Streamlining Enterprise Demands: Selecting the Ideal Cloud Test Automation & Infrastructure Platform

Every enterprise has unique requirements, Some prioritize security and want to ensure the provider has robust authentication protocols and encryption standards. Others need to test devices that connect from behind firewalls or VPNs. Data-driven enterprises seek providers that allow on-premise deployment for low-latency data transfer.

As the tech landscape continues to evolve with a multitude of devices and platforms, ensuring seamless performance and compatibility across this diverse array of devices has become a pressing concern for Enterprise businesses.

Every enterprise should evaluate providers based on their specific connectivity, security, privacy, customization, scalability and compliance requirements. But the challenge is to find a device cloud provider that can meet your specific requirements

When evaluating device cloud providers for enterprise testing needs, there are some key capabilities that enterprises should look for, including:

1. Flexibility of Infrastructure Deployment
   Flexibility of various options like on Prem, private dedicated and public – all three are needed to future-proof the organization as enterprises have a lot of teams and new initiatives show up all the time. Flexibility to move between these options is important.

2. Local or behind-firewall testing This capability allows enterprises to run tests on their own infrastructure. There are cases where applications must be tested in more secure on-premise environments due to regulatory compliance, privacy laws, or confidentiality. Device clouds should offer private/on-premise deployment options also.

3. Automation and Scripting Support
   The ability to automate tests and support scripting is critical for enterprises to ensure quick and efficient testing. The device cloud provider should support commonly used test automation frameworks like Selenium, Appium, Espresso, etc. It should also allow the integration of custom scripts and frameworks.

4. Visual Regression Testing
   Maintaining a consistent visual experience across development cycles is critical for quality apps. Leading device cloud platforms provide automated visual regression testing to detect visual inconsistencies. By comparing screenshots captured during testing, enterprises can identify the smallest visual deviations like font size changes or UI layout issues. Visual testing saves vast amounts of time compared to manual visual checks. With automated screenshot comparisons across devices, operating systems, and iterations, enterprises can release apps with full confidence in the visual experience. Automated visual regression testing capabilities ensure apps look perfect every time.

5. Image Injection This feature allows you to test your app’s image capture, QR code scanning, and barcode scanning functionality using real devices. You can upload images, QR codes, and barcodes to your dedicated device, and then inject them into the device’s camera during test execution. It allows you to verify that your app can handle images of different sizes and formats, accurately scan various codes even under difficult conditions, and reliably extract the right information from captured content.

6. Biometric Authentication In the age of heightened security concerns, biometric authentication has emerged as a robust and user-friendly alternative to traditional password-based methods. However, ensuring the proper functioning of biometric authentication across various devices and operating systems can be a complex task. A reliable device cloud provider should offer a comprehensive testing environment to support the meticulous evaluation of biometric authentication functionalities.

7. Geo-Location Testing
   For businesses seeking a device cloud provider, prioritizing testing on real devices across diverse global locations is key. This ensures a thorough evaluation of your app’s functionality and performance under varying network conditions, localities, and time zones. Understanding how users experience your app in different corners of the world, from bustling city centers to remote areas, guarantees its reliability and accessibility for a truly global audience. With robust global device access, enterprises can release applications with confidence knowing they have been rigorously tested worldwide.

8. Cross Browser Testing
   With multiple OS versions and a fragmented mobile landscape, extensive device coverage and cross-platform testing capabilities are a must. The provider should cover a wide range of real mobile devices, platforms, OS versions, form factors, and networks.

9. Integration with Enterprise Protocols – LDAP, MFA, SSO, etc
   Integrating with popular enterprise authentication protocols like LDAP, MFA, and SSO is also important to eliminate the need for separate passwords during testing, enhancing security while providing users with a streamlined experience. Device cloud platforms that integrate with existing LDAP, MFA, SSO, and other enterprise systems offer convenience without compromising security.

10. Network Throttling
    Testing applications under different network conditions is critical to exposing potential vulnerabilities and optimizing performance. Leading device cloud platforms provide network throttling capabilities to test under diverse conditions. Testing across 2G, 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi exposes how the app performs on slow, unstable networks versus strong, high-speed connections.

11. Mobile Device Management (MDM) Support:

    An MDM allows central configuration and locking of devices according to company security policy. TestGrid empowers you to conduct comprehensive automated and manual testing on your mobile applications, even within secure MDM-controlled environments, both on the cloud and on-premise. It provides lock and unlock capabilities to enable testing of apps inside managed mobile environments.

12. Device Reservation & Allocation
    To ensure reliable test execution, device clouds should allow reserving or locking down specific devices for testing needs. This prevents device conflicts between tests and allows maximizing the utilization of all connected devices. Allocation capabilities enable efficient sharing of device resources between multiple teams.

13. Deep Link Validation
    Deep link validation is crucial for mobile applications, as deep links are often used to direct users to specific screens or features within the app. TestGrid safeguards against broken or misdirected links, ensuring flawless user routing and preventing frustration.

14. Device lock & unlock
    Testing often requires replicating real-world scenarios, including securing devices with PINs and passwords. A competent device cloud provider empowers you to set virtual locks and unlock them as needed. This level of control unlocks realistic testing, revealing security vulnerabilities before they reach your users.

15. Regulatory Compliance:
    Ensuring that the chosen device cloud provider adheres to necessary regulatory standards is paramount for enterprises. Look for device cloud providers that operate from SOC2 and SOC3 compliant data centers. These certifications guarantee that the provider meets rigorous security and data protection standards. Additionally, for healthcare-related enterprises or those dealing with sensitive patient information, HIPAA compliance is crucial. It ensures that the device cloud provider has implemented adequate safeguards to protect patient data according to HIPAA regulations.

16. Compliance and Regulatory Testing Compliance and Regulatory Testing are paramount for enterprises, especially in industries like healthcare or finance. A reliable device cloud provider should operate from SOC2 and SOC3 Compliant Data Centers, guaranteeing robust security measures and data protection. Moreover, adherence to standards such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and obtaining ISO 27001 Certification demonstrates a commitment to compliance, assuring clients of stringent protocols for handling sensitive data and maintaining regulatory requirements.

17. In-built Performance metrics for apps
    Monitoring key performance indicators in real-time during testing is also essential. Device cloud providers should offer visibility into metrics like memory usage, CPU utilization, network traffic, and logs. With performance metrics built into the testing platform, enterprises can identify issues, troubleshoot problems, and fine-tune apps for peak performance. Tracking KPIs during testing helps developers continually optimize the user experience.

18. Beyond Devices: Your One-Stop Shop for Future-Proof Testing
    Think of your device cloud as a testing ecosystem, not just a device fleet. Look for a provider that goes beyond the basics, offering an all-in-one suite of features like visual regression for UI consistency, built-in performance metrics for real-time insights, robust load testing for scalability assurance, comprehensive API testing for seamless integrations, and even intuitive record-and-play feature or low-code test case generators to simplify automation.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, selecting the right device cloud provider for enterprise testing involves evaluating several key capabilities tailored to your specific needs. Look for flexibility in infrastructure deployment, support for local and behind-firewall testing, automation and scripting capabilities, and features such as visual regression and image injection testing. Additionally, ensure the provider supports biometric authentication, geo-location testing, cross-browser and cross-platform coverage, integration with enterprise protocols, network throttling, MDM support, and device reservation. Compliance with regulatory standards and the ability to monitor performance metrics are also crucial. A comprehensive device cloud solution should offer a holistic suite of features that align with your organization’s requirements for security, performance, and scalability.

Source: This article was originally published at testgrid.io/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-de..