them off as you might get limited access to various features of the site.

When you disable the cookies, it might result in troublesome prompts. Get rid of the cookies regularly as it will protect your browser. But be prepared for the side effects as the website might repeat some information which is being displayed.

4. Reduce Browser Cache by using Incognito Mode

As suggested earlier, Incognito browsing always helps in keeping your credentials from the cyber criminals. Clearing the cache as per the requirement here is a small but protective step.

5. Look for Standard Java Configuration

A widely-known computer language, Java is mainly used in windows to write codes. The design of this language is such that the applets in it are made to run in a different ‘sandbox’ environment. This helps in avoiding hem from other OS component access and Apps.

However, many times, these threats sometimes provoke the applets to leak the sandbox environment resulting in harming.

Choose a proper Java security configuration according to your PC and the browser. Deploy these through the main master source. Like Group Policy.

6. No Single Point of Management

Centralization throughout the system is recommended. One must work for a system that has a primary and solitary goal and unified management surrounding it to achieve that goal.

Usage of Dynamic Directory Group Policies can also be done for such settings and there are outsider choices available also.

Also, you won’t prefer to allow clients to destroy important settings for comfort. Also, you won’t like to need to bear certain rules and guidelines for them for arranging other alternatives. Frankly, you won’t get to 100% consistency and your association’s security on the respective manifesto is at stake.

7. Third-Party Plugins or Extensions

Many a time, Browsers are attached with third-party extensions or plugins which are there to carry various tasks in the workflow. Like Flash or JavaScript, etc.

Well, the above-mentioned extensions are safe and secure but it can’t be said about all other such extensions. In such threatening cases, only business-related plugins and extensions are to be allowed for a primary element in the workflow, like the Internet or email usage.

Explore various angles to square unwanted plugins or whitelist fitting plugins. This process generally depends upon the browsers which are being used.

Byways of concentrated components, Guarantee modules are organized to send new forms. This can also be used to arrange the Auto-fresh feature. E.g. Active Directory Group Policy or System Centre Configuration Manager.

8. Ads Popping up and Redirects

We all have been tackling this in our digital lives. Many websites we use in a day contain Pop-up ads which is an annoying thing for every one of us.

It’s a constant trap of false notices like asserting that the PC has a virus and selling their antivirus product to clear it. This is a fake click-bait thing and it is to be ignored. But there also lies a problem. Many a time, the close symbol is unavailable and one wonders how to get out of the problem.

The best way to get out of this situation is to close the system entirely and open the task manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del. And then, just close the application.

After this escaping step, don’t go back on the site in question and run an anti-malware sweep to know if your framework is fine as popup promotion is normally shown by malware.

Conclusion

The things which we discussed above are the regular annoying breaches we face in our day to day technological life. We all face these problems but we never actively act on them. We don’t even know how many of them work against us and in what ways it might harm us. It’s better to know about all of these issues and take them according to action on them before something severe happens.

Identity theft and similar crimes are on a constant rise nowadays and we should take action on them right away.

How VTEST can help

The discussion about security threats and breaches has only one proper solution and it is Security testing. We at VTEST know it and have the perfect infrastructure and Human resources to tackle this issue in your software.

Valuing the client’s security, VTEST works in a safe environment and ensures the client a secure and safe testing experience.

VTEST it!

Secure your Mobile App – 8 important steps

Secure your Mobile App – 8 important steps

Some years ago, they used to say that the digital world will take over the control of multiple streams of our culture like Communication, Businesses, Monetary transactions, etc.

We all must have used online digital payment modes to make a transaction anywhere. May it be a breakfast place, a recharge for TV or SIM card services or even while ordering food through food delivery applications. It has become a habit now.

It’s a good way to transact money through digital mode. It has multiple benefits. It saves time, effort, it is quicker and the list is endless. Though this list is loaded with many pros, it has its cons when it comes to Security. It is less secure then the offline mode.

As the world is growing digitally, the number of criminal activities through online mode is also increasing in both, quantity and intensity. Serious punishable offenses are taking place in the digital criminal world.

The digital ill doers, also known as Hackers, are taking their illegal doings to next level day by day. They gain access to personal data, duplicate it and execute severe crimes like Identity theft, Illegal migration, Monetary theft, etc.

If we took care of our digital presence just like we do it for our physical presence, they wont be a bother. In this article, we will discuss 8 simple steps to secure our mobile app.

1. Security of the source code

It is very likely that the app is facing vulnerability issues at its development phase.

