If you are looking for a sandbox specifically to test the Bulk Import API connection, please refer to this article: System Admin API: Bulk CSV/ZIP Import.
A sandbox environment provides a safe, isolated space to test, learn, and explore your data without impacting your live production systems. This is particularly useful for verifying data integrity and seeing how your information appears in your Watermark products before going live.
This guide outlines the process for requesting and using a sandbox to test data in System Admin, Planning & Self-Study (P&SS), and Student Learning & Licensure (SL&L).
Why Request a Sandbox?
Clients use a sandbox environment for two main purposes:
- To test data risk-free- You can validate new data imports, file formats, or integrations without affecting your live instance.
- To explore functionality- You can see how your institution's data looks and interacts within the P&SS and SL&L products.
Sandbox Setup Steps & Estimated Timeline
The sandbox setup process involves several phases with an estimated timeline for completion.
Phase 1: Request a Sandbox
Submit a Request to our Support Team to start your request. You will need to provide the email addresses of all system administrators and staff who need access to the sandbox, as well as the product(s) you need access to.
- Estimated time: 1-2 days
- Action by: Institution
Phase 2: Sandbox Creation
Our team will create your sandbox account and an isolated environment with copies of your selected products. We will notify you once the setup is complete.
- Estimated time: 2-4 days
- Action by: Watermark
Phase 3: Initial Setup & Testing
Once you have access, you can begin setting up your test data. It's recommended that you anonymize and minimize your data when populating the sandbox. This simplifies the testing process and ensures that sensitive information isn't in a non-production environment. The purpose of this phase is to test the connection and data flow, not to replicate your entire live environment.
- Estimated time: 3-5 days
- Action by: Institution
Phase 4: Validation & Full Testing
Perform full-scale testing within the sandbox. Validate that your data appears correctly in P&SS and SL&L, and that all connections are working as expected.
- Estimated time: 5-10 days
- Action by: Institution
Phase 5: Go-Live Preparation
When your testing is complete, you can begin preparing for your live implementation with the confidence that your data processes have been validated.
- Estimated time: 1-2 days
- Action by: Institution
Important Sandbox Information
Institution Switcher
If you are a current System Administrator with access to manage data in System Administration and its integrated products, you can easily switch between your live instance and the new sandbox. After your sandbox is set up, log out and log back in to your account. You will then see an institution switcher in the upper-right corner of System Admin, allowing you to easily move between your instances and their integrated products.
Data Minimization
When you create test data, we strongly recommend using a minimal set of anonymized data, such as a few sample users and programs. This makes the testing process much simpler.
Ready to Begin?
To request your sandbox environment for data testing, please contact our Support Team directly by submitting a support request for a Sandbox account.