Cloud Testing: Everything You Need to Know

Cloud testing is a method of using internet-based technology and cloud computing resources to create real-world environments for software testing applications. It enables validation of functionality, performance, and reliability throughout the development lifecycle.

In this blog, you’ll learn everything you need to know about cloud testing, explained in a simple and straightforward way. Whether you’re new to the concept or looking to understand how it can improve testing speed and efficiency.

Let’s go more deeply into it!

What is Cloud Testing?

Cloud Testing is an approach, a process basically for validating applications, services, and infrastructures deployed in the cloud, hence allowing teams to check performance, security, scalability, and reliability ahead of going live. In contrast with the traditional testing approach, cloud testing runs on virtualized resources and cloud providers to replicate real-world user scenarios.

Why is Cloud Testing Needed?

Think of cloud testing as your safety net in the dynamic world of cloud computing. It encompasses everything from functional testing of cloud-native applications to load testing that ensures your system can handle traffic spikes, and security testing that guards against vulnerabilities.

You can quickly spin up test environments, replicate production scenarios, and run tests at scale without maintaining expensive physical infrastructure. Plus, it allows teams to adopt a shift-left testing approach, catching potential issues early in the development cycle.

There are countless benefits of website testing on the cloud. Here is a visual representation of its benefits that speaks a lot about its need in STLC.

To understand its importance better, let us consider an example. Your team has worked hard on the feature development of a web application (or website). Still, your organization has limited (and non-scalable) infrastructure as far as cross browser testing is concerned.

Should you release the product by testing only on the most popular web browsers?

Definitely not as you have cloud-based testing to your rescue. With a cloud-based testing platform like LambdaTest, testing can be performed remotely and securely on numerous combinations of browsers, devices, and platforms (or operating systems).

Cloud testing platforms make testing and releasing software easier and faster. With advanced testing features like smart waits, root cause analysis, self-healing tests automation, and detailed analytics etc, they improve test automation and workflows. This leads to better test coverage, quicker results, and higher-quality products, ensuring a smooth experience for your users.

Types of Cloud Computing Models

Cloud computing models play a crucial role in testing by providing scalable, flexible, and accessible environments. The key models include:

• Public Cloud: A cloud service shared by many people, available over the internet, and managed by a third-party company. Offers cost-effective and easily scalable resources, ideal for testing with minimal setup and maintenance.
• Private Cloud: Cloud service used by just one user or organization, giving more control and security. Maximum control with the highest level of data security, fit for organizations with quite stringent compliance needs.
• Hybrid cloud: A mix of public and private clouds that work together to share data and applications. Mixed cloud gives maximum flexibility to handle sensitive data while taking advantage of the scalability of public cloud resources.
• Testing of Cloud-Based Applications: This focuses on the testing of applications hosted on the cloud infrastructure. It assures functionality, performance, and scalability of the application comply with required standards when accessed on disparate platforms, devices, and locations. The main tests include functionality testing, compatibility, and performance.
• Testing Using Cloud-Based Tools: Cloud-based tools provide a strong testing environment that eliminates the need for on-premise setups. These tools enable testers to perform cross-browser and cross-platform testing, conduct load and performance testing on cloud infrastructure and utilize real device cloud to test applications for real-world scenarios. Examples of such tools include LambdaTest.
• Testing Within Cloud Environments: This form of testing evaluates the performance of cloud infrastructure itself, ensuring its capability to support applications reliably. It includes testing the performance of cloud-hosted applications with varied workloads, the architecture’s scalability, reliability, and security gets validated and testing disaster recovery and failover mechanisms.
• Automated Cloud Testing: This testing operates on a set of automation tools and frameworks in cloud environments to streamline repetitive test cases, boost efficiency, and minimize human effort. The tests involved would be functional, regression tests, and performance tests. Automated tests permit timely feedback and better resource utilization. Cloud platforms such as LambdaTest enhance automated cloud testing by integrating with popular frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, and Playwright, ensuring scalable and reliable infrastructure.

Note

Get access to all types right now and experience cloud testing. Try LambdaTest Today!

How to Start with Cloud Testing?

when it really comes to putting into the SDLC, it can be simplified if a systematic approach is taken. Let’s learn step-by-step:

1. Define Your Testing Goals

Begin by identifying the scope of your testing requirements:

• Which applications or components need testing?
• What are the primary objectives performance, functionality, compatibility, or security?
• Are there specific user scenarios you need to replicate?

Clear goals help align the testing process with business objectives and ensure optimal resource allocation.

