Narrative 12: Sandbox - Testing without the risk  

Narrative 12: Sandbox - Testing without the risk  

Behind the scenes of a successful ticketing system: BTS Series 

Narrative 12: Sandbox - Testing without the risk

What is a sandbox environment?

A sandbox environment is a virtual playground that allows you to test freely and experiment with various elements without impacting your live environment. It provides a secure and isolated space for trying out new software, code, or configurations without unnecessary risks or costs. Using a sandbox is an excellent approach for learning, exploring, and verifying the ticketing functionality before integrating these elements into your business operations.
 
Let's say you're a developer working on a mobile app. Before releasing it to the public, you can create a sandbox environment to test the app's functionality, features, and compatibility with different devices. This lets you see how the app behaves in a controlled setting, identify and fix bugs or issues, and ensure a smooth user experience. It's like a virtual testing ground for your app or service before it enters the real world.

Exploring the Sandbox in Zoho Desk

When it comes to refining your help desk processes, safety and precision are key. Zoho Desk makes this easier with its Sandbox feature, a secure testing environment available exclusively in the Enterprise edition. Sandbox allows you to explore, configure, and test new setups before bringing them into your live account, ensuring a smooth and error-free deployment every time.

One Sandbox, unlimited possibilities

Each organization can create a single Sandbox account, designed to replicate the live production environment. From the top navigation panel to the configuration settings, the Sandbox mirrors your actual help desk setup. However, to protect operational data integrity, records inside modules are not automatically populated. Users can still manually add or import records as needed to simulate real scenarios.
 
With Zoho Desk Sandbox, testing becomes simpler, collaboration is more controlled, and deployment runs smoothly to help your support teams stay agile while protecting business continuity.
QuoteA helpful indicator — Sandbox Mode — appears on the top panel, reminding users that they are working in a testing environment and preventing accidental changes in the wrong account.

What you can test and deploy

While you can test all configurations available under Setup within Sandbox, not everything can be directly deployed to production. Currently, only customization and automation elements listed below are eligible for deployment:

Customization elements:

  • Layouts and Fields
  • Time Tracking
  • Modules
  • Templates

Automation elements:

  • Assignment Rules
  • Notify
  • Workflows
  • Skills
  • Blueprint
  • Macros
  • Supervise
  • Schedules
​
This focused deployment scope ensures stability while still giving admins and developers enough flexibility to fine-tune key components.

Access and permissions

Access control in Sandbox is thoughtfully designed to maintain governance and prevent accidental disruptions. Only selected agents and teams who are granted Sandbox access during its creation can participate in testing. However, deploying the tested changes to the production account requires specific privileges; users must have the Manage Sandbox permission to move configurations live.

Benefits of using a sandbox 

Reduce risks

Specific configuration changes can inadvertently lead to data loss or disrupt essential processes. By testing in the Sandbox, teams can pinpoint potential problems early on, preventing them from affecting the live system. Think of it as your safety net, allowing you to test, analyze, and proceed with confidence.

Address conflicts

Complex implementations often result in configuration conflicts. The Sandbox lets you simulate these changes and observe any disputes that may arise, enabling you to troubleshoot and fine-tune your setup before it impacts actual operations.

Verify data integrity

The Sandbox environment offers valuable insights into how each change will affect live data. It intelligently identifies which adjustments are safe and ready for deployment based on conflict and issue assessments, ensuring that only verified configurations are implemented.

Display changes Incrementally

Rolling out prominent features, process improvements, or bug fixes all at once can be overwhelming. The Sandbox allows you to break significant updates into smaller, manageable batches, test them thoroughly, and implement them gradually to minimize disruption to your existing workflows.
Info

Effective testing and deployment 

  1. Risk-free testing 
  2. Enhanced productivity 
  3. Improved support experience 

Final thoughts

Zoho Desk’s Sandbox is more than just a tool for testing; it fosters trust. It enables both admins and developers to explore innovations without hesitation, ensuring consistent performance and operational excellence. With the Sandbox, you can confidently experiment, test, and ensure flawless execution. 


Please stay tuned for more in the Desk behind-the-scenes series.

 

Regards,

 

Kavya Rao

The Zoho Desk Team

    • Recent Topics

    • Designing a practical Zoho setup for a small business: lessons from a real implementation

      I recently finished setting up a Zoho-based operating system for a small but growing consumer beauty business (GlowAtHomeBeauty), and I wanted to share a practical takeaway for other founders and implementers. The business wasn’t failing because of lack

    • Link Purchase Order to Deal

      Zoho Books directly syncs with contacts, vendors and products in Zoho CRM including field mapping. Is there any way to associate vendor purchase orders with deals, so that we can calculate our profit margin for each deal with connected sales invoices

    • Projects custom colors replaced by default orange

      Since yesterday, projects uploaded to Zoho, to which I had assigned a custom color, have lost the customization and reverted to the default color (orange). Has anyone else had the same problem? If so, how did you resolve it?

