One bad app release can cost your business millions in revenue, customer trust, and reputation. Still, many teams rush through testing or skip it entirely to meet tight deadlines. With the software development market projected to grow from USD 730.70 billion in 2024 to USD 1,397.31 billion by 2030 (Grand View Research), smart testing isn’t optional; it’s critical. Without reliable testing, you’re gambling with product quality and customer satisfaction.

So, what should you choose when it comes to software testing? The answer is cloud-based testing tools. All thanks to its scalability, easy setup, and performance, cloud testing is getting widely popular. In this blog, you will learn everything about cloud testing by covering these pointers:

• What is cloud testing?
• Cloud testing vs. traditional testing
• Types of cloud testing
• Benefits of cloud testing
• Use cases for cloud-based testing
• Common challenges in cloud testing and their solutions
• How can PatternBots help with cloud-based testing?

What is cloud testing?

Cloud testing is the process of using cloud-based resources to test software applications. Cloud testing platforms help with different software tests, including functional, security, and performance testing. Using cloud-based testing, QA teams can easily access multiple desktop and mobile devices to test apps and websites in real time.

Cloud testing vs. traditional testing

Before cloud testing came into the picture, businesses used physical infrastructure and local resources to test applications and websites. However, cloud-based testing is different from traditional testing in various ways. Here’s an easy way to clearly see the difference between these frameworks:

Types of cloud testing

Cloud testing can be categorised on the basis of different screening strategies. Here are some main types of cloud testing:

1. Performance testing 

App response, speed, and stability are tested through cloud platform performance testing. This ensures that the application’s performance is optimised for improved scalability.

2. Load testing 

This testing checks how the app behaves under normal and peak load conditions. It ensures that the system can easily handle the expected user traffic without failure.

3. Stress testing 

Stress testing determines apps’ breaking points by pushing them beyond their limits. This method identifies system recovery strategies.

4. Security testing 

Security testing on cloud platforms helps identify app vulnerabilities, validating data protection mechanisms and security standards compliance.

5. Compatibility testing 

Compatibility testing determines whether the application works across different devices, operating systems, and browsers. It helps verify cross-platform functionality.

6. Functional testing 

During this testing, the applications’ features are checked to ensure a seamless user experience. 

7. Scalability testing 

Under this testing, applications are checked by increasing the workloads to ensure they perform well during high user demands.

8. Regression testing 

Regression testing ensures that future updates do not affect the functionality of applications.

Benefits of cloud testing

In recent years, many businesses have shifted from traditional testing methods to cloud computing testing. These are some of the reasons that have popularised it over the years:

1. High testing scalability 

With the limitless testing scalability of cloud tools, you can easily upscale and downscale the QA processes as per your project’s requirements. Thus, in case of larger testing requirements, you don’t have to invest in additional infrastructure, as cloud testing tools can manage higher loads easily. 

2. Saves cost 

When you use cloud-based automation testing, you pay only for the resources and systems you use. This way, you can maintain a cost-effective testing infrastructure, as you don’t have to pay for unnecessary resources.

3. Greater flexibility 

Since most project teams are distributed across different locations, ensuring collaboration on the same tasks simultaneously becomes challenging. But when you use cloud mobile testing platforms, you can easily manage the process across multiple teams present at different locations, as everyone can access the QA processes remotely.

4. Offers multiple testing possibilities

With cloud software testing, you can cover different testing areas. Be it examining the application performance on different platforms, devices, operating systems, or browsers, you can get every resource to test the application as per your user experience requirements. 

5. Allows real-world testing 

With on-premise testing, QA teams cannot test apps based on real-user experience. Limitations like network availability, device availability, and on-premise restrictions prevent them from doing so. On the other hand, mobile cloud testing tools help QA teams test software applications in actual user conditions, such as preferred devices, network coverage areas, degraded network conditions, other apps working in the background, and call interruptions. 

