Automated Test Data: Essential for CI/CD and DevOps

Software testing teams across the industry need to adopt the latest approach toward development, from the different flavors of agile to DevOps, Continuous Integration, and Continuous Delivery. We can notice this in the latest Practitest State of Testing Report, which has nearly 92% of participants implementing agile development methods.

A lot of times we usually overlook the question that is raised when we discuss any type of rapid, iterative development: “How can test data management match the speed and automation of CI/CD and DevOps pipelines?”

When we perform software testing and development, which continues to automate and evolve thanks to the latest methodologies, TDM is usually overlooked in this process. Using old and outdated TDM practices can be a huge burden for DevOps and CI/CD workflows. As the software tester performs continuous testing and development, the test data should be available on demand every time. Companies should consider shifting from manual test data management to automated test data. Test Data Automation is important for the implementation of successful CI/CD and DevOps initiatives.

The Importance of CI/CD and DevOps For Automated Test Data

We should consider the value of automating test data for DevOps and CI/CD, we should start considering most times the benefits of DevOps and CI/CD. We must have have brush up and develop a better understanding of the full-fledged potential for Test Data Automation.

The industry, research shows that various organizations around the world are enjoying some of the benefits of DevOps and CI/CD. Thanks to the many  DevOps tools helps the teams to work rapidly and in parallel across the SDLC. More than 57% of developers report stating that they are releasing code 2 times faster by implementing DevOps!

It has increased delivery speed because of the benefit of DevOps. Let’s take an example as 62% of DevOps teams report that the bugs are fixed faster, within 8-9 hours. 51% state that DevOps teams have a culture of both quality, testing early and often throughout development. DevOps also helps in cross-team collaboration, with more than 25% of DevOps teams describing the collaboration process as “totally flawless and seamless” 

A large number of organizations report the advantages of DevOps and CI/CD, there is often much space for improving automation testing. Data usually CI/CD and DevOps initiatives. With DevOps and CI/CD, the company must renovate traditional test data management methodologies.

Data Issues That are Holding CI/CD and DevOps Back

With the rise of DevOps and CI/CD delivery pipelines, the process of generating and managing the test data has become a bottleneck. Organizations often stick with using outdated, manual data provisioning methods. The software testers and developers run rapid and repeatable automation, provisioning teams struggle to conduct slower and manual operations. Test data provisioning in turn can take a lot of days or even months, which often require longer than an iteration. It therefore provides a variety of volumes of data that is required for in-sprint testing and development, at the speed of new requests that are made in DevOps and CI/CD pipelines.​ Inaccurate test data is a huge bottleneck for CI/CD and DevOps. As DevOps pipelines help to produce new data requests at the speed of lightning, they are met due to slow and siloed data provisioning.​ The request must be sent to a team who are equipped with a mix of scripts, in-house processes, and manual efforts of the software tester. There is little reusability or ability to react to changing requests, which leads to ever-longer waits for incomplete and out-of-date data:

Both Parallel and automated development pipelines these days are fuelled by data – without no testing or development is possible. To realize the advantages of CI/CD and DevOps, organizations should fix the issues related to the test data bottlenecks.

Automated Test Data and the Role of Test Data Automation

​This is why Curiosity has built Test Data Automation.​ Test Data Automation provides a solution for test data bottlenecks in CI/CD and DevOps pipelines. Test Data Automation, parallel testers, developers, and automation testing enable the software testers to get complete and compliant data on demand, in this rapidly moving requirements from idea to release.

Test Data Automation, which has an extensive technological suite, assists in supplying parallel teams and frameworks with accurate and comprehensive data.. This DevOps toolset includes:​

• Data profiling and masking.
• Coverage analysis, data comparisons, and data generation.
• Test Data Cloning.
• Test Data Allocation.
• Data Virtualization.

By using the technology combine to create data that is complete, compliant, as well as available in parallel. Test Data Automation goes further by making the technologies reusable on demand by manual and automated data requesters. It helps in providing the data on the fly and “just in time”. 

In other words, Test Data Automation aligns test data provisioning with the automation, speed, and adaptability of DevOps and CI/CD pipelines.. This automation and ability to react to evolve the request automatically fulfill a range of data requests made by parallel teams and frameworks:​

​Combinable test data processes can be triggered on the fly by CI/CD pipelines, parallel teams, and test automation frameworks, rather than being hampered by inaccurate and sluggish data provisioning. This makes it possible to do thorough and quick testing during each sprint. Resolving test data issues can be crucial for success for companies that have made significant investments in CI/CD, automation, and DevOps projects. In other words, there is tremendous business value in providing parallel teams and frameworks with real-time access to complete and compliant data.

Continuous Data, Successful Delivery

As DevOps and CI/CD, testing and development are evolving and is using automation. Often, test data management was left behind. For DevOps and CI/CD initiatives to succeed, TDM must follow suit and evolve. Continuous access to test-ready data across the SDLC overcomes test data bottlenecks and in turn, helps you to unlock the value of DevOps and CI/CD development.!

Conclusion

Test data automation is essential for the success of DevOps and CI/CD pipelines. As organizations embrace rapid development cycles, relying on outdated manual test data management practices creates bottlenecks, delays, and inefficiencies. Automated test data solutions, such as those with features like data profiling, masking, cloning, and virtualization, empower teams to access complete, compliant, and on-demand data. This ensures seamless integration, faster bug fixes, and collaborative workflows across the SDLC. Resolving test data challenges allows organizations to fully realize the potential of DevOps and CI/CD, ensuring faster delivery and higher-quality software.

FAQs

 Why is test data automation critical for DevOps and CI/CD pipelines?
Test data automation eliminates the bottlenecks caused by manual test data management. It aligns test data provisioning with the speed and adaptability required by DevOps and CI/CD, ensuring that data is available on demand for thorough and efficient testing.

What are the drawbacks of outdated test data management practices?
Outdated test data practices lead to delays, incomplete or inaccurate data, and inefficiencies in provisioning. These bottlenecks disrupt DevOps and CI/CD workflows, causing slower delivery and reduced testing quality.

How does test data automation benefit parallel teams?
Test data automation provides accurate, compliant data to parallel teams on demand. It allows testers and developers to perform rapid testing and development without delays caused by slow or manual data provisioning.

What are some key features of Test Data Automation tools?
Test Data Automation tools include features like:

• Data profiling and masking.
• Coverage analysis and data comparisons.
• Test data cloning and allocation.
• Data virtualization.
  These features ensure complete and reusable test data across the SDLC.

How does automated test data provisioning improve CI/CD workflows?
Automated test data provisioning integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines, providing real-time, test-ready data. This enables faster bug fixes, thorough testing during each sprint, and smoother collaboration across teams, ultimately accelerating delivery.