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Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure Modernization for Telecom Client

Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure

Client Background

A leading telecommunications company, approached our consultancy firm to modernize their infrastructure, aiming to improve scalability, reliability, and security while reducing operational overhead. They sought to leverage the capabilities of both AWS and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to achieve a hybrid cloud solution.

Project Overview

The project involved architecting an end-to-end infrastructure solution for a Telecom Company on AWS and GCP hybrid cloud environments. This solution aimed to facilitate the deployment of microservices using Kubernetes, implement continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines with Jenkins, and automate infrastructure provisioning with Terraform. Security best practices were rigorously implemented to fortify the environment against potential threats.

Key Components and Technologies Used

Hybrid Cloud Architecture: Designed a hybrid cloud architecture leveraging AWS and GCP services to ensure flexibility, scalability, and redundancy. Utilized AWS services such as EC2, S3, VPC, and GCP services like Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, and VPC peering for seamless integration.

Kubernetes Orchestration: Implemented Kubernetes for container orchestration, enabling the efficient deployment, scaling, and management of microservices across the hybrid cloud environment. Utilized Kubernetes features such as pods, deployments, services, and ingress for application delivery.

CI/CD Pipeline with Jenkins: Developed a robust CI/CD pipeline using Jenkins, leveraging its extensibility and flexibility. Created a shared library of Jenkins pipelines to standardize and streamline the CI/CD process across different microservices. Automated build, test, and deployment stages to accelerate software delivery.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform: Implemented Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform to automate the provisioning and management of cloud infrastructure resources. Defined reusable Terraform modules to standardize infrastructure deployment and enforce consistency across environments.

Security Best Practices: Implemented security best practices at every layer of the infrastructure stack to safeguard against potential threats and vulnerabilities. Utilized network segmentation, encryption, identity and access management (IAM), and security groups to enforce least privilege access and data protection.

Outcome and Benefits

Improved Scalability and Reliability: The hybrid cloud architecture provided Telecom companies with the flexibility to scale resources on-demand across AWS and GCP environments, ensuring optimal performance and reliability for their applications.

Accelerated Software Delivery: The implementation of CI/CD pipelines with Jenkins enabled automated build, test, and deployment processes, resulting in faster time-to-market for new features and updates.

Cost Optimization: Leveraging Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform enabled Telecom companies to provision and manage cloud resources more efficiently, leading to cost savings through automation and resource optimization.

Enhanced Security Posture: By adhering to security best practices and implementing robust security controls, the environment was fortified against potential threats, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of  company data and applications.

Standardized Operations: The use of standardized Jenkins pipelines and Terraform modules facilitated consistent and repeatable deployments, streamlining operations and reducing manual effort.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the successful modernization of Telecom’s infrastructure on AWS and GCP hybrid cloud environments, coupled with Kubernetes orchestration, CI/CD automation, and security enhancements, positioned them to meet the evolving demands of the telecommunications industry with agility, efficiency, and resilience.

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Integration Testing: Meaning, Examples & Why is it Important?

Integration Testing
 

What is Integration Testing?

Integration testing is a type of software testing in which software components are gradually integrated and then tested as a unified group. These parts typically function well independently, but they could malfunction when combined with other parts. When software modules are integrated, code conflicts can lead to defects. This is why integration testing is done.

Software module conflicts can occur for various reasons, including incompatibility between subsystem versions, data format inconsistencies, or processing logic disparities. Integration testing identifies these communication problems between software components. It usually happens before system testing and following unit testing.

 

Why is Integration Testing Important?

Software module conflicts can occur for various reasons, including incompatibility between subsystem versions, data format inconsistencies, or processing logic disparities. Integration testing identifies these communication problems between software components. It usually happens before system testing and following unit testing.

Inconsistent code logic: The modules’ disparate authors’ differing approaches to development and logic make them difficult to integrate and may result in usability or functional problems. Integration testing produces an application that functions by ensuring that the code underlying these elements is in sync.

Requirements changing: Customers often have different needs. Sometimes, modifying one module’s code to accommodate new requirements necessitates completely altering the module’s code logic, which impacts the entire application. Because unit testing may only sometimes capture these changes, integration testing is necessary to find the flaws that are being missed. 

Erroneous Data: When data is moved between modules, it can become inaccurate. When data is transferred improperly, it cannot be read or processed, which leads to bugs. Integration testing is necessary to identify the problem’s location for troubleshooting purposes.

API integrations and third-party services: Since data can change during transmission, these services risk receiving erroneous input and producing erroneous results. Integration testing ensures that these integrations communicate well.

Inadequate exception handling: Although developers typically consider exceptions when writing code, there are situations when this isn’t possible until modules are assembled. Thanks to integration testing, they can identify absent exception scenarios and make changes.

External Hardware Interfaces: Software-hardware incompatibility is another common cause of bugs, and it is quickly discovered through appropriate integration testing.

Read More: IT Outsourcing, How it helps companies to grow.

Types of Integration Testing

There are various methods for carrying out integration testing, each with pros and cons. The two most popular methods are as follows:

  • Big Bang Approach
  • Incremental Approach

Three different methods carry out the Incremental Approach:

  • Bottom-up approach
  • Top-down approach
  • Sandwich approach

Big Bang Approach

An approach to integration testing is to integrate and test each module individually, all at once, as a single unit. The integration process is not initiated until every component has undergone successful unit testing.

Advantages

  • Ideal for small, straightforward systems with minimal software component dependency
  • Minimal to no prior planning is necessary.
  • Due to the simultaneous integration of all modules, setup is simple.
  • Management and coordination efforts are minimized because there is only one significant testing phase.

Disadvantages

  • It is costly and time-consuming for extensive systems with lots of units because testers must wait to begin testing until every module has been created.
  • Defect detection occurs later when testing is delayed until all modules have been developed.
  • Difficult to identify and isolate errors in particular modules
  • It is a challenge to debug because of the intricacy of several integrated modules.

Incremental Integration Testing

An approach known as incremental integration testing involves testing two or more modules with logic and functionality that are closely related to one another before progressively moving on to other groups of modules. This eliminates the need to test every module at once. Once every module has been tested and integrated, the process is over. Compared to Big Bang testing, incremental integration testing is more strategic and necessitates extensive planning in advance.

Advantages

  • Earlier defect detection because modules are integrated and tested as soon as they are developed, unlike Big Bang testing. Testing can start as soon as all modules are available to QA teams.
  • Because the modules are tested in relatively small groups, fault localization is made easier.
  • Project managers can benefit from incremental integration testing’s strategic nature. QA managers have the option to select the module to test first based on factors such as resource availability, urgency, or priority.
  • Since the root of the problem is addressed early on, the risk of catastrophic failures is also significantly reduced.

Disadvantages

  • Require careful preparation in advance.
  • Depending on the size of the project, there may be many tests to complete, necessitating a substantial amount of organizational resources.
  • Using this method to organize a big integration testing project could be challenging.
  • Before the system is divided into smaller parts, the system must have a clear definition and logic.
  • Early in the project, it’s possible that some system functionalities won’t be available, forcing you to rely on stubs and drivers—basically, mock components that will be used in place of real ones.
  • If early system functionalities are not thoroughly documented, they could result in system “blindspots” later.

There are three smaller subcategories of incremental integration testing, and each has pros and cons that QA teams should carefully weigh before implementing a project. The following approaches are named according to the degree of influence that the software components undergoing integration have on the system as a whole:

  • Bottom-up approach: start with low-level components and work your way up to higher-level ones.
  • Top-down approach: start with high-level components and work your way down to lower-level ones.
  • Hybrid approach: merging the two previous strategies

Read More: DevOps Automation, What is DevOps and how it helps to automate software process.

Examples of Integration Testing Test Cases

Integration testing is the process of attempting to determine how two or more entities interact. It can be used to observe how two service classes communicate, how a service communicates with a data store, and how the user interface reacts to the backend.
  • Verifying the interface connection between the Login and Get Started pages. The system is supposed to confirm that a user’s credentials are correct after they are entered, and if they are, the user will be taken to the Get Started page as a logged-in user.
  • Verifying that the appropriate data is sent in the proper format to the appropriate location when a user fills out a form
  • Verify that the order history and confirmation emails accurately reflect any changes made to the user profile.
  • Verify that products are restocked after being marked as out of stock when their inventory falls to zero.
  • Verify that users receive accurate shipping information and that tracking updates are displayed as intended.
  • Verify that the chosen items are placed into the shopping cart appropriately and that the order is completed successfully, updating the inventory and producing an order confirmation.
Read More: What is Metaverse and Its Benefits 

Read More: What is Software Testing?

Integration Testing Best Practices

Testers need to align with developers and clients on their vision and optimize their strategy along the way to have a comprehensive integration test strategy covering every aspect of the application. It is imperative to adhere to best practices for integration testing in any case:

  • Before beginning the integration phase, ensure that every module has undergone unit testing to ensure the validity of the integration test results.
  • Develop a thorough test strategy and plan that details the resources, goals, test cases, and scope needed for integration testing.
  • Automate repetitive and complex test cases to increase testing efficiency and preserve test consistency between runs. Discover the best method for performing automation testing here.
  • To increase test reliability, validate the input test data.
  • After every integration, conduct regression testing to ensure that the new modifications don’t negatively affect the previously integrated components.

