The Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding at an unprecedented pace. As IoT solutions become more complex, the need for comprehensive and efficient IoT testing increases.<\/p>\n
IoT Testing involves the process of testing the functionality, performance, and security of an IoT solution developed using IoT devices and platforms. IoT testing spans multiple layers, including the application layer, data management layer, network layer, and device layer, and involves a variety of test activities specific to each layer. Some of the key test activities include functional testing, usability testing, compatibility testing, data integration and validation testing, connectivity testing, protocol testing, and performance and security testing. However, there are several challenges associated with IoT testing.<\/p>\n
Key Challenges in IoT Testing<\/strong><\/p>\n Following are the top challenges faced by IoT testing teams across organizations<\/p>\n These shortcomings can impact customers in a variety of ways, including customer escalations, delayed go-to-market, brand erosion, product recalls, loss of revenue and market share, and reduced customer satisfaction and loyalty.<\/p>\n To mitigate these challenges, organizations need to adopt a comprehensive approach to IoT testing that leverages both lab and field testing, incorporates test automation and simulation tools, and includes skilled personnel with experience in IoT testing. This will help to ensure that IoT solutions are tested thoroughly, perform as expected, and meet the needs of customers.<\/p>\n How is Cigniti\u2019s IoT Lab-as-a-Service addressing these challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n Cigniti, a global leader in software testing services, is addressing these challenges with IoT Lab-as-a-Service. This offering provides easy and on-demand access to an IoT test environment, tools, test automation, accelerators, and testing expertise for the testing of IoT solutions. The current lab setup includes a test environment, a comprehensive suite of tools and services, and expertise to support test activities across the application layer, data management, and network layers. Device layer-related test activities can be supported on a need basis.<\/p>\n There are several market drivers for IoT Lab as a Service. The primary drivers include accelerating time to market, improving test coverage by testing a wide suite of business, data, and network scenarios, cost-effective access to best-of-breed testing tools, test environment, and IoT testing experts, lower testing cost by a shift-left testing approach, increased test automation, and reducing building and maintaining homegrown simulators, an alternative to high-cost dedicated physical lab setup, and scalability.<\/p>\n Use Cases Covered by Cigniti IoT Lab-as-a-Service<\/strong><\/p>\n Here are the major use cases covered by Cigniti IoT Lab-as-a-Service<\/p>\n There are several vertical-specific use cases that Cigniti IoT Lab as a Service can support.<\/p>\n For example, the automotive industry can use this service to simulate advanced production planning and scheduling, asset health management, autonomous robots, autonomous transportation and transport systems, collaborative robotics, factory operations visibility and intelligence, fleet management, inventory management, manufacturing system automation, predictive maintenance, and vehicle telematics.<\/p>\n The chemicals industry can use IoT Lab as a Service for continuous emission monitoring systems, indoor air quality monitoring, and process control and optimization. Similarly, other industries such as construction and buildings, consumer products, equipment and machinery, energy, general, healthcare and life sciences, mining, retail, software, and transportation can leverage this service for their vertical-specific IoT testing requirements.<\/p>\n Different Layers and Testing Types covered as a part of IoT Lab-as-a-Service<\/strong><\/p>\n IoT Lab as a Service covers different layers and testing types to support comprehensive IoT testing. The current Cigniti IoT lab setup includes a test environment, a comprehensive suite of tools and services, and expertise to support test activities across the application layer, data management, and network layers. Device layer-related test activity requirements can be supported on a case-by-case basis. Testing activities covered by the service include functional testing, usability testing, compatibility testing, localization testing, API testing, NFT \u2013 performance and security testing, compliance testing, test automation, and test data management.<\/p>\n In terms of protocols, IoT testing related to all leading protocols, including MQTT(S), HTTP(S), AMQP, Websocket, and TCP\/TLS, is readily supported. Additional protocols can be supported on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n Tools Available in Cigniti\u2019s IoT Testing Lab<\/strong><\/p>\n Cigniti’s IoT Testing Lab offers several licensed and open-source testing tools. The current toolset includes Doppelio, IoTIFY, and Hitachi Vantara Lumada platform, among others. Non-commercial licenses related to all commercial tools are readily available in the lab. Clients can leverage these tools for a demo, PoC, training, and solution development. Cigniti considers onboarding additional tools based on client preferences and project requirements on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n\n
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