Independent Software QA Testing Services

IoT Testing 101

A Complete Guide to All IoT Testing FAQs

Introduction

IoT testing primarily involves end-to-end functional and integration testing that’s significantly relevant to the specifics of the distributed IoT architectures accompanied by performance testing checking the application strength and tenacity while handling large volumes of streaming data, alongside optimal security testing at all application interfaces, gateways, and all inter-connected device levels.

Here’s a lineup of an IoT testing team that involves:

  • Test leads and
  • Test automation leads,
  • Manual and test automation engineers
  • A cybersecurity expert.

A successful IoT solution delivery requires understanding the subtle aspects of all IoT device modules and architecture-specific solutions offering clients and stakeholders a fully comprehensive IoT testing service suite.

IoT Testing Plan
The real-world IoT testing setup plan will vary depending on the diversity of the IoT solution’s requirements, the selected or chosen development model, and the current SDLC stage of the IoT project.
Here are the commonly outlined stages of a kickoff.

1. Design IoT application testing process

A QA process manager is assigned as early as the requirements specification stages to ensure all IoT functional requirements are designed in a highly testable way. Typically, the requirements are drawn in the form of user stories.

The QA process manager should then decide upon the deployed QA team and the IoT development team’s degree of interdependencies and mutual collaboration required for ensuring relevant test cases’ prioritization, efficient defects management, and regression testing execution.

Then, the QA process manager should possibly and carefully consider all possible testing risks and design a mitigation plan for the project. The probable risks there can be are:

  • Non-scalable, incomplete, and improperly configured IoT test environment that’s not fully reflecting the hardware configurations, lacking simulators or virtualization tools.
  • Improper test automation frameworks’ choice and configuration.
  • Lack of IoT testing talents to create and execute test cases addressing potential IoT-specific quality issues

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2. Preparing for IoT testing

Preparation for the IoT application testing process differs according to the sourcing model opted for in-house testing or outsourced testing.

  • Preparing for in-house IoT testing

The assigned QA manager designs an overall IoT test strategy and plan, including effort estimation. As an IoT system’s architecture is prone to changes, the QA manager needs to regularly revise and update the test artifacts accordingly.

Then, the manager assembles an IoT testing team or teams.

It, however, may require several testing teams to cater to different IoT application modules. The actual number of testing teams deployed will depend mostly on the application’s architecture and complexity.

Besides saving time- and data-intensive resources, alongside recurring repetitive test cases execution, an IoT testing project requires a balance of both manual and automated testing. A separate team should be deployed to take over automated testing.

Note

Automation integration and regression testing with critical functional test cases, along with performance testing are always inherently automated. Still, IoT security, usability, and the majority of functional test cases are performed manually.

Functional Testing For IoT Applications

Validates the functionality of:

  • All individual IoT app components are in isolation, sending in test input events to each component cross-validating its output and behavior against expected requirements.
  • End-to-end workflows of the IoT application.
  • Validating all UI components.
  • All IoT systems functionalities under specific network configurations and real-life environments, during an IoT field testing.
Integration testing for IoT applications

Validates:

  • Seamless communication between different IoT app components and tech stack compatibility.
  • End-to-end enterprise workflows, and integrations (e.g., asset tracking and monitoring, field service applications, ERP, CRM, data warehouse).
  • Data transfer between the IoT app and its third-party integrations, ensuring all data alterations reflect real-time changes in all the connected systems, with the relevant change history updates.
Security testing for IoT applications

Validates:

  • An IoT application’s resilience to cyber attacks, a cybersecurity engineer reviews the strength of the system architecture, via vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.
  • Safeguarding the entire IoT system’s cyber-security requires opting for the testing of:
  • IoT field gateways (validating inter-communication channel security and data encryption).
  • IoT devices (testing the devices’ firmware and its upgradation process checking in for vulnerabilities, and the booting process from a security perspective).

Performance testing for IoT applications

An IoT test plan can include performance testing to:

  • Measure the app’s performance metrics (e.g., latency, throughput, response time, CPU utilization).
  • Validate the strength and stability of the entire application’s functioning and degradation under stress load, while changing operational and internet network conditions (including intermittent failures or the loss of network connectivity scenarios).
  • Mapping the multi-effect signaling of devices continuously sending and receiving data.

Note

Not all performance testing tools are meant for IoT-specific communication protocol standards (e.g. MQTT, XMPP, CoAP, SOAP), performance testers carefully consider the compatibility of the IoT app’s tech stack alongside the capabilities of the preferred performance testing tool.