Manual Testing vs Automated Testing

Manual integration testing can be performed by QA teams, typically in parallel with the development process.

The process usually begins with the development team committing new code to a shared repository, followed by a series of unit tests to validate the new code. Then, QA testers select different components based on the test plan to manually inspect and interact with, checking for defects.

However, doing integration testing manually is only sometimes the best option. 

Automated integration testing, whether using automation frameworks such as Selenium or automation testing tools, can significantly accelerate the process and free up resources for other tasks.

Conclusion

Integration testing is an integral part of software testing because it determines whether the modules can communicate effectively with one another, which unit testing cannot do. We can use either the Big Bang or the Incremental approach to integration testing, each with advantages and disadvantages.  

API and UI Integration Testing are common types of integration testing. However, professionals may need help to perform those tests in a single location and must constantly switch from one tool to another when performing different testing types.

Frequently Asked Question

The types of Integration Testing are: 

  • Big Bang Approach
  • Incremental Integration Testing
  • Top-down Incremental Integration Testing
  • Bottom-up incremental Integration testing
  • Hybrid Approach

API testing is actually system integration testing (also known as interface testing). When performing integration testing, the two systems will most likely require an API to connect and communicate with one another. An API is a standardised way for systems to interact with one another.

Citrus. Citrus is a popular integration testing tool that is commonly used in software development projects. It provides a framework for testing the interactions of a system’s various components, such as web services, messaging systems, and databases.

An integration test is a type of functional testing that looks at how various modules interact with each other. PractiTest test management platform could greatly assist you in managing all types of functional and non-functional testing.

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IT Outsourcing: What is it and How does it work?

IT outsourcing

IT outsourcing is a rapidly expanding sector of the economy and a useful tool for many businesses. The advantages of outsourcing are used by both established corporations and new ventures. You can reduce expenses or gain a stronger competitive advantage with this strategy.

This article aims to introduce IT outsourcing advantages, the most efficient models, and types – an original proposal to help your company achieve the results expected in software projects.

 

What is IT Outsourcing?

IT Outsourcing means that a company moves a part of software development outside of its internal organization to control all processes and reduce costs. You basically, hand over task implementation to your partner and keep an eye on things.

IT outsourcing can be implemented both in and outside the country. There are three main types of IT outsourcing which refer to where the service is being provided.

 

Types of IT Outsourcing

Types of IT Outsourcing

The three main types of IT outsourcing are:

  1. Onshore
  2. Nearshore
  3. Offshore

Onshore: Onshore it is the process of hiring professionals, located nearby or within the same city. This helps in keeping everything under control by optimizing costs.

Nearshore: It is outsourcing to adjacent nations that share the same time zone. You can communicate with developers more easily if you select this option, but it’s not always profitable.

Offshore: It is outsourcing to another country. This type allows you to save up the most.

However, according to Clutch in 2023, 83% of small businesses will continue to spend on outsourced business services which increase their spending. Additionally, they emphasize that the following are the primary goals of IT outsourcing:

  • Reduce Cost
  • Bring industry experience to the in-house team

IT outsourcing can be an effective way for business owners, particularly startup founders, to grow their company more quickly and save more money than they could with a small in-house team. Large corporations such as Google, Apple, and Facebook also contract out portions of their work to experts in different fields.

Read More: What is Integration Testing

IT Outsourcing Model

Before signing a contract with an Information technology outsourcing company, first choose the corporation model. While some forms of IT outsourcing are limited to a certain geographic area, the outsourcing business model specifies the nature of the collaboration and its ultimate objectives. These three most popular IT outsourcing models include a pros and cons list.

Project-Based Model

How it Works: The portion of the work that has already been planned and defined is implemented by a team that the client hires. The outsourced team’s project manager is solely accountable for the project’s performance and quality.

When to Use: The project-based model of IT outsourcing is appropriate for simple projects with well-established and dependable functionality.

Pros and Cons of Project Based Model

Pros: 

  • Precise deadlines and results;
  • Save time for your in-house team;
  • Get things done quickly;
  • Quick hiring procedure;
  • No Micromanagement;
  • Full responsibility lies on one shoulder;

Cons: 

  • Less Control over the project
  • Lack of flexibility
  • The results may be good and well-planned but don’t meet the industry standards.

Dedicated Team Model

How it Works: A team that the client hires will design a project for them, and they will only work on that project. A dedicated IT outsourcing team is more invested in your project than is the case with the project-based model. Under this model, your technical and product advisors are an external team. Thus, it can provide concepts and recommend different approaches.

