Using a Service Oriented Architecture can bring businesses considerable benefits. They can be more flexible and responsive to meeting business requirements and they can reap the benefits of software re-use.

These are powerful arguments in favor of using SOA, but there is unfortunately one major factor which seems to get lost in the euphoria surrounding SOA: Test.

How are we going to test these systems? What are the risks of not testing SOA systems properly? Can I assume that re-usable services just need a minimum of functional testing?

This presentation will take a look at the various issues which testing needs to consider when an SO architecture is used for developing large-scale systems. The presentation will point out the main risk areas for testing and possible mitigation strategies. As you will see, there is more to testing these systems than we might initially think.

Graham’s experience in testing spans over 25 years and has covered a wide range of domains and technologies. As a test manager, he has been responsible for the testing of mission-critical systems in spaceflight, telecommunications and police incident-control. Graham has designed tests to the highest level of rigor within real-time aeropsace systems such as the Tornado and Eurofighter military aircraft. As a principal consultant for the T-Systems Test Factory he has mastered the Quality Improvement Programs of several major German companies, primarily in the financial and government sectors. In his current position, Graham is responsible for the training programme and for introducing innovative testing solutions to his company’s large staff of testing professionals.

Graham is a member of the authoring team for the new ISTQB Advanced Level Certified Tester and is a long-standing member the German Testing Board, where he chairs the Advanced Level and Expert Level Working Parties. Currently he is co-authoring the new ISTQB Expert level syllabus “Improving the Test Process”.

Together with Judy McKay, Graham has co-authored the recently published book “The Software Test Engineer’s Handbook”, which is a study guide for the ISTQB Test Analyst and Technical Test Analyst Advanced Level certificates.