Is Compliance Testing the Same as Conformance Testing?

Is Compliance Testing the Same as Conformance Testing?

This article compares both testing methodologies thoroughly and explains the differences between compliance and conformance testing in software testing.

The main distinctions mentioned above might give insight into the challenges one might face when conducting embedded software testing. During embedded testing, software engineers must deal with the following significant consequences:

Compliance Testing VS Conformance Testing

Compliance testing confirms that a product conforms to all relevant laws and regulations. Contrary to conformance testing, which has a much wider definition, this software testing technique ensures that the system complies with the standards and guidelines established by the IEE, W3C, or ETSI. The review process results should be meticulously documented for future reference because the inspection procedure is primarily used for compliance testing. Conformance testing outlines how a system makes sure that, while being tested, it satisfies the specific requirements of a certain standard. There is some overlap between the two, as one might anticipate. In contrast, adherence to an industry standard may be necessary to satisfy acceptable requirements. Your compliance standards may involve compliance with a law or regulation.

Use of Compliance Testing in Software Testing

The internet used to be a bit of a wild west for businesses, with legal compliance being a problem only for companies operating in highly regulated sectors like finance and healthcare. However, the deluge of data privacy laws enveloping the world, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, shows that the law is now catching up with technology.You should conduct compliance testing to ensure you are adhering to all rules and regulations if your business's software, systems, or data are affected. Generally speaking, a compliance test is a mock audit in which a group of regulatory experts, preferably from your industry, look through your systems, processes, and security controls to ensure compliance. When your compliance auditors identify any issues, they will offer detailed solutions and conduct follow-up audits to confirm that all issues have been resolved.

Use of Conformance Testing in Software Testing

Contrarily, conformance testing is focused on following certain contractual, technical, or industry standards, which may or may not be related to legal compliance requirements. The functioning of your software and systems and whether or not you adhere to specific benchmarks are frequently the focus of conformance testing. Testing for conformance is divided into three categories: • A load test • Stress Examining • Size Testing Your industry's regulatory body (such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or IEEE), your contract's service level agreement (SLA), or other technical requirements will set the specific benchmarks you must meet. Conformance testing can help practically any organization because almost all of them want their software to adhere to a standard, even if it's just a promise made in a contract. To ensure the quality and interoperability of your systems, conformance testing may be required (much like a compliance audit) or optional. In either case, conformity testing helps you produce a final good that satisfies all statutory, regulatory, and commercial criteria. I hope you now understand the difference between conformance testing and compliance testing.

Sum-Up

Selecting the best compliance testing partner is crucial if you want to offer software that works flawlessly. Set up a call with Qualimatrix Technologies to discuss your project and benefit from our years of software testing knowledge.