Test Data Management – 2024 is your year to do it

This blog post is about Test Data Management – or my take on it.

I just saw that a video I did for my good mates at Redgate is just over 100,000 views.

Test data management (TDM) is all about handling the data used in software testing. It’s basically making sure you’ve got the right tools before starting a job – in this case, ensuring your test data is spot-on for checking if your software works as it should.

Now, in the world of DevOps, TDM is super important because it helps keep testing on track with the speedy development process. Pretty much meaning you need the right stuff to keep you going without slowing down.

How does TDM fit into DevOps?

1. Being Nimble: DevOps is all about being quick on your feet. TDM makes sure your testing can keep pace with development by giving you the right data when you need it. It’s like having your gear sorted so you can jump into action without missing a beat.
2. Making Things Easy: DevOps loves automation, and TDM is no different. It’s about setting things up so your testing practically runs itself. Just like having your chores automated so you can spend more time chilling out.
3. Setting Up Camp: DevOps likes to set up testing environments on the fly. TDM ensures these spots have everything they need for a good test run. It’s like having your camping gear ready to go whenever you feel like hitting the road.
4. Keeping Things Private: Test data often has sensitive info. TDM makes sure this stuff stays safe and sound during testing. It’s like keeping your personal info locked up tight so no one gets their hands on it.
5. Testing Early and Often: DevOps wants testing to happen early on. TDM helps make this possible by getting the test data ready ahead of time. It’s like doing your homework early so you can kick back and relax later.

So, in a nutshell, good TDM is the secret ingedient that keeps the DevOps machine running smoothly. It’s all about having the right stuff in the right place at the right time, so you can keep moving forward without missing a beat.

So for 2024 – what are you doing about managing your test data management?
Is it in the too hard column/basket? If so – don’t worry I am gonna be writing about this a lot…..

Yip.