Risk Based Testing in Software Testing

What is Risk Based Testing in Software Testing?

Risk Based Testing in Software Testing keeps risk factors in the center while testing the software. Testers keep risk analysis and level of impact in mind while testing the product. So, it is the testing process based on the probability of risks. Overall, it involves risk analysis, frequency of the chance to occur, level of impact of the risk, and areas that can be affected.

Characteristics of Risk-Based Testing

Let us discuss different characteristics of risk based testing in software testing.

• The higher the risk, the more the testing is done—a higher level of impact of the risk results in more effort during the testing phase.
   
• Higher levels of risk affect the ordering of the testing process of the software. If a higher level of risk is found, risk-based testing occurs earlier in both the designing and implementation phases. Also, other affected areas are tested timely.
   
• A situation may occur when the risk of testing exceeds the risk of completing it. At this point, it is the stakeholders’ decision to whether or not to continue testing.
   
• If removing the risk parameters includes removing some significant product functionalities, the stakeholders decide to choose between them. One of them has to go from the process.

When to Implement Risk-Based Testing in Software Testing

Knowing when to implement risk-based testing in software testing is essential. It is necessary to know it because many factors can increase or decrease the chances of risk. Thus, understanding these points and when to test them is vital. Let us discuss a few considerations over it.

• It is implemented where time or money constraints are present
   
• Whenever a proof of some concept is being executed, we implement it
   
• When the model is iterative or incremental, we implement it
   
• When the development of the testing team is new to the application itself or the platform on which it is developed
   
• Security tests are implemented whenever chances of risk are involved. E.g., security checks are a must in cloud-based applications

Process of Risk Management

Let us first discuss the different steps of the risk management process.

Step 1: Risk Identification

The first step is identifying different risks involved in the software product. Checklists, interviewing, the Delphi technique, cause and effect diagrams, root cause analysis, domain experts analysis, etc., can be used for this purpose.

Step 2: Risk Register

It is a document of identified risks and their possible causes. Testers track, monitor, and provide updates on evaluating risks using this. Thus, it also records the responses to different threats. Also, it helps in identifying risk-prone areas of various risks involved throughout the project. It also helps in categorizing other sources of risks.

Step 3: Risk Analysis

Finally, after identifying and logging risk, analysis is done. The testers analyze and filter the risks based on their likelihood and impact. They use both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A famous technique for this is Risk Matrix which estimates the probability of the risk to happen and its effect.

Step 4: Risk Response Planning

After analyzing the risks, it is decided whether or not the risk of a standard level is to be responded to. Some risks only require monitoring, some need immediate attention, and some might not need a response.

It involves Risk Mitigation and Risk Contingency.

Risk Mitigation is a method to minimize the risk impacts. It is achieved by reducing the risk to an acceptable level or eradicating it.

Risk Contingency is the probability of an event whose impact is neither known nor can be calculated. It is an unforeseen event. It is a backup plan for worst-case scenarios.

Step 5: Risk Monitoring and Control

At last, this step includes monitoring the residual tasks, discovering new risks, tracking the identified ones, handling changes, implementing response plans, and watching the risks.

Risk audits, Trend analysis, Variance analysis, Risk assessments, etc., help achieve this.

Process of Risk-Based Testing

Now, let us discuss the steps involved in risk-based testing in software testing

• Step 1: Analyze the different needs and requirements of the product
   
• Step 2: Review various documentation like SRS, Usecases, etc., to remove any ambiguities involved
   
• Step 3: Requirement sign-off is done to baseline the changes in the product. Furthermore, a change control process is demanded if any changes are to be made in the documentation or the product
   
• Step 4: Do a Risk evaluation based on the likelihood and impact of different risks
   
• Step 5: Use the risk assessment matrix to find the probability of risk-prone areas
   
• Step 6: Record all the risks involved. Update, track, and monitor risks regularly
   
• Step 7: Analyze the capacity and tolerance level of risk
   
• Step 8: Prioritize the needs of the product, and define the risk-based testing process
   
• Step 9: Identify and assess more critical risks for testing purposes first
   
• Step 10: Design optimal test cases, plans, etc., using different techniques
   
• Step 11: Review all the test cases, strategies, and beds
   
• Step 12: Dry run the test cases and record the results
   
• Step 13: Entirely run the test cases, and record the results. Find out more critical parts of the software and determine the effects of risk on those areas
   