  • Protect the software with encryption.
  • The source code should be scanned for susceptibilities.
  • The Code of the software must also be easy to renew and restructure while having an update. It should also be between various devices and OSs.
  • Be in check with different aspects like running time,data, file size,memory, and battery. You don’t want to lose users while having a good security code.
  • Reliability on the app store approval is not a sure thing as it may not be precise.

2. Security measures to protect data and deny unauthorized access

Check Application Programming Interface (API) to avoid illegal data transfer.

  • Creation of encrypted containers should be done to ensure data safety.
  • A more secure way would be Encrypted connections and Data encryption through virtual private network.

3. Authentication,Identifications, and Authorization

  • This adds an extra layer to the security.
  • Make sure the API is permitting access to prominent aspects of the app.
  • A new framework called OAuth2 is a good option to ensure intensely secure connections. Setting it to certain settings in the app, it will allow the user to collect credentials between end-user and client.
  • Another one, OpenID Connect, will permit the user to utilize the same credentials used once for multiple domains, with a single ID.

4. Activation of a good encryption policy

  • File-level encryption should be used.
  • Line up the codes of software. It is needed as the data and passwords are not saved in the device. If they need to be stored. Ensure its encryption.

5. Implementation of an intense API security strategy

  • Survey and follow the security procedures for strong API security. Identifications, Authentication,and Authorization.
  • Ensure API.

6. Test rigorously for better security for apps

  • Testing tirelessly benefits.
  • Test the Session management and data security problems.
  • To make the system stronger, Penetration testing might help.
  • Emulators help to enlighten the performance of a software in any OS or device in a emulated setting.

7. Alerting User

Testers and developers can’t protect the user all the time. That’s why you should.

  • Add pointers if any kind of susceptibility is detected.
  • Inform the user with a warning to download only from official sites.

8. Using BYOD policy, be attentive and take precautionary measures.

Many organizations allow their employees to us their own devices. This open network system will be more harmful.

  • Create a virtual private network system.
  • Use anti-virus, firewall, and anti-spam to protect devices.
  • Allow only authorized devices into the system.
  • Transactions from illegal and unauthorized devices should be blocked.

Conclusion

If one follows this 8-step guide to ensure the software security, the job is done. It will boost their security and in turn, the user count will increase as the company will be known for its trustworthy and secure culture. As we know, it is not a one-time job. It needs to be tested in several intervals regularly to ensure a strong and secure application.

How VTEST can help

We have built a safe environment at VTEST to ensure the security of the digital presence. We test the security of the software given by our clients vigorously and don’t stop doing it as we understand that testing is a continuous process, and when it comes to security testing, a constantly updating code is the secret for an intensely secure software.

VTEST it!

Information Security Testing: The guardian angel of 21st-century businesses

Information Security Testing: The guardian angel of 21st-century businesses

Data or Information plays a very significant role in our way of life. Even in all of our cultures, the scriptures and writings from the past give us insight into our ancestor’s way of life and helps us to live through our times. In the modern world, the interpretation might change but the relevance and importance of Data storage have not become any less.

As we all know, the world is becoming a more digital space. All our important data regarding all of our work-related and other activities is interpreted through the technical form. Though it is more accessible and easier to work with, it has its cons.

The threat to the security of information is a major problem we are now facing in this new, digital way. Regardless of the concerned field, it is important to secure the information going online.

Here comes in the need for Information Security Testing. The software or the applications we use regularly need to be tested regularly by a testing team to confirm that the data and the information are safe. This kind of testing is roughly what Information Security Testing is all about.

In this blog we will discuss different aspects of Information Security Testing and why is it a necessity in the future ahead of us.

Information Security Testing – Definition

Information security testing is the testing of all the security-related mechanisms in the system. It is a check on the security framework of your system.

Automatization plays its part in this process as it is done by the regularly automatized framework to mimic the hypothetical scenarios which take place in a typical security breach. Various risk designs are used while executing this.

Information Security Testing – Initial stage

When detecting application-based security errors, installing security testing in the process is a basic procedure followed by professional testers.

Next, the whole process of Information Security Testing must start by listing out the security-related requirements of the respective software. All the pre-requisites must be listed and comprehended before beginning the process.

Generally, there are 4 main objectives to be achieved through this procedure:

  • To identify any software’s power against risks.
  • To make sure the data framework is ensuring the data while confirming the usability.
  • To verify the competence of information leakage.
  • To analyze how the software behaves at the time of the massive technical crash.

