Audit in Software testing is the inspection of results of a test cycle, the process by which the results were obtained, and the tools and components a test has used to get these results.
The audit could be done by an external resource or a governance manager from the organization's test practice. The intention is to verify validity and adherence to the test practice standards. An external auditor is usually seen as a more credible source because the only interest they should have is a thorough and accurate assessment. An internal audit makes use of resources already at hand within a company.
The potential benefits include knowledge of the test tools and methods in use and a more complete understanding of the goals and direction of the project. An internal audit may be viewed with a different amount of credit than an external audit would carry due to the potential for conflicting interests, such as company reputation and the political situation in the company.
Audit testing does not exhaustively test a product to uncover every potential issue and defect and so does not incur the cost in time and personnel that such a test would suggest. Instead, audit testing aims to examine a process already in place for coverage and accuracy.
Details for initiating an audit include:
Lack of experience with a project.
Questionable history with a type of project.
The new business partnership between companies.
Peace of mind in regards to the testing team.
Finding problems caused by the complexity of the project.
Verifiable controls for quality assurance.
Improvement of internal resources.
Complex high-level standards are associated when working with organizations such as government agencies, medical devices, military projects and financial institutions.
Audit testing could be implemented towards the end of or just after a testing cycle. Audit testing can, and in many cases, should be implemented during any or all phases of a cycle: before, during, and after.
Reasons for implementation during each phase:
Before the testing begins Prior to the start of testing, there are no results to examine, and many such companies would consider audit testing as non-applicable and wasteful of resources. In this stage, the elements to be examined focus on the tools that are intended for use and the processes adhered to.
During the testing, Arguably the most impactful time to run an audit is during the actual test cycle. It is here that the auditor has results they can confirm by asking the testers to show how they came to them. This allows the auditor to evaluate the tools and the process as they are utilized for the most comprehensive feedback potential. When an audit is to be conducted while a test cycle is active, the following process is likely:
After the testing, The time when the need for an audit is most noticeable is often after the completion of a test cycle. It is here that a mismatch between expectations and delivery is most visible, and the utility of an audit is most easily justified. When an audit is to be conducted post-test cycle, the following process is likely:
Combination of phases While an audit of each separate phase has the potential for a positive impact on a project, a combination of two or even all three phases can provide complete coverage and the greatest potential for success. The resources consumed in a combination of phases may not be feasible for every project, however, and when planning a project, the goal of maximizing return and minimizing required resources should not be dismissed. An audit that takes place over more than one phase does not need to repeat every step in the process for each stage unless a major change has taken place.
Summary Audit testing is an issue of the expanding IT industry, required by the expansion of its toolbox and scope. It is not intended to completely replace a full test cycle, instead aiming to supplement and confirm the delivery of the testing process. The impact of audit testing is dependent on when it is implemented and on a thorough follow-up. For maximum return, an external auditor should be used with access to the tools, processes, results, personnel, documentation, standards, and expectations of the project. The results of an audit deal in likelihood and statistics and do not convey 100% coverage of the product.
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