Cloud performance testing — the way forward
In recent years, cloud-based technology has taken the world by storm, and organizations all over are realizing the many benefits of cloud-based frameworks. Cloud-based frameworks positively impact deployments and application monitoring, opening a plethora of new opportunities for end-users. This new focus on cloud-based technology has also ushered performance testing services providers into a new age — the age of cloud performance testing. Cloud performance testing has been dubbed the way forward by performance testing service providers, and this article explores why!
Is cloud testing necessary?
When discussing the technological revolution, cloud performance testing is often questioned. Many performance testing service providers ask, “is cloud testing actually necessary?”
The answer is very simple. The cloud has infinite resources for data storage, networking, computing, application scaling, and much more capabilities that help achieve what a business demands. However, none of these capabilities will work to the benefit of an organization if they fail to measure the performance of these applications in the cloud. The performance must be tested because it directly impacts the end-user experience. In fact, performance testing service providers know how functional and non-functional performance testing of applications is essential for ensuring that everything is working smoothly under the expected and designated workload.
What should be tested by performance testing services providers:
Cloud performance testing should mainly focus on speed, scalability, and stability.
- Speed — to ensure that the application responds in the given time
- Scalability — to establish what is the maximum user load the application can manage
- Stability — to ensure that the application remains steady under fluctuating loads
Cloud performance testing does not aim to find application bugs or errors. Its main purpose is to eradicate the various bottlenecks that usually occur within an application. Cloud testing thus helps companies create market-ready applications quickly and easily. Performance testing services providers perform cloud testing keeping the trio of speed, scalability, and stability to ensure that the application is as user-friendly and optimized as possible.
What happens when companies fail to do performance testing?
If a company does not opt for cloud testing, its applications will suffer. They are likely to have issues such as slow speed when users use them simultaneously. Furthermore, applications that do not undergo performance testing are potentially inconsistent across different operating systems. They are likely to have poor usability and carrying periods of downtime — poor usability results in company customer loss.
- Slow speed
- Lack of stability
- Inconsistency across operating systems
- Poor usability
- Loss of customers
- Increased downtime
Many studies have shown that companies undergo an estimated 1.6 hours of downtime weekly — which results into a loss of $46 million yearly due to downtime alone!
What are the benefits of performance testing in the cloud?
There are many benefits associated with cloud testing — which is why it has become one of the most popular forms of testing in the modern quality assurance landscape. Let’s list down some of these benefits:
· Easy to perform:
Cloud performance testing is easy to perform, and many performance testing service providers are now opting for it. There are many types of cloud testing, but they are an easy endeavour and can be configured without complexity.
· Budget-friendly:
This testing is easy on the organization’s budget as it allows for cost reduction. Cloud testing does not require extensive installation setups or maintenance of hardware components, etc. This allows the company to save up on costs.
· Ease of access:
A key benefit of cloud performance testing is its accessibility. Performance testing service providers can access their resources from any device with a working internet connection. This essentially means that performance testing services providers no longer need to prioritize hardware/software investment when evaluating scalability and ideal requirements.
· Global scaling
Cloud testing can now be performed from any remote location. This is a huge benefit for companies that want to encourage remote working. This means global scaling is possible for these companies as they can have a widespread employee base without worrying about hardware/software investment.
· Quality results
Cloud testing processes are embedded with standardized, pre-configured software designed to eliminate bugs and issues efficiently.
· Diversity of platform and environment
Cloud performance testing delivers variety in a company’s internal network environment. This is made possible because cloud testing caters to multiple requests from numerous clients on different platforms. This capability is extremely useful for companies with a hybrid work environment, as the ability to customize testing in such environments is crucial.
Conclusion:
Cloud performance testing has been dubbed the way forward by organizations across the globe. Performance Testing Services providers have moved performance application testing to the cloud to benefit from lowered operation and setup costs. Cloud testing has also empowered companies to maximize their R.O.I. Organizations have utilized cost-effective and scalable testing methods through cloud testing approaches. Cloud testing has opened up a new age of application quality assurance defined by efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity
