For software testing the most important factor is to have fast and easy access to test data. However, in most organizations it takes a lot of time and effort to get test data where it needs to be. But it does not have to be this way.
In this article I will describe how test teams can be empowered.
The solution lies in managing test data better across teams so that test data can be more easily available and software testing can move on faster.
It sounds simple, but keep in mind that test data management (TDM) is rarely the responsibility of one team. Developers use test data, testers need test data, database administrators (DBAs) manage test data, security teams worry about test data and somewhere in the background, someone is responsible when something goes wrong…
If we want to make test data management a structural part of software delivery, we need to organize it across the right roles and responsibilities.
In this article:
Realize that it’s not just one team
You might think test data is a development or testers thing. But the reality is more complex. Different teams and roles are involved:
- Software development teams:
Developers and testers are the main users of test data. They need it early, often, and in the right format.
- Operations teams:
Database admins (DBAs), infrastructure and architecture teams want stable environments and control and overview over test data.
- Compliance and security:
These stakeholders worry about laws, reputational risks, and sensitive data exposure.
Each team looks at test data differently. The development- and testing team wants speed. DBAs want reliability. Security wants control. And somewhere in the middle, projects get delayed because there’s no clear process.
The challenge? Balancing these perspectives and needs without turning it into a bureaucratic nightmare.
Who creates test data? And how is test data created?
Right now, test data is often created in various and sometimes ad hoc ways:
- Developers or testers write their own scripts.
- A DBA might clone a production database—sometimes without masking sensitive data.
- In extreme cases, test environments go stale. I once heard a tester say: “We’re almost out of test data.” That’s what happens when no one has refreshed the database in ten years.
I’ve witnessed cases where testers get so desperate that they manually create data just to keep moving. This is understandable, but also risky and inefficient.
The core problem? The people who need the data most don’t control when or how they get it.
How to shift control without losing overview and increasing risks?
So how do we empower testers with the right test data? Well, we need to give testers and developers more control over test data, but within a safe framework.
Testers and developers shouldn’t have unrestricted access to entire production or test databases, for example: to directly change schema, run manual scripts, or access sensitive data. That’s risky, and it conflicts with principles around security, compliance, and database integrity.
Instead, testers should have the power to start automated, predefined test data workflows, such as:
- Generating anonymized test data
- Refreshing a test environment
- Requesting a subset
- Or restoring a virtual copy
All without needing a DBA to do it manually. Ideally, organizations move toward a self-service model, with the right control mechanisms:
- Audit trails: Who started which job, and when?
- Dashboards: What’s completed, what’s pending?
- Feedback loops: How can we improve the process over time?
Think of it this way: developers and testers press the button, DBAs stay in control, and security sleeps better at night.
To truly embed test data in your organization:
- Acknowledge that it’s not the job of a single team.
- Align stakeholders around shared goals: speed, security, and sustainability.
- Empower users with self-service tools and automation.
- Support it all with strong governance and process visibility.
These aren’t just operational improvements. They’re competitive advantages. In a world where quality and speed matter more than ever, well-managed test data is not just a supporting act. It’s part of the main stage.