2. Choose the Right Cloud Testing Platform

Evaluate and select a cloud testing platform that meets your needs. Consider factors like:

• Support for a wide range of latest and legacy browsers, devices, and operating systems for optimal test coverage for example tools like Lambdatest which have 3000+ browsers and OS combinations.
• Scalability to handle varying workloads.
• Integration capabilities with your existing tools and CI/CD pipelines.

3. Setting Up Your Test Environment

This phase includes setting up a cloud test environment of utmost efficiency fit for your application, defining test configurations such as browser and OS combinations,and kit up user test data along with safety and compliance,Set the connection with your development pipeline.

4. Automate Testing Workflows

Leverage automation tools to speed up the testing process:

• Write reusable test scripts for repetitive tasks using frameworks like Selenium
• Schedule test executions to run parallel tests across multiple environments.
• Incorporate automation testing in CI/CD pipeline to enable continuous testing.

5. Execute Tests and Monitor Results

Run the tests in the configured cloud environment:

• Monitor real-time test execution and analyze the results for anomalies.
• Leverage analytics dashboards provided by cloud platforms to track performance metrics and identify bottlenecks.

6. Scaling and Optimization

Scale cloud resources dynamically whenever there is a need for additional configurations or a surge in users. Thereafter, optimize without much difficulty the scripts and resources to manage costs effectively.

Now that you have a roadmap for getting started with cloud testing, it’s time to learn how collaboration can enhance your testing process. Watch this video on setting up and running effective ensemble sessions to improve team coordination in remote testing.

Overcoming Hurdles in Cloud Testing: Challenges and Solutions

Here’s a look at common hurdles and strategic solutions to overcome them:

1. Security and Privacy Concerns

Challenge: Storing sensitive data on third-party cloud platforms can raise concerns about data breaches and unauthorized access. Meeting regulatory and compliance standards.
Solution: Implement strong security measures like encryption, access controls, and data anonymization to safeguard sensitive information during testing. Choose secured tools like LambdaTest, which prioritize trust and security with features such as SOC2 Type II certification, GDPR compliance, secure data encryption, and access control systems to ensure data remains protected.

2. Integration Complexity

Challenge: Integrating cloud testing tools with existing systems and CI/CD pipelines can be daunting, especially for older, legacy systems.
Solution: Opt for cloud-based platforms that offer seamless integrations across various domains, such as project management tools like Jira, CI/CD platforms like Jenkins, and collaboration tools like Slack.

3. Network Dependencies

Challenge: Cloud testing relies heavily on stable internet connectivity, making it vulnerable to latency and downtime.
Solution: Design tests to account for potential network issues and ensure backup solutions, like offline testing capabilities, to maintain reliability.

4. Limited Flexibility in Cloud Options

Challenge: Some cloud platforms restrict flexibility by offering either public or private cloud environments, making it difficult to adapt to diverse testing needs like what if you have a new app which has sensitive information and now you have to use a private cloud.

Solution: So choose a cloud platform that supports multiple cloud environments, including public, private, and hybrid models, to cater to diverse testing requirements. Tools like LambdaTest provide the flexibility to perform testing seamlessly across all these environments public, private real device cloud, hybrid and automated cloud too.

5. Cost Management

Challenge: Poorly managed cloud usage can lead to unexpected expenses, especially as testing needs scale and resources are utilized inefficiently.

Solution: Leverage the pay-as-you-go model offered by cloud platforms to optimize costs. This model ensures you only pay for the resources you use, eliminating unnecessary expenses.

Cloud Testing vs. On-Premises Testing (Bonus)

On the basis of what we’ve discussed till now, I am sure you are probably wondering about the on-premise testing (On premise basically means conducting all testing activities within an organization’s own infrastructure, using hardware and software hosted and managed locally). If I’m not wrong, this would be the first question that sprang into your mind-

So, does that mean that on-premise testing isn’t of any use?

Not exactly. But the downsides of on-premise testing far outdo those advantages it can provide. Below is a comparative table that will prove beneficial for your decision-making.

Wrapping Up!

If product testing is done in the right way, it can work wonders for the product. In the times we live in, where competition is cut-throat, infrastructure costs have to be kept to a minimum by means of leveraging cloud technologies. Cloud computing and cloud testing is one such methodology that propels the testing process and substantially reduces the overhead expenses of maintaining the in-house infrastructure.

Happy Cloud Testing! 😊

Himanshu Sheth

Himanshu Sheth is a seasoned technologist and blogger with more than 15+ years of diverse working experience. He currently works as the ‘Lead Developer Evangelist’ and ‘Senior Manager [Technical Content Marketing]’ at LambdaTest. He is very active with the startup community in Bengaluru (and down South) and loves interacting with passionate founders on his personal blog (which he has been maintaining since last 15+ years).

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