CIOReview | | 19 SEPTEMBER 202310 MOST PROMISINGDevOpsSOLUTIONS PROVIDERS - 2023Pioneering Next-Gen Test Data Generation with iSynthSynthetic data is gaining relevance over traditional test data provisioning methods as agile and DevOps practices are maturing and data privacy concerns are rising. However, efficiently creating consistent and maintainable synthetic data that sufficiently reflects real-world situations has long been a challenge. The available methods and tools did not meet the demands of complex application landscapes and the dynamics of continuous delivery. Flipping this script is itopia's solution, iSynth, which effectively addresses the need for creating synthetic data efficiently and cost-effectively. It represents an innovative method for constructing intricate and lifelike scenarios that ensure automated assessments yield valuable insights during initial testing. Backing iSynth are in-house tools that make synthetic data available right from the beginning of a project.Leveraging a decade's experience, itopia's experts elevate an IT department's continuous delivery efforts, boosting the productivity of software development projects. It focuses on creating synthetic data that developers can utilise throughout the software development process for optimised workflows and efficient operations."Our iSynth solution helps clients implement continuous delivery practices and design relevant data from a business perspective to confidently improve and scale software development efficiencies," Ralph Schibli, managing partner at itopia.Typically, software developing companies use production data or try to anonymise it into non-production environments. But having first-hand experience of managing the possible challenges in complex application ecosystems, developers prefer manual test data creation. itopia delivers a test-data ecosystem where they can perform software code-testing without any production data, accelerating task execution without compromising quality. These competencies drive itopia's position as a partner that can handle complex customer data to reliably develop and test software offerings. It primarily engages with customers in industries which are managing sensitive data, such as banking and insurance.In most cases, the customer data is spread across multiple applications, making consistency a challenge. Addressing this, itopia employs a top-down approach based on enterprise-specific business object models. Reference data constellations that target specific test cases are built using a modular approach. The itopia method and iSynth tool treats data specifications like source code, allowing users to take greater control of version control, keep a record of different versions, and facilitate greater collaboration, troubleshooting, and software stability. This approach also provides a systematic and streamlined way to handle data, making the development and management of software more manageable while bypassing the traditional challenges associated with complex data structures or intricate development processes.The business-oriented approach avoids technical details until data is ingested into systems under test. itopia's model-based methodology supports the step-by-step creation of data structures by adding further information and connections along evolving customer needs. For instance, the company successfully supported a Swiss private bank's move of software development processes to the cloud.Initially, the bank needed genuine synthetic data for development, testing, and integrated environments. The stringent Swiss data privacy laws made it difficult for them to share information with external parties. To resolve this, itopia opted for a purely synthetic data creation process, circumventing the mandates while maintaining an efficient software provisioning process.In this case, the company started by evaluating the software development requirements that guided code creation, test case definition, and script development. Recognising that the missing piece is data, the team introduced an innovative model for their provisioning scripts to follow when generating data or performing integrated software tests. Stories like this exemplify itopia's ability to adapt to diverse requirements and deliver desired outcomes.Akin to air traffic controllers that holistically guide a plane's journey, from take-off to landing, itopia's team of experts proactively clarify project goals and provide relevant leadership skillsets throughout the software development journey. They leverage deep insights into business models, language, and IT workflows to upskill IT teams and target their efforts toward mitigating core issues. Above all, it acts as a dependable partner that assists businesses in driving digitalization initiatives without unexpected setbacks. itopia's dedication to ensuring business prosperity is reflected through its consultancy services and technology implementation procedures that enable clients to successfully navigate the constantly changing digital transformation and technology integration arenas. itopiaRalph Schibli and Benjamin Schlup, Managing Partners
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