Testing as a Service (TaaS): Types, Features, and Benefits

Just as you wouldn’t launch a rocket without testing it thoroughly, you shouldn’t release a software product without testing it first. Yet, not all companies see a problem in bringing a product to market that isn’t sufficiently tested. Some do this to reduce development costs, while others simply don’t have the budget to build their own in-house QA team. 

Whatever fits your situation, make sure you don’t make this mistake. Software errors found after a product’s launch can be too costly to fix, and some can lead to much more serious consequences, from damage to a company’s reputation to financial losses and even lawsuits.

If this doesn’t sound like the scenario you have planned for your business, this post is for you. In this article, we’ll tell you about Testing as a Service, which could be a game-changer for many tech companies.  

What Is Testing as a Service?

Testing as a Service (or TaaS) is an outsourcing model in which an independent service provider undertakes testing activities instead of a company, providing ready access to the right tools, experts, and automation test environments. 

With TaaS testing, you can decide how much work you want to outsource. Many companies delegate the entire area of testing to a third-party service provider, but it is also possible to outsource only some activities and leave the rest of the testing to internal specialists, depending on your business needs. 

How Does Testing as a Service Work?

TaaS can assume various shapes and forms, but the basic principle remains consistent. A company engages an external service provider to conduct testing, which is typically utilized for automated processes that require massive amounts of resources and effort if done manually.

Here are a few more scenarios where TaaS proves helpful:

• When the time to perform testing is limited.
• There needs to be more testing infrastructure (e.g., technology, space for servers, etc.).
• There are a lot of repetitive tasks.
• Testing requires skilled testing personnel.
• There is a need for unbiased testing.

Depending on the situation, the vendor suggests custom testing solutions that can help automate nearly half of the test cases while reducing testing time and cost (tools and infrastructure are provided by cloud).

The overall procedure is as follows:

1. Test scenarios creation. The first step is developing test scenarios focusing on key aspects of the software. For example, this can be authentication, data processing speed, or the application’s performance under heavy load, depending on the specific requirements of the product.
2. Configuration of test environments. Next up, the testing team would set up virtual machines and configure network conditions to simulate the actual environment in which this application will run. One of the biggest advantages of TaaS providers is the diversity of hardware and resources they’ve got to run tests.
3. Test preparation and execution. Once the test environments are set up, the actual tests are prepared and executed. This step involves writing and running automated test scripts that will be used to perform the tests outlined in the test scenarios.
4. Performance monitoring and analysis. After executing tests, testers gather and analyze performance metrics such as response time, throughput, and error rates to understand how the app behaves under different conditions and if there are any bottlenecks. 
5. Continuous improvement. The provider and the client cooperate to address any issues found during testing, improve the product, enhance its performance, and achieve high-quality results in the future. 

Types of Testing as a Service 

Testing as a Service can be classified into two main categories: functional and non-functional testing. These two categories can further be broken down into minor groups, depending on their objectives, and occur at different stages of the software development lifecycle. These include:

• Cloud testing as a service focuses on testing a company’s cloud resources and software applications that reside in the cloud to ensure clients can access the platform securely over the internet.
• Quality Assurance testing as a service ensures that a product’s final version meets the requirements before it is released to the public. The vendor offers testing solutions to eliminate flaws and ensure software quality.
• Penetration testing as a service is a form of the TaaS model in which a vendor performs mock attacks (simulated cyberattacks) to evaluate a company’s security system. This form is part of a more comprehensive security program that exposes and addresses hidden weaknesses in the system’s defense against cyberattacks before hackers exploit them.
• Unit testing as a service focuses on evaluating the functionality of the smallest unit in the system, a given piece of coding. A weak part is typically checked first since it is an easy getaway for the program to get infected.
• GUI testing as a service, or Graphic User Interface testing as a service, is utilized to evaluate the user-facing side of the software. In other words, it is testing from a user’s perspective across expected platforms and devices. A service provider can find defects that your clients mention if they use the system and find ways to improve the user interface.
• Regression testing as a service focuses on the elements that have already been checked. This is done after the system undergoes certain changes to ensure that new features do not affect existing ones.
• API testing as a service, also known as Application Program Interface testing, answers whether the program meets functionality, security, and reliability expectations. The provider sends requests to various API endpoints and compares the response to the expected result.
• Load testing as a service is a part of performance analysis in which a reaction to heavy usage volumes is evaluated by applying the desired load variations and simulating real-user scenarios. A software testing as service provider looks for weak points in the system to eliminate them and improve response time, as well as identify possible traffic so that the app can run without failures or unexpected exits.
• Performance testing as a service refers to overall application performance testing in which a team of professionals verifies that the app behaves as it should under the expected workload, eliminating bottlenecks if they arise. The software’s speed, scalability, and stability under different loads are prioritized. The efficiency of this type of testing can be greatly improved if the process is outsourced with TaaS and, as a result, automated.
• Integration testing as a service involves examining how distinct units of code interact or integrate with one another. Instead of assessing each component individually, a vendor analyzes how all of them work together as a combined entity.
• Functional testing as a service covers testing of all existing functionality as well as the operation of the system. Other types of functional analysis, such as GUI and user acceptance testing, may also fall under this category.
• Localization testing as a service is performed to ensure that the settings are correct and meet expectations in a foreign locale (country and culture-specific adjustments). This specific testing type is carried out to eliminate errors associated with adaptation when localizing software for use in a new region. Using professional localization testing tools, the provider verifies that the product functions flawlessly in every market for every user. The human perspective, we believe, can never be automated in this form of testing. This is why it is so important to have a professionally built team to ensure that every user has the same enjoyable experience with your product.

TaaS Features

There are a number of features common for the TaaS model. Here are some of them:

• Self-service SaaS portal to conduct tests and access test data.
• Testing library with a wide range of test cases and robust security controls that can be customized to fit various testing requirements. 
• On-demand automated test labs for executing functional and non-functional testing. 
• Short execution time, allowing multiple test cases to be run simultaneously, which is suitable for the DevOps software development lifecycle. 
• A metering function for tracking services being used by customers and their costs.
• Community-driven, ensuring the testing library continually grows with new test cases added by users.
• Continuous monitoring and diagnostics to eliminate errors in the app under test.
• Shared cloud hardware pool to efficiently allocate resources based on demand.

Now that we’ve outlined the procedure, features, and different types of testing techniques that TaaS offers, it’s time to take a closer look at the reasons why this testing model is getting so much attention and why turning to it might be the best strategy for your business too.

Advantages of TaaS

Like any other outsourced service, software testing as a service saves you the time and effort of testing a product in-house, which is the main advantage of using TaaS. You pay for the service, but you don’t have to worry about finding or hosting the infrastructure for the testing processes. However, reduced costs aren’t the only advantage making TaaS worth consideration. Here are a few more compelling benefits that can tip the scale in favor of this approach: 

• Pay as you go. Unlike with in-house testing, where you pay QA specialists fixed wages regardless of how much time they spend testing, here you only pay for what you have actually used.
• 24/7 service. Testing as a service providers typically work round-the-clock to keep testing processes running, which can help significantly speed up the development lifecycle.
• Flexibility. If your testing needs increase or decrease, you can upgrade your plan on the go. 
• Less routine work. For companies with an in-house testing team, TaaS takes the burden of routine work, freeing more time for core business competencies. 
• Unbiased testing. Involving testers with limited business domain knowledge allows you to get an impartial opinion on the usability of your product.
• Scalability. TaaS can be adjusted to accommodate companies of all sizes. 
• Data integrity. Testers clean the data and run tests in closed environments.   

Traditional testing vs TaaS service

To better understand the benefits of TaaS, let’s check out how it stacks up against traditional testing services. This will allow you to put everything in perspective and figure out if this is the approach you should take. 

When you compare traditional testing and TaaS like this, the benefits of the latter are more than profound. Not only is it usually cheaper to outsource testing to an external vendor, but it also makes more sense, as you can engage testers with specific skill sets necessary for testing and scale testing resources up and down as required by your project. 