• Step 14: Finally, evaluate the exit criteria. Ensure that by now, all the significant risks are evaluated and prone areas of the software have been tested
   
• Step 15: Update the risk records
   
• Step 16: Remove the defects to minimize the risk impacts
   
• Step 17: Perform risk-based automated testing, if feasible
   
• Step 18: Calculate the residual risks
   
• Step 19: Use exit criteria for all the risk levels
   
• Step 20: Assess the risk profiling
   
• Step 21: Assess the client feedback and accordingly generate the reports

Prioritization and Risk Assessment Matrix

Priority of risk has four significant categories discussed below:

• Serious: For this, the project should be ended, and optimal steps should be taken to marginalize the threat. Until and unless the risk reduces to an acceptable level, the project does not resume.
   
• High: Immediate steps are taken to isolate or remove the risk. Adequate risk controls are taken to resolve the issue directly. If not possible to resolve the problems at that time, strict timelines are designed to determine the risk issues.
   
• Medium: For this, practical and proper steps are taken to resolve the issue or minimize the risk impacts.
   
• Low: This category of risk usually does not affect adversely. Thus, these are generally ignored, and reviews are made to ensure that the product functions.

Risk Matrix, or Probability Impact Matrix, helps quickly view the risk and its priority. The probability categories are as follows:

1. Frequent (A): It is estimated to occur several times. (91-100%)
2. Probable (B): It s likely to occur mostly. (61-90%)
3. Occasional (C): It may happen sometime. (41-60%)
4. Remote (D): It is unlikely to occur sometime. (11-40%)
5. Improbable (E): It may arise in some rare situations. (0-10%)
6. Eliminated (F): It is impossible to occur. (0%)
    

Also, severity is the measure of loss during an unexpected event. It is scored as below:

• Catastrophic (1): It means that the impact was disastrous, and the productivity of the product has been reduced to near zero. It may cause the termination of the project. It has the topmost priority in risk management.
   
• Critical (2): It means that the loss incurred is vast, and it threatens the product
   
• Marginal (3): It means that the impact is short-term but reversible
   
• Negligible (4): The loss is minimal and is managed easily

Advantages of Risk-Based Testing

Now, let us see some benefits of risk based testing in software testing.

• Efficient: It is efficient. It is because it involves testing the prone areas of the application in the testing cycle. Also, it pushes in early phases lowering the testing costs.
   
• Effective: It is effective by dint of risk mitigation and rating. Time is spent on issues that are important only.
   
• Cost Reduction: The development process's overall cost decreases as significant issues are fixed in the early testing phases.
   
• Improved Quality: Risk-based testing prioritizes high levels of risks first in the testing process, reducing the number of defects in the product. This results in a product whose functionalities are of standard quality.

Common Mistakes with Risk-Based Testing in Software Testing

Now that we have studied all the different aspects of risk-based testing let us discuss some common mistakes to avoid while performing it.

• Incorrect estimation of the level of impact of risks
   
• Performing it at the end of the development process
   
• Not making contingency plans for unforeseen risks
   
• Team members do not have proper knowledge or experience in the matter

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Risk?

Risk is the probability of the occurrence of some harmful or adverse event. Basically, it is the probability of something undesirable to happen. Risk affects the quality of the software product adversely.

What is Risk-Based Testing?

Risk Based testing in Software testing keeps risk factors in the center while testing the software. Testers keep risk analysis and level of impact in mind while testing the product. So, simply put, it is the testing process based on the probability of risks.

What are the benefits of risk-based testing?

Risk Based testing in software testing has various advantages. Some of them are increased efficiency of the product, effective approach, cost reduction of the project, improved quality of the application, reduced number of test cases, enhanced user focus, etc.

What do you mean by identification of risks?

Risk identification is the first step in the risk management process. It is crucial to find out the various risks involved. Checklists, interviewing, the Delphi technique, cause and effect diagrams, root cause analysis, domain experts analysis, etc., can be used for this purpose.

Conclusion

Risks negatively affect the performance of the software product. Thus, it is crucial to identify, log, and handle these risks. For this, we use a technique called risk-based testing.

In this article, we studied risk based testing in software testing. Along with its definition, we looked at its characteristics, implementation, advantages, and common mistakes while performing it.

Do read the following articles if you have an interest in this topic:

• Introduction to Software Testing
   
• Risk Management

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