When to Use: The dedicated team IT outsourcing model works well for complicated long-term projects with potential for growth, early-stage startups with room to grow, and projects with a lot of ambiguous requirements. The committed team is the best choice if you want to test the market, find product-market fit, or validate your idea.

We at Bluetris focus on a dedicated team model. Our product management team expanded the audience, determined product-market fit, and validated the original concept. Utilizing an iterative process, the design team enhanced the solution’s usability. Overall, we were successful in releasing the most advanced UI solutions in the current product.

Pros and Cons of Dedicated Development Team Model

Pros: 

  • More Control over the development Process
  • Working with different professionals with greater expertise in different industries.
  • More Flexibility
  • No Micromanagement
  • More time with the in-house team to work on the big picture.

Cons:

  • Long Hiring Process
  • More responsibilities on project

Outstaff Model

How it Works: This kind of IT outsourcing is used when you hire specialized experts rather than a full-fledged development team. You are free to hire outstaff workers to complete any additional work that may be needed for the project if it calls for finding a few more professionals.

The demand for this kind of cooperative IT outsourcing has been increasing over time, and by 2027, it is expected that global IT service revenue will reach $1,570 billion. Web development is the most in-demand IT skill in 2023, followed by database software developers and DevOps specialists.

When to Use: The outstaff IT outsourcing model works best for short-term projects or companies that don’t have specialized knowledge and need more workers to grow quickly.

As an outsourcing and outstaffing firm, Bluetris offers services like staff augmentation. Here are two situations where working with us will maximize your benefits:

  • When you lack in-house resources and need extra hands to develop a product – choose IT outstaffing.
  • When you lack product expertise and need a product development team (product managers, designers, developers, QAs) to build your product – choose IT outsourcing.

Over the years we’ve helped 100+ companies to turn their ideas into valuable marketable products. Our team comprises experts from various fields, and we use the Agile development methodology to stay adaptable and productive while creating, evaluating, and enhancing applications.

Pros and Cons of Outstaff Model

Pros: 

  • No need to hire whole team
  • Fill the gaps in your project fast
  • Flexibility to hire as many as professionals you need

Cons:

  • Long search and recruiting processes
  • More time on the onboarding

Read More:  What is Software Testing?

Why Should You Use IT Outsourcing?

Now that you are familiar with the definition, models, and types of IT outsourcing, it’s time to decide whether outsourcing is actually necessary and why it is necessary. Let’s discuss a few scenarios that illustrate when outsourcing IT might be the best option.

You are a Domain Expert with a idea

Outsourcing IT is the best option if you’re a real-world problem solver and an industry expert. Here, getting the solution into the market and testing it quickly are your primary objectives. Your idea will be validated, an MVP will be created to test the hypothesis, and your product will be modified to better meet the needs of the market with the assistance of an external team. It enables you to accomplish the goal and saves money and time.

You Have An Early-Stage Startup

Frequently, fledgling startups burn through funding before they have a strong team and a product that is ready for release. The Failory discovered that the third reason for startup failure is financial difficulties. Therefore, while your company is dependent on the funds of investors, it makes more financial sense to cut expenses by employing an external team of experts. You can hire a full-cycle studio to develop your product, covering all the gaps and making it a reality.

You need a Technical Expert

It makes more sense to find an experienced partner even if you already have a working solution, but it still needs some technical improvements (new language, frameworks for backend components, enterprise app integrations, UX&UI design). IT outsourcing can handle a wide range of tasks, and it again saves you time compared to hiring the right people.

Read More: DevOps Automation, What is DevOps and How it helps in automate software delivery process.

How Much Does IT Outsourcing Cost?

Two important variables that might impact the range of IT outsourcing costs are the size of the team and the hourly rates of the developers.

It’s critical to understand the differences between IT outstaffing and outsourcing. While outstaffing enables you to bring on remote developers as members of your own team, IT outsourcing entails giving the project over to an outside organization

For IT outsourcing, the cost can range from $50,000 to $250,000. However, in the case of IT outstaffing, where you hire individual developers, the prices can vary significantly. On average, for a single developer, the price can range from $25 to $100 per hour, depending on their experience and location..

Conclusion

In this article, we have attempted to dispel the myth that information technology outsourcing is low-profile deliverables and last-resort decisions. We discovered that there are many advantages to outsourcing for even large tech companies. In order to save time and money, early-stage startups can also benefit greatly from IT outsourcing.

Bluetris Technologies is a service-oriented business that specializes in the IT outstaffing model of Dedicated teams. We offer a full-cycle product development team to our clients. This group of experts will devote themselves entirely to your project, starting from the ideation phase and ending with the product launch.

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