How do you define and document test environment requirements?

1 Identify the test objectives and scope

The first step is to identify the test objectives and scope, which are the goals and boundaries of the testing activities. The test objectives and scope should be aligned with the project requirements, risks, and quality criteria. They should also specify what type of testing will be performed, such as functional, performance, security, usability, or compatibility testing. The test objectives and scope will help to determine what features, functions, and components of the system under test need to be verified and validated in the test environment.

2 Analyze the production environment

The second step is to analyze the production environment, which is the target or intended environment where the system under test will operate. The production environment should be examined to identify its characteristics, such as hardware, software, network, data, and configurations. The production environment should also be evaluated to identify its constraints, such as availability, accessibility, security, or performance. The analysis of the production environment will help to define the test environment requirements that are essential to replicate or simulate the production environment.

3 Define the test environment architecture

The third step is to define the test environment architecture, which is the design and structure of the test environment. The test environment architecture should specify the components, relationships, and dependencies of the test environment, such as servers, clients, databases, applications, services, protocols, or interfaces. The test environment architecture should also indicate the location, distribution, and allocation of the test environment resources, such as physical or virtual machines, cloud or on-premise platforms, or shared or dedicated environments. The definition of the test environment architecture will help to document the test environment requirements that are necessary to build and maintain the test environment.

4 Identify the test environment dependencies

The fourth step is to identify the test environment dependencies, which are the external factors or conditions that affect the test environment. The test environment dependencies may include other systems, applications, services, or data sources that interact with the system under test or provide inputs or outputs for the testing activities. The test environment dependencies may also include stakeholders, users, or roles that have access to or influence on the test environment. The identification of the test environment dependencies will help to document the test environment requirements that are relevant to manage and coordinate the test environment.

5 Establish the test environment standards and procedures

The fifth step is to establish the test environment standards and procedures, which are the rules and guidelines that govern the test environment. The test environment standards and procedures should define the quality, consistency, and security of the test environment, such as naming conventions, version control, configuration management, backup and recovery, or access control. The test environment standards and procedures should also define the roles and responsibilities, communication channels, and escalation paths for the test environment team, such as environment managers, administrators, coordinators, or users. The establishment of the test environment standards and procedures will help to document the test environment requirements that are important to operate and control the test environment.

6 Review and validate the test environment requirements

The sixth and final step is to review and validate the test environment requirements, which are the specifications and conditions that the test environment needs to support the testing activities and objectives. The test environment requirements should be reviewed and validated by the relevant stakeholders, such as project managers, developers, testers, or customers. The review and validation of the test environment requirements should ensure that they are clear, complete, accurate, feasible, and traceable. The review and validation of the test environment requirements will help to confirm that the test environment is ready and suitable for the testing activities.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?