Internet of Things (IoT) Testing: Why Is It So Important?

The Internet of Things is on its way to becoming the largest software development and testing opportunity ever. IoT brings many new items to the table in terms of testing requirements, including some unusual devices such as home appliances, clock sensors, etc. With an effective testing strategy to meet the quality of these various products.

Introduction

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a key technology for digital and virtual technology. The recency progress on Internet of Things deployments with the rise of Mobile culture have furnish a strong push for IoT to be considered as one of today’s most hopeful emerging technologies. However, the conceptual realization of Internet of Things is far from achieving a whole formation of converged IoT services and technology.

One of the key elements in the IoT go to market way is Interoperability. Interoperability can be extensive as the trait for providing seamless interchange of data, like personalizing services automatically or simply exchanging data in a way that another system can use for improving operation, enabling and creating services, controlling operations and data processing.

How IoT works?

IoT systems include smart devices that are web-enabled and use embedded systems, such as sensors, processors, hardware and software applications for communication, to collect, send and transmit data they collect from their environment. IoT sensors share data collected by connecting to an IoT gateway from which data is sent to the cloud to store or analyze or take specific action depending on the situation.

IoT devices can communicate with other connected / related devices, share information between them, and respond to it if necessary. Users can also interact with these smart devices to access data or command them to perform certain actions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning are widely being used in IoT today to make the data available to users compatible to their individual preferences, thus improving the competency of IoT devices and enhancing user experience.

Why testing is important in IoT?

IoT is a fast growing market. The number of devices and software in IoT is increasing day by day. Delivering robust, high-quality IoT solutions to the market suddenly is a key need for businesses.

The IoT system consists of a variety of devices, applications and data systems that make it very complex and each of these components has different requirements for testing. Lack of interoperability between these components can cause problems. Technology companies develop solutions independently of each other using different platforms and this can result in problems integrating components with each other.

End-users advantage from increasing the connectivity of devices, but this in turn adds complication to the development and testing of IoT solutions. Therefore, to ensure that the product is working as intended, a robust testing process must be implemented that covers not only the device but also the device's interaction with the cloud and mobile applications (including all integration).

IoT testing strategy

• Platform Diversity
IoT devices use a variety of protocols such as Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT), Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP), Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) to control and communicate with each other. Therefore, it is necessary to test the devices in different protocols to ensure that they work seamlessly.
• Cloud Diversity
The IoT ecosystem can use a variety of cloud platforms to send and collect data and connect other components of the system. Few of them are Azure IoT, IBM Watson and AWS. It is therefore imperative to test it to ensure the utility of IoT devices on this cloud platform.
• Security and Privacy
The amount of data aggregation and shared by relate devices in the IoT system is big. The worry of data leak and unauthorized access rise due to this high volume of data sharing. Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities therefore becomes a complex and high priority.
• Real time data velocity
Connected IoT devices require a fast communication channel and this is ensured by good network status. The devices can face problems due to slow internet connection, bad network infrastructure or problems with network hardware, affecting their work. So IoT devices and applications must be tested under these discrete conditions to avoid any loss of data if in case any of the above issue appear.
• Interoperability
Interactivity between components of an IoT system such as a physical device, gateway, cloud and application is a major challenge. Every IoT device has its own hardware and application software. This software interacts with hardware to issue commands or analyze information collected by the device. With so many types of hardware and software, as well as different versions of firmware and operating systems, testing all combinations and inter-functionality is a real challenge.
• Scalability
IoT solution formation involves thousands of interconnected devices, which connect to servers on a network. Server infrastructure is built on applications from multiple vendors and multiple interconnected services. Testing such a complicated environment and simulating real-time situations is a challenge.
• User experience
Compatible and hassle free user experience is most vital for any IoT solution. Therefore, it is very important and challenging to test the user friendliness of IoT devices and applications on all platforms of mobile, desktop or any other smart device.

Testing type in IOT

Testing for IoT devices revolves around security, analytics, devices, networks, processors, operating systems, platforms and standards.

• Usability Testing:
There are many devices of different shape and form factors used by the users. Moreover, the concept also varies from one user to another. That is why it is so important to check the usefulness of the system in IoT testing.
• Compatibility Testing:
There are many devices that can be coupled through the IoT system. These devices have a variety of software and hardware configurations. Therefore, the potential combination is huge. Consequently, it is important to check compatibility in the IoT system.
• Reliability and Scalability Testing:
Credibility and scalability are important for creating an IoT test environment that involves simulation of sensors using virtualization tools and technology.
• Data Integrity Testing:
It’s vital to check the Data integrity in IOT testing as it involves huge amount of information and its application.
• Security testing:
In the IoT environment, there are many users who are consuming large amounts of data. Thus, validating the user through authentication is important to have data privacy restrictions as part of the security test.