A method is provided for testing a feature provider module of a data storage management application (DSMA), the feature provider module providing a feature. The method includes (a) receiving, at a simulation module of the DSMA when the DSMA is not in communication with an external feature implementation component, a test feature command from the feature provider module, (b) at the simulation module, simulating behavior of an interface module in communication with the external feature implementation component, and (c) at the simulation module, returning a feature response to the feature provider module, the feature response communicating the simulated behavior.