When an organisation outsource testing activities (exclusively or as part of a bigger service), the subject of test environments requires extra attention. For instance, the organisation might have the supplier (supply organisation) execute all activities relating to the test environment. In the case of complex environments with many interfaces to external systems, the outsourcing (demand) organisation might prefer to retain the management. In this case, the test environment must be accessible to the supplier’s testers, which results in several points of concern. Another important aspect is which party bears the costs of the infrastructure. Often this is the supplier, the costs are charged directly to the client.

As a rule, there are various aspects that require a well-considered decision. For instance:

• Access to the environment: arrangements about how the test environment can be accessed and by whom, e.g. via a remote connection.
• The way who the test environment is set up, in particular for structural outsourcing services.
• Updating the test environment: agreements on informing on and tracking required upgrades, required confi gurations, DBMSs, the specific operating system and middleware versions, licence costs.
• Arrangements about handling limitations of the test environments as perceived by one of the stakeholders.