Confirmation and Clearing 2015 – dry run testing

In preparation for this year’s Confirmation and Clearing, we will be carrying out dry run activities to test individual systems and services (phase one), along with an end-to-end performance test (phase two).

This two-phase approach will enable us to carry out a range of tests to ensure systems and services operate at optimum performance and can deal with maximum load and capacity during peak times. We will be using the results from the recent C&C linkage survey to inform testing in both phases.

During both phases of testing, there will be no impact to providers, as all activities are being carried out internally.

Phase one
Dry run one testing is scheduled to take place on Monday 18 May and will run until Friday 26 June 2015. During this phase we will be carrying out the following:

• Performance testing across all services and applications – tests are performed to determine how a system performs in terms of responsiveness and stability under a particular workload.
• Penetration testing – short simulated attack on a system with the intention of finding security weaknesses, potentially gaining access to it, its functionality and data.
• Soak testing – testing a system with a significant load extended over a significant period of time, to discover how the system behaves under sustained use.
• High availability (HA) tests – involves a set of policies and procedures to enable the recovery or continuation of vital technology infrastructure and systems, following a natural or human-induced disaster.
• Scenario testing – software testing activity that uses hypothetical stories to work through a complex problem or test system.

Once phase one testing is complete, a full analysis will take place, with the results being used to identify any remedial work which may need to take place.

Phase two
Dry run two is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 1 July and will run until Friday 24 July 2015. During this phase we will be carrying out end-to-end testing, allowing us to ensure applications and systems are working efficiently together and performing as expected at maximum load. Phase two will also provide the opportunity to assess the results of any changes which took place as a result of phase one.

Final review
Actions completed as part of the IT remediation project following the lessons learnt from C&C 2014, and the results from this year’s phase one and two dry run testing, will be used to provide a readiness overview for C&C 2015.

The outcomes will be shared via this weekly bulletin.

If you have any questions, please contact your Technical Relationship Manager.