Cloud computing is a paradigm for enabling network access to a scalable and elastic pool of shareable physical or virtual resources with self-service provisioning and administration on-demand. Software-defined networking is a set of technologies that enables to directly program, orchestrate, control and manage network resources, which facilitates the design, delivery and operation of network services in a dynamic and scalable manner. Network functions virtualization refers to principle of separating network functions from the hardware they run on by using virtual hardware abstraction.

Cloud, SDN and NFV are emerging technologies that are widely used in a variety of scenarios. The conformance, interoperability, and benchmark testing of cloud, SDN and NFV are very important study topics.

In the context of cloud/SDN/NFV, conformance testing is testing to verify that an implementation of cloud/SDN/NFV is compliant with a developed standard, such as a functional requirement standard or a protocol specification. Interoperability testing is testing to assess the ability of entities involved in cloud/SDN/NFV to interact with each other as expected. Benchmark testing is testing used to measure implementation of cloud/SDN/NFV, from the performance aspect.

In addition, more and more services are implemented by using cloud, SDN and NFV technologies, such as SD-WAN. The testing of services based on cloud, SDN and NFV are needed to be considered.

Cooperation with ITU-T SG13 (the lead SG on cloud) on testing of cloud is necessary. Cloud related testing activities will start after terminology and architecture are identified by SG13.