Common Problems of Test Data Management

Test data is critically important for ensuring quality of a system or software. Although it is already quite a task to get access to quality test data, the bigger challenge is to manage copious amount of data that is why companies are often seen struggling with test data management.  Let’s take a look at the common problems of test data management.

1. Table of Contents

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   Non-availability of quality test data

While testing a system, if a change is made which requires a new field of data, the delivery of test data makes the test phase suffer. The testing is also compromised if an error arises due to stale data, amounting to collapse of the whole system. In order to provide quality dataset for testing, the work time might increase by 10%.

1. Compromise on data integrity

In an effort to save space, some testing managers subset data so that storage space is utilized effectively. Although this helps in enhancing execution speed but, this tends to compromise data integrity if subsets have not been made with caution. The referential data cannot be called and fetched which leads to performance errors.

1. Time constraint

Quite often, testers are allowed to gather dataset copy only at the data owner’s allocated time. This leads to consistency issues for the tester, who needs real time data for ensuring integrity and consistency during testing. The time constraint can trigger a problem with far reaching impacts. Therefore, there arises the need to have rule-sets and time logic so that problems could be avoided.

1. Synthetic Test Data

Synthetic data generation is important for testing a system because it ensures that data being generated is quality data, and does not violate data protection policy at any level. However using synthetic test data as a solution for making subset “complete”, leads the tester back to the problem of data integrity. For quality data, which is also complete, the synthetic data is required to generate missing data, and also ensure integrity between both data sets i-e generated data and subset data.  Coupling synthetic data with subsets can add another layer of complexity, which can be easily avoided.

1. Speed Issues

One way of ensuring data privacy and protection is to mask data. However, it leads to speed issues especially if the data is aimed for testing purpose. Hence, testers have to make a choice between speed and risk. The distribution of masked data is considered as the major problem in masking. The rules for masking have to be adhered to for ensuring data protection. These rules are normally different than sub-setting rules.

1. Compatible environment

If the environment is not compatible, data cannot be called and fetched at the right time. While testing is conducted in a specific environment, many testers overload platforms with streams. This results in force delay, rework and throwaway work to happen.  Therefore, ideally a test should only be performed when the compatible environment is ready or available.

1. Tracing of problem

Some defects can slow down the deployment phase of a system or software because in the event of an issue developers cannot trace back or reproduce the bug which has been identified by the tester. Hence a critical path cannot be tested because it is being examined by the developer. At times, the tracking may make the whole dataset to be held as hostage.

1. Testing with the right data

All the above mentioned problems are secondary compared to the main objective of testing i-e running all tests using quality and perfect data. In order to restore software and subsequently synchronize it, subset it, mask it, and distribute it would only add to the overall cost and consumption of resources of the testing. The proportion of cost incurred cost will increase with the number of tests you run.

Final Words:

We understand testing software is one heck of a task. There are many requirements before and during the testing process which can make testing a really complicated job. GenRocket has an experience of providing flawless quality assured systems for more than a decade. Our team is qualified and experienced to provide impeccable testing using synthetic test data. To know more about our services, visit our website or get in touch with our representative.