IoT test launch
To get IoT testing started, teams design test cases and develop test scripts. Encapsulating the end-to-end system functioning, an IoT test lab is recreated with selected service virtualization tools and simulators. With IoT testers using real IoT devices during field testing.
Best Practices
  • Designing a general test strategy and plan for the entire IoT application and individual test plans for each module.
  • Build a test automation architecture for the system’s components.
  • Select suitable IoT testing frameworks and tools.
  • Provide budget estimation and cost breakdown for all IoT testing efforts.
  • Advise on an optimal sourcing model for the testing project.
  • Perform risk analysis and mitigation of potential IoT application testing issues of an ongoing project.
IoT Testing Protocols
  • Designing the IoT testing process: developing a test strategy and plan for the entire IoT app and specific modules; and a test automation architecture mapping the specifics of each IoT app component; like a custom-tailored testing toolkit.
  • Setting up and maintaining the IoT test lab, and generating and managing all test data.
  • Developing, executing, and maintaining all test cases and scripts.
  • Creating a reusable automated regression test suite for the IoT system.
Thought Frameworks approach to IoT testing
IoT – Better known as The Internet of Things is a digital network of interconnected devices with built-in embedded sensors that can collect, store and transfer data over a wireless network requiring no human intervention.
Significance

The Key components of an IoT system are

1) Sensors

Sensors gather data from connected environments for real-time input processing, and they can be systematically chosen or further modified based on the requirement. Targeted sensors like environment detectors are used for specific utility purposes, whereas devices like beacons and QR codes can be embedded for multiple applications. Sensors are essential in the smooth running of all IoT processes as multiple sensors can get installed on an inter-connected device and collect different aspects of the necessary data likewise.

2) Networks

As the data is further sent to the cloud, it needs a way to get there. The sensors/devices can be connected via a variety of methods including cellular, satellite, WiFi, Bluetooth, low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN), or through a gateway/router or connecting directly to the internet. Each option has its tradeoffs between power requirements, range, and bandwidth. Choosing the right network connectivity option comes down to the specific IoT application in question, however, they all come together to accomplish the same task of connecting data to the cloud.
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3) Applications

IoT leverages an application-based user interface to make sure the collected data and information are ready and practical for consumption by a targeted demographic in some way. This could be by updating the processed information on an application dashboard or alerting the user via any set and viable notification, as real-time system monitoring occurs. IoT enables provisions for applications to conduct live system monitoring using a mobile phone or a web browser app plugin.

4) Backends (data center)

Computing software and big-data analytics further process all inputs for the end user. For instance, detecting unauthorized activity within a defined parameter. As the signals get sent to the user via alert notifications to the system applications and software.

IoT is a connection of mutually identifiable embedded devices within the same existing Internet infrastructure. In simple words, IoT is an emerging era of “Smart”, connected products that can ‘ talk’, communicate and seamlessly transfer real-time data while uploading it to the cloud.
Testing for IoT devices broadly revolves around Security, Analytics, Devices, Networks, Processors, Operating Systems, Platforms, and Standards.

Methodology

Includes the types of testing schematics followed for all IoT devices and applications –

Compatibility Testing

As multiple devices can be interconnected via the IoT ecosystem. across varied software and hardware configuration ranges. Risking a complete data transmission failure or system de-synchronization, requiring the need to perform thorough compatibility testing for the entire IoT system.

Usability Testing

User interaction with different device form factors requires usability testing for evaluating the product or devices by testing it along with representative users. The goal is to identify usability issues, collect qualitative and quantitative data, and determine the participant’s user satisfaction with the product/device.

Data Integrity Testing

Checking the data integrity is crucial as a large amount of data is generated and transferred in such applications.

Reliability and Scalability Testing

Reliability and Scalability involve the simulation of sensors utilizing virtualization tools and technologies.

Security testing (Non-functional)

In the IOT ecosystem, it is important to validate users via authentication, deploying data accessibility encryptions and privacy controls as part of security testing.

Performance Testing (Non-functional)

Performance testing is deployed creating a strategic approach for developing and implementing a well-integrated end-to-end IOT testing plan.

Best Practices at TF

Deploying efficient IOT Software Testing Experts- Trained in all Industry Standard Practices
Gray Box testing integration with IoT testing services allows the designing of effective test cases. Understanding the OS, architecture, third-party hardware, connectivity, and device limitations.

Real-Time Operating System is essential in delivering scalability, modularity, connectivity, and security, especially for IoT.

IoT Testing Services need to be automated post-sprint releases as the product moves toward stability.

Must Opt

Other testing services you must opt for along with IoT Testing include –

  • Non-Functional testing checks the performance, reliability, and scalability alongside other non-functional aspects of the software system
Expertise and value addition
  • Higher Number Of Development Cycles
  • Achieving Product/ Device Resilience And Ease Of All Workflows
  • Greater Application Scalability
  • All Feature Delivery On Time

About Thought Frameworks

Thought Frameworks is a U.S.-based leading QA and software testing organization that’s been in business since 2009, armed with the ultimate solutions for all your software’s QA testing challenges. Having headquarters both in California, USA and a fully functional well equipped QA Test Lab in Bengaluru-India, that delivers premium QA and QC services endlessly across different Industry domains and niches. An ISTQB Silver Partnered Company, our superhuman test team heroes have delivered numerous successful QA and QC projects for clients across the globe. Get powered by our deep dive bug-hunting process that helps your software in clocking release cycles on time while delivering excelling quality and functionality.

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