    • Interview booked through Invite but no Notifications

      We have a workflow that was developed through a developer/partner that was tested and worked. Today, we pushed a candidate through the process and invited them to an in-office interview. They were sent the booking link (as usual and as tested before successfully)

    • WebDAV support

      I need WebDAV support so that I can upload/download (and modify) documents from my local file system. Is anything planned in his direction?

    • Automatiser la gestion des SLA dans Zoho Desk avec Zoho Contracts

      Les équipes du service client s’efforcent d’assurer un support rapide, régulier et fiable pour garantir la satisfaction de chaque client. Les accords de niveau de service (SLA) permettent de clarifier les engagements en définissant les termes et conditions

    • iOS App doesn't refresh for Document Creation

      Hello Zoho team, I have created a workflow to be used on a mobile iOS device which starts in Zoho Creater and ends with a murge and store function that then opens the newly created document within the Zoho Writer app. This process is working great however

    • Uploading a signed template from Sign to Creator

      Good day, Please help me on how to load a signed document back into Creator after the process has been completed in Sign. Below is the code that I am trying, pdfFile = response.toFile("SignedDocument_4901354000000372029.pdf"); info pdfFile; // Attach

    • Zoho DataPrep and File Pattern configuration

      I'm using Zoho data prep to ingest data from One Drive into Zoho Analytics... The pipeline is super simple but I can't any way to get all the files that I need. Basically I need to bring all the files with a certain pattern and for that I'm using a regex

    • Assistance needed: Activation of a domain

      Hello Zoho Support, I purchased the .com domain "primesolva.com" via Zoho 6 days ago. The domain is still pending, and I cannot access the DNS panel to add the TXT verification for domain ownership. Please confirm the registration status and help me activate

    • Operation not permitted

      I am trying to add an email address to the list of user but I am getting error Operation not permitted

    • Request to Permanently Delete Email User (info@mehbobgulf.com ) from Old Organization

      Please permanently delete the user email info@mehbobgulf.com It is still associated with my old Zoho organization. I cannot delete it because it shows ‘You cannot delete email. Zoho host’. I need to use this email in a new Zoho account.”

    • Client host [89.36.170.5] blocked using Spamhaus

      Hello please make make actions for delist ..... "Client host [89.36.170.5] blocked using Spamhaus"

    • Suggestion: Option to Re-run a migration

      As I'm going through a migration process, I like the IMAP migration tool, but it would be better if there were an option to re-run the same migration as configured. There's not even an option to copy/edit one that's already there. Just run if it hasn't

    • Issue with "Add Your Mobile Number"

      Hello, I am trying to sign up for email service for a domain name, and I cannot finish the authentication. When I enter my mobile number, I receive the message "We’re unable to send OTP to this mobile number. Please contact support-as@zohocorp.com". I

    • zoho mail non vérifié

      Bonjour, Il y'a un jour que j'ai acheté un domaine et toute les tentatives pour l'associé a mon compte shopify son vaine. j'ai essayé TXT sans suite après, j'ai essayer avec CNAME sans suite. j'aurais besoin de votre assistance pour associé mon mail.

    • Unable to send message;Reason:553 Relaying disallowed. Invalid Domain

      i have facing the issue "Unable to send message;Reason:553 Relaying disallowed. Invalid Domain" if i verify domain evertthing i did but still face the same error.

    • ZohoMail is so close to being Perfect BUT

      Why don’t you have HILIGHTING???!! I've been trying to find a substitute for Edison Mail but I want & need hilighting (preferably in more than just yellow)! Is this even on your To Do list? I’m so disappointed. 🙄

    • Override Auto Number field?