When TaaS Isn’t an Option

While testing as a service model brings many benefits to the table, there are a number of cases where it might not be a good fit. Here are some of the examples:

• In-depth knowledge is required. Complex products such as legacy systems or custom-built software with unique architectures are best tested by internal teams who have deep domain expertise. These systems often have intricacies and nuances that external testers may not fully grasp, leading to potential overlooked issues.
• Industry-specific applications. Certain industries, such as healthcare, finance, or aerospace, have highly specialized software that requires not just technical knowledge but also a deep understanding of industry regulations. Internal teams with industry experience are often better equipped to test these applications effectively.
• Proprietary technologies or tools. If the testing process involves the use of in-house developed tools, frameworks, or technologies that are not available to external parties, TaaS may not be feasible. The learning curve and potential security risks associated with sharing these proprietary resources can outweigh the benefits of outsourcing.
• Security and confidentiality concerns. For projects dealing with sensitive data, unreleased products, or classified information, in-house testing provides the ability to control who sees and accesses this information, reducing the risk of data leakage.
• Integrated systems testing. When testing involves multiple interconnected systems within an organization, internal teams who know how the whole system works are better positioned to conduct testing. 

What to Consider When Choosing a TaaS Provider?

There are a few things you should keep in mind when ordering software testing as a service (TaaS):

• Define your testing needs. You need to have a clear understanding of your IT needs, or at least set priorities, so that when you consult a potential provider, you can learn the ins and outs of a testing project and make an informed decision. This involves identifying the types of testing you need (e.g., functional testing, performance testing, security testing, etc.), the scope of testing (e.g., specific features or components), and the expected outcomes (e.g., identifying and fixing bugs, improving performance).
• Focus on the testing provider’s expertise. Once you’ve outlined your goals, you can start the search for a testing-as-a-service provider. Pay particular attention to their experience and expertise in the area of testing necessary for your project. This may include specialized knowledge of specific technologies or frameworks, as well as expertise in testing similar applications or systems.
• Evaluate the TaaS provider’s processes and tools. It’s important to understand how the TaaS provider will approach the testing process and what tools and technologies they will use, including real-life devices. For example, the pool of testing equipment at TestFort includes 250 physical devices, allowing us to provide comprehensive testing coverage. In addition, some companies may offer you service bundles. This could be advantageous if you’re working on a large-scale web application. However, if you aren’t going to use all of the services from the bundle, it’d be much more practical to opt for a vendor offering a tailored approach. 
• Look into the costs. Finally, make sure to finalize the cost with a TaaS provider, taking into account expenses that may go into the process of integrating TaaS into your workflow. Consider the pricing model (e.g., pay-as-you-go or subscription model) and ensure there are no hidden costs. You should also compare the cost against the value to pick the best option for your budget. 

Trends to Watch Out for in 2024

Before we wrap up, let’s take a look at the trends that will impact testing methodologies and approaches in TaaS in the years to come. 

• AI-driven testing. Artificial intelligence in software testing is becoming a common practice. With AI, testers can generate test cases and predict trends and patterns based on historical data. This not only can help enhance the efficiency and accuracy of testing processes but also significantly reduce the time and cost associated with manual testing.
• Shift-right testing. You’ve probably heard of shift-left testing, which has become a popular trend recently. Shift-right testing is its counterpart and a new trend that is gaining momentum. With this approach, testers can validate software quality, behavior, and performance immediately after deployment, gathering real-time feedback from people who have used it. Used in combo with shift-left testing, it allows testers to ensure the top quality of a product from the early stages of development to the final release. 
• Blockchain testing. As the demand for blockchain applications keeps growing, the need for specialized testing becomes more pressing. Blockchain testing ensures that these decentralized applications are secure, scalable, and perform as expected. 
• IoT testing. The widespread adoption of IoT devices across various industries requires rigorous IoT testing. As we move forward, we will see an increasing reliance on IoT testing to ensure the seamless operation, interoperability, and security of connected devices.

Conclusion

Testing as a Service offers many compelling advantages over traditional testing approaches. You don’t need to pay for the idle time as you would have to in the case of an in-house team of employees, nor do you need to invest in hosting and maintaining testing infrastructure. Testers can be involved in the project at any point in time. There’s also no internal burden, as software testing activities are performed by a service provider rather than employees in-house. Even if it’s just a small task that costs no more than a few dollars, you can get it done by engaging software testing as a service providers from the outside.

However you look at it, TaaS proves far more efficient than traditional testing models. If you don’t have specific testing efforts demanding in-depth knowledge of your company’s system design and testing software doesn’t require any proprietary tools that you’d like to keep confidential, TaaS is an ideal delivery model for you.