Automated test data generation

Among other things1, you need test data to execute tests. You are required to design the test data to drive your test cases. If the test data is not already listed with your test cases or you run tests in an exploratory manner, you need to design the test data on the fly. Generating your own test data takes away your valuable time. Generating test data by hand is especially time consuming if you have to run automated tests (e.g. functional tests or performance tests) which need a large quantity of distinct test data.

Of course, if the production data is available, you may get its copy and use it for test. However, this is not a very wise approach. Using live data in test may expose confidential customer information to unauthorized people. In fact, acts like HIPAA address the security and privacy of data.