      We are preparing to migrate from Salesforce. In Salesforce, we auto-generate a unique number on our Opportunities (Potentials). If the Opportunity results in a contract, we use that unique number as the Contract number. There are some situations where

    • Using a third party service provider want to move directly with Zoho

      Hi good day I’m currently using Zoho but I’m using a third party service provider I want to move directly with you guys I’m using Zoho email and invoices and my domain please let me know if it’s possible to move away from the third party provider my email

    • Request for Assistance Regarding Email Sending Issue (554 5.1.8 - Email Outgoing Blocked)

      Dear Zoho Support Team, I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to request assistance with an issue we are currently facing regarding our Zoho Mail account. Our email account, admin@tuyensinhcanuoc.com, is encountering the following error when

    • Zoho Mail API returns empty inbox (0 messages) but webmail shows 37 unread emails

      Hello, I'm experiencing a discrepancy between Zoho Webmail and the Mail API (EU region). **Setup:** - Account: EU datacenter (mail.zoho.eu) - API: Self Client OAuth2 via api-console.zoho.eu - Scopes: ZohoMail.messages.READ, ZohoMail.messages.UPDATE, ZohoMail.folders.READ,

    • Zoho Mail not working

      Zoho Mail not working

    • ShipStation and Zoho Inventory

      Hello, I am looking to sync zoho inventory with shipstation ZOHO INVENTORY           SHIP STATION Sales Order  ==>  create ORDERS INVOICE  <==    Shipments What exactly does BETA mean on the Shipstation connector?  This is required for me to sign-on in the next month. Thanks in advance for your efforts

    • 550 5.4.6 Unusual sending activity detected. Please try after sometime

      Hi, I am receiving this error message when trying to send my emails. The only reason I can think why this is happening is my previous two emails were bounced back to me due to a non working mailbox error. I have followed the online links for unblocking but it says there are no blocks on my account. How and when can I get my email working again to send emails? Thanks,

    • How do I remove a data source from Zoho Analytics?

      I am unable to find a delte option on a datasource that i put in the system as an error. On teh web it refers to a setup icon but I do not see that on my interface?

    • E

      We are trying to add our Zoho Form embed in our Elementor Page Builder. After adding Zoho Forms widget in elementor page builder it’s displaying in backend page builder but it’s giving 403 error while trying to save, as it’s not reflecting in front end.

    • Kaizen #225 - Making Query-based Custom Related Lists Actionable with Lookups and Links

      Hello everyone! Welcome back to another post in the Kaizen series! This week, we will discuss an exciting enhancement in Queries in Zoho CRM. In Kaizen #190, we discussed how Queries bridge gaps where native related lists fall short and power custom related

    • Ability to Edit YouTube Video Title, Description & Thumbnail After Publishing

      Hi Zoho Social Team, How are you? We would like to request an enhancement to Zoho Social that enables users to edit YouTube video details after the video has already been published. Your team confirmed that while Zoho Social currently allows editing the

    • Formatting Problem | Export to Zoho Sheet View

      When I export data to Zoho Sheet View, ID columns are automatically formatted as scientific notation. Reformatting them to text changes the actual ID values. For example, 6557000335603071 becomes 6557000335603070. I have attached screenshots showing this

    • Connecting Zoho Inventory to ShipStation

      we are looking for someone to help connect via API shipStation with Zoho inventory. Any ideas? Thanks. Uri

    • custom module import.

      Is there a way to import data into a custom module? Thanks Rudy

    • HEIC File Type Viewer

      Hi, It would be nice to be able to click on the images in the All Entries/Reports Tables which are HEIC the same as JPG, PNG, etc. so they open in a viewer from Zoho or the Attachment Service, today HEIC requires you to download each image and open it

    • Building Toppings #4 - Setting up and using connections in Bigin toppings

      When building a topping to extend Bigin's functionality and connect it with third-party applications, creating and handling connections is an important step. Connections provide a secure way for your topping to authenticate and communicate with other

    • Need code format to specify default values

      Can someone please direct me to the code syntax or the proper translation per the instructions circled below. These instructions don't seem correct.

    • AI Interview Insights: Turn Recorded Interviews into Quick Transcripts & Summaries

      Evaluating interviews shouldn’t require replaying long recordings or taking manual notes. With AI Interview Insights, you can now review complete transcripts and AI-generated summaries of your One-way (Recorded) interviews right inside Zoho Recruit. This

    • Facing email delivery issues? Verify your domain's DNS records

      Have you ever wondered why your legitimate emails are landing in the recipient’s spam folder? Or been surprised to see emails sent from your registered domain getting rejected by recipient email servers? Why does this happen? In most cases, this happens

    • Order of Departments in Help Desk

      In the end user portal, , the departments are sorted by the date of creation of the department (or perhaps their id). Is there a way to choose the display order of the departments or at least to be able to sort them alphabetically?

    • COGS - Account showing negetive

      I have multiple COGS account and in these all there is one account is negetive so suggest why it is showing negetive value.?

    • Create CRM Deal from Books Quote and Auto Update Deal Stage

      I want to set up an automation where, whenever a Quote is created in Zoho Books, a Deal is automatically created in Zoho CRM with the Quote amount, customer details, and some custom fields from Zoho Books. Additionally, when the Sales Order is converted

    • Next Page