6. Ensure timely app releases

Since cloud-based load testing is done across different devices, operating systems, and networks, QA teams stay connected to all these procedures before the final rollout. This speeds up the testing process, ensuring a timely app release.  

Now that you have a clear idea about the benefits of cloud-based testing tools, let’s explore how they are used in real life.

Use cases for cloud-based testing

Cloud-based testing tools are used to inspect different features of software and websites. Here are some use cases of cloud-based testing platforms:

1. Testing features before deployment

Cloud testing platforms allow QA teams to test different features on applications and websites before deploying them to the production phase. This ensures that new functions and features work as expected and reduces the risk of issues when released to users. 

For example, an e-commerce company can test its new checkout flow before launching it during a major sale.

2. Testing performance in a production-like environment

Cloud testing solutions offer a production-like environment to test the scalability of applications and websites. This allows software performance to be tested under real-world load conditions to ensure successful deployment. 

For example, a streaming platform might simulate peak traffic to ensure smooth viewing during a live event.

3. Testing across different geographic regions

Cloud-based mobile testing solutions allow the QA teams to test an application or a website in different locations. This way, businesses can ensure that the applications work correctly for all users worldwide.

For example, a travel booking app can check if users in Europe and Asia experience consistent performance and availability.

4. Testing with different hardware configurations 

With cloud-based performance testing tools, QA teams can test apps on different hardware configurations, easily checking application compatibility with different operating systems.

For example, a fintech app can be validated on both older Android phones and the latest iOS devices to ensure wide usability across all devices.

5. Testing disaster recovery scenarios

Cloud-based testing platforms can be used to test software or websites’ disaster recovery capacities. By using a disaster simulation event, cloud testing tools verify whether the apps can recover and continue operations as expected.

For example, a healthcare system can test how quickly patient data is restored after a server crash simulation.

Common challenges in cloud testing and their solutions

While cloud-based performance testing tools have a lot of advantages, there are also some challenges you can face while using them. These are:

• Security issues

Keeping sensitive information in the cloud can pose risks of data breach or unauthorized access. 

Solution: This challenge can be avoided by using data encryption and access controls. Moreover, regular security checks can keep the information safe.

• Performance issues

Server capacity during peak hours and poor connectivity might slow down the cloud mobile testing processes, affecting the user experience.

Solution: Perform different load tests to see how the application handles different user loads. Based on this information, you can adjust the resources according to your requirements.

• Complex integration with other tools

Integrating cloud-based testing tools with the systems can sometimes become complicated, affecting workflows. 

Solution: Based on your integration and deployment systems, you should choose specific testing tools to ensure smooth integration. 

• Data privacy regulations 

Cloud-based mobile app testing may also affect compliance with data protection regulations, such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

Solution: Always choose the cloud providers that comply with all data protection regulations. 

• Dependency on the internet 

You need a stable internet connection to perform cloud-based load testing, as internet issues may interrupt access to the testing environment.

Solution: Make sure a reliable internet connection is available and keep local testing options ready to maintain testing continuity.

• Limited control of infrastructure

Cloud software testing infrastructure offers less control than on-site testing solutions. Thus, testing can only be customised to a limited extent. 

Solution: Always select cloud testing providers that offer customization options as per your testing requirements.

How can PatternBots help with cloud-based testing?

If you want to implement Cloud-based mobile testing solutions for your business, you can get assistance from PatternBots. With our expert consultancy services, we can help you choose the right cloud testing provider for your business requirements.

With more than 15 years of experience with cloud application testing tools, our cloud consultants can help with the feasibility study of your software so you can finalise the testing requirements. Work with us to speed up and simplify your cloud mobile testing processes.     

Conclusion

Cloud testing is the right way to check software, websites, apps, and other IT systems. While it ensures high scalability and reduced costs, businesses benefit from real-world testing. Overall, cloud-based testing can be a valuable tool for companies that need improvement in the efficiency and duration of their app testing processes. 

As expert cloud consultants, we suggest that before switching to cloud-based mobile app testing, you should get proper consultation for better planning and implementation.  

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