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Whether deploying devices one at a time or as part of a larger initiative, regular IoT device testing can save time and money in any IoT project. IoT deployments typically involve a large number of devices, which can complicate testing to ensure the reliability and safety of hardware and software.
An IoT device testing strategy should address five key aspects across the device lifecycle: connectivity, continuity, compliance, coexistence, and security. How you address each aspect depends on your infrastructure, available resources, and industry. Each of these will determine how to formulate an IoT device testing workflow to cover all aspects of your organization’s unique situation.
A thorough IoT device testing strategy should validate device performance, functionality, compatibility, and security. Your testing approach should cover each layer of your IoT device.
- Physical. Device sensors, controllers, and connectivity.
- Communication network. Gateways, communication units and protocols that ensure device connectivity and data transmission.
- data management. A local or cloud-based backend system that stores, aggregates, and analyzes data collected or transmitted by devices.
- application. Software that provides user interaction for reporting or control functions.
IoT device test types
While many companies rely on automated testing to varying degrees, your IoT device testing strategy should include the following types of testing:
- Functional testing. Validate IoT software against functional requirements and specifications, test APIs that devices use or connect to, perform standard regression tests, check UI, and ensure devices connect to required databases. , to ensure that client-server communication is running. Smoothly.These functional testss Each task in your IoT device should be checked to ensure that they work correctly and meet your requirements.
- compatibility test. Make sure your IoT devices work well with your infrastructure, provide the expected UX, and meet operational requirements. For example, will the IoT hardware work in existing physical facilities? Are the devices compatible with all OS and browser types? Are the devices compatible with communication protocols?
- Connection test. An IoT test tool should be able to track the strength of communication between devices, users, and networks. Many devices only connect to the network on a regular basis, so it’s important to keep them connected and continue to work even when they’re offline.
- security test. Penetration testing tools can ensure that IoT devices are protected from threats, vulnerabilities, and security risks. IoT fleets should be included in regular security testing to quickly identify and fix weaknesses. Ensure IoT data is always protected and encrypted in transit and meets corporate security guidelines.
- performance test. Conduct regular performance tests to determine what you can expect from your IoT device in typical operating environments. The goal is to find and eliminate blocks that prevent your device from running at its optimal level or affecting other connected systems. Performance testing tools can collect information about the response time of a device and the reliability of its functionality, so you can see if it meets your specifications.
Who tests IoT devices?
Since most QA analysts are dedicated to development teams, IoT device testing is often left to IT administrators and those responsible for deploying devices. A QA analyst only gets involved in her IoT testing if it’s part of a larger initiative in which the device is involved. This could push many devices out of the normal testing schedule. Once deployed, it may never be touched.
If your company has a large IoT device fleet, it may be worth creating a dedicated IoT device testing team. This team is responsible for deploying his IoT devices as part of a larger project team, testing the devices regularly, and coordinating device management. The ideal member is her QA expert in both functional testing (unit, integration, and regression) and non-functional testing (performance, load, and compatibility). Cybersecurity is a top priority today, so adding a security expert to your team is also wise. Coordinate all security testing and collaborate with external teams to ensure IoT security is always a consideration.
Learn more about enterprise IoT
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