5.9 Product Assurance Test (PAT)

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The PAT verifies that the total system solution performs as expected. This test is performed by executing a series of test cases that have been specifically constructed to demonstrate to the users that the system works properly in a production environment. The PAT is usually designed from taking material from the system operations documentation. The PAT should validate performance and data storage requirements for production operations. The PAT should encompass a complete processing cycle in production. Things to consider in this production cycle are monthly closings, cutovers, and any other conditions in the organization that you feel would bring additional load onto the system and stress its performance. At a minimum, production mode testing should consist of at least the following components:

• Job control statements

• Files/databases/datafeeds (streaming, non-streaming)

• Hardware/software/networking configurations

• Documentation of the system

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