For services with system-to-system access, ensuring sufficient time for quality assurance (QA) testing before implementing changes is crucial to reducing the risk of business disruption to the outsourcer. This requirement ensures that any modifications to the system are thoroughly vetted for potential issues that could impact the outsourcer's operations. QA testing allows for the identification and remediation of bugs, compatibility issues, and other potential problems that could lead to operational disruptions or security vulnerabilities. By allocating adequate time for QA testing, organizations can ensure that changes are fully functional and secure, thereby maintaining the integrity and availability of services provided to the outsourcer. This practice is aligned with industry standards for change management, which advocate for comprehensive testing and validation processes to ensure the reliability and stability of system changes.
References:
* Industry standards such as ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) emphasize the importance of thorough testing and validation within the change management process to minimize the risk of disruptions and ensure the smooth operation of services.
* Guides like "Managing Change in IT Outsourcing Arrangements: The TPRM Perspective" provide insights into best practices for change management in third-party relationships, including the critical role
* of QA testing in mitigating risks associated with system changes.