What is Operational Acceptance Testing(OAT)? Example Test Cases

 

Operational Acceptance Testing

Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT) is a software testing technique which evaluates the operational readiness of a software application prior to the release or production. The goal of Operational acceptance testing is ensuring system and component compliance and smooth system operation in its Standard Operating Environment(SOE).

Operational Acceptance Testing(OAT Testing) is also called Operational Readiness Testing (ORT) or Operational Testing.

Types of Operational Testing

• Installation Testing
• Load & Performance Test Operation
• Backup and Restore Testing
• Security Testing
• Code Analysis
• Fail over Testing
• Recovery Testing
• End-to-End Test Environment Operational Testing
• Operational Documentation Review

Why Operational Testing

• During OAT software configurations and operational support, components come together
• It tests the implementation of functional or structural changes to software or service in a functional or non-functional environment
• This testing determines whether an application can be deployed on a network according to IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) standards
• It tells whether a software will operate the way it is designed to without disrupting the business process
• OAT focusses mainly on these aspects of software product
• Resiliency
• Recovering ability
• Manageability and supportability
• Integrity

Example test cases for Operational Testing or OAT

Following is a handy checklist to do OAT

1. Backups taken at one site can be recovered to the same site
2. Backups taken at one site can be recovered to the other site
3. Implementation of any new features into the live production environment should not adversely affect the integrity of the current production services
4. Implementation process can be replicated by using valid documentation
5. Each component can be shutdown and start successfully within the agreed time scale.
6. For Alerts- All critical alerts must go to the TEC and reference the correct resolution document.
7. Alerts are in place and issued if agreed thresholds are exceeded
8. Any recovery documentation produced or altered, including Service Diagrams, is valid. This should be handed over to the relevant support areas.
9. Any component is affected by the failure, should show recommended order of restart, time to complete, etc.

Conclusion:

In Software Engineering, Operational Testing makes sure that the system and component’s compliance in the application’s standard operating environment (SOE). The Full form of OAT is Operational Acceptance Testing.