Why a Good User Acceptance Test Cycle is Essential to Your Security

With insider and fraud threats on the rise across all sectors, the importance of application security is at an all-time high. Many organizations opt to implement security measures to protect their systems and data, but not all of them have a solid user acceptance test cycle in place. In this article, I’ll cover why a good user acceptance test cycle is essential when it comes to firming up your security.

Implementing application security changes

It can be challenging to make security changes within your organization, particularly when it comes to striking a balance between security and usability. Security measures that are too restrictive can make it difficult for end-users to perform their tasks, while measures that are too lax can leave the application vulnerable to fraud and compliance violations.

A user acceptance test (UAT) cycle can help address these challenges by providing feedback on the security measures implemented. The UAT cycle is a series of tests performed by end-users or representatives that validate the functionality, usability, and security of the application. 

End-user satisfaction with UAT

User acceptance is critical for the success of any new system or system update. If end-users don’t accept the new system, it’s unlikely it will be used effectively. UAT allows these individuals to test the new system and ensure it meets their needs and expectations. This process includes:

• Verifying the system’s ease of use
• Ensuring the system meets business requirements, and
• Confirming the system works as intended within their environment.

UAT can also help improve the security awareness of end-users. By testing the new system for these main factors, they’re able to learn about new security features and the importance of data security. This helps improve the overall security culture of their organizations.

What is a User Acceptance Test Cycle?

User Acceptance Test cycles are designed to simulate real-world scenarios, use cases, and user interactions with the application, and evaluate its performance against predefined criteria.

User acceptance tests are typically performed after functional and integration testing is completed, and before the deployment of the application to production. They can be manual or automated, and cover various aspects of the application, including user interface, workflows, business logic, data validation, and security.

The importance of the UAT cycle in application security is twofold. First, it ensures the application is secure. Second, it ensures the end-users are satisfied with the new security measures put in place.

Five benefits of the UAT cycle

1. Identify Security Gaps

One of the most significant benefits of a good user acceptance test cycle is the ability to help identify security gaps that may have been overlooked in earlier testing phases. End-users are given access to the application to perform real-world testing scenarios, allowing them to identify potential issues and concerns that might not have been previously identified. This feedback can be used to improve the application’s security measures, ensuring it’s secure.

2. Safeguard Functionality and Usability

Additionally, user acceptance tests safeguard the application’s functionality and usability from negative impacts. Measures that can affect how users interact with the application, and the data they access or manipulate, include authentication, access control, encryption, and logging.

3. End-User Satisfaction

Another benefit of a good UAT cycle is that it ensures end-user satisfaction. These are the individuals who will use the application daily; thusly, their satisfaction is crucial to the application’s success. The feedback they provide can be used to implement subsequent security changes that address specific concerns or regulatory requirements.

For example, users may require stronger passwords, two-factor authentication, or data encryption to protect their personal or financial information. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or GDPR may require specific security controls to ensure compliance with data protection and privacy laws. User acceptance tests can validate that the security changes meet user needs and comply with these relevant regulations.

4. Validate Security Controls

User acceptance tests validate security controls and mechanisms implemented in the application. Security changes should address specific threats or issues identified through a risk assessment or security audit. For example, the security changes may address inappropriate access to Vendor master setup and payment processing, purchase order entry and goods receipt on PO, or excessive access to personal or company data.

User acceptance tests can simulate these scenarios and verify whether the implemented security measures prevent or mitigate the identified risks. The user acceptance test can also weed out any false positives or negatives in the security controls, providing feedback to the dev team to fine-tune security measures.

5. Improve Quality and Reliability

Finally, user acceptance tests improve the overall quality and reliability of the application. Security changes are part of a broader effort to enhance the application’s resilience, scalability, and maintainability. The UAT cycle can identify any defects, errors, or performance issues that may affect the application’s performance or stability. User acceptance tests can also provide feedback on how to optimize the application’s performance, reduce latency, or improve user experience.

By incorporating user feedback into the development process, user acceptance tests help to create more robust and secure applications that meet the user’s needs – and exceed their expectations.

Here are some best practices for a successful UAT:

1. Define clear UAT objectives and goals.
   This helps to focus on the areas that need attention and will ensure that the testing process is aligned with business requirements.
2. Involve real users from the target user group in the testing process.
   This provides valuable feedback from actual users and help identify issues that may not have been considered by the security team.
3. Develop a comprehensive test plan, outlining test scenarios, test cases, and expected results. This ensures all aspects of the software are tested and that the testing process is structured.
4. Provide proper training to the users participating in UAT.
   This helps them understand the process and perform the tests effectively.

5. Communicate clearly with users throughout the testing process.
   This manages expectations and ensures users understand what is expected of them.
6. Monitor progress: Monitor the progress of the testing process regularly to identify any issues that arise and address them promptly.
7. Document and report issues identified during testing to the development team.
   This helps ensure issues are addressed and resolved before the software is released.
8. Follow up with the users after the testing process.
   This ensures their feedback has been addressed and that they are satisfied with the software.

While it does take time, performing a thorough and complete UAT cycle will pay dividends by eliminating issues during Go-Live, increasing user confidence, and maximizing the value of the new security processes.