Security testing should be executed separately then the general practical testing. It allows the testers to give it more attention resulting in a more secure security code. If scheduled with practical testing, it can be given less attention as it approves the data given by the analyzers which are not specialized in the field of security testing.

Information Security Testing – Types

There are several types of Security testing:

1. Vulnerability Checks:

This type of Security testing verifies the entire framework which is under test. It also identifies its vulnerabilities, doubtful powerless marks, and escape clauses.

It’s the characterization of the inadequacies of the framework. Besides,it is to predict the competence of the measures that have been taken to counter the scenario.

2. Infiltration Testing:

Also called a Pentest, the Infiltration test duplicates an attack by a certain programmer on the respective framework. It is a recreational test.

It comprises of various activities such as Data gathering, Recognition of passage focuses, and undertaking a breach-in to understand the security drawbacks of the application.

It is like a ‘white hat attack’. Mainly focusing on testing where the IT group and the security analyzers get together, it also focuses on the outer testing that verifies the less noticeable passage focuses like gadgets, servers, space names,etc.

In this type, Internal testing is also a comprising factor. It is led behind a firewall by a verified client. It checks the behavior of the application under real-time attacks.

3. Security Risk Assessment:

Risk assessment is the evaluation of the threat of the given framework. It is done by creating different scenarios to explore and halt potential dangers.

After the assessment, these threats are listed in order from High to medium to low. This classification is done by the ‘Seriousness’ variable.

At this stage, various security reviews to verify administration hallways between the system,information assurance, and intra-arrange access is focused.

4. Moral Hacking:

This type uses an ordered consultant to go through the framework, mimicking the style of actual programmers.

The software is threatened from the inside to reveal security errors and vulnerabilities. It also helps to identify potential threats that hackers may feat.

5. Security Scanning:

Each step sends malicious solicitations to the given framework and the team of analyzers should verify for conduct that could reveal a weak thread of security.

  • SQL Injection
  • XPath Injection
  • XML Bomb
  • Malicious Attachment
  • Invalid Types
  • Malformed XML
  • Cross-Site Scripting

Above is a portion of the productivities that should be quickly checked for weaknesses. After this, understanding them and decoding them is the last thing to do.

6.Access Control Testing: This type confirms the approval of authentic clients given to the application under testing.

The main aim here is to review the unraveling strategy of the parts of the product. It also confirms the adjustment of the software execution done while arranging the security arrangements. It guards the framework against unverified clients.


Information Security Testing – Importance

Any fine security testing manifesto serves to every aspect of the software in a highly intense approach.

It starts with the examination and verification of the security of the software. After that, it covers extra layers of the system like database and software presentation layers.

As we all know, software and mobile testing work towards assessing security at these levels. Cloud penetration testing is about revealing the security chunks on the cloud-based scenarios.

Without a secure software culture, the software world will have no control over the hackers and it will be chaos. As years are passing the threats are increasing so the organizations have to have security software to run through successfully.

In Security testing, a Defenselessness evaluation also plays a significant role. By executing defenseless evaluation, companies can analyze their software code for threats and take required actions for the same.

Information Security Testing – Increasing the value of Organizations

In the 21st century world, all the aspects of businesses are coming online. On the web. The market needs to be interconnected and it also delivers certain benefits that the offline system couldn’t offer.

Due to this, the rate of security threats is also increasing.

In some cases, any kind of security danger might cost a fortune to some organizations. It is harmful to their client count and reputation in the market. It ultimately costs them their income in monetary terms.

In this scenario, Information security testing is an essential move every businessman and organization should take. It becomes of paramount importance to secure the software or application from the dark and dangerous world of hackers.

All businesses currently working in the market, including small-scale start-ups, have found themselves working towards a basic goal, which is to build a strong and secure security structure for their software to guard it against potential security threats.

It’s a race. A race between organizations and companies to exceed their security structure’s potential to ensure a safe system. This ensures their client base by inducing trust in their customer’s minds. This ultimately increases the value of the given organization.

Conclusion

As we discussed earlier, the race is real. Organizations should stand on their feet in terms of creating a secure trustworthy work culture with their client base. This is only possible if they assured them to work under a safe and secure bond.

If you are a part of any organization that has an online presence, then you must give Information security testing utmost importance as it is the guarding angel of any given software.

How VTEST can help

VTEST will be the safest and most secure organization you will ever tackle. We value the eminence of Information security testing and our excellent team of hardworking testers work with a moral balance to protect any respective software from all the potential future threats. We believe it is our duty to do so.

VTEST it!