
Having confidence in the functional behaviour of an application or website is vital - yet this is only half the battle. Just as important is ensuring the expected traffic volumes do not bring the system grinding to a halt.
Performance Reassurance
We check how your applications and systems perform under load, identifying performance issues before your customers do.
We work closely with you to identify real life scenarios, which are then simulated using our set of open source and proprietary tools, to identify bottlenecks and recommend improvements to increase performance, maximise uptime and give you reassurance that your infrastructure and software can cope with both planned and unplanned traffic.
Software and Applications
We help clients performance test many different system types, including websites, mobile apps, ERP and CRM systems, booking systems, ecommerce sites, Student Record Systems and more.
Stress Testing vs Load Testing
Performance Testing is frequently referred to as Load Testing or Stress Testing but, in fact, these are specific testing operations that are part of Performance Testing and frequently run together.
Load Testing gauges the ability of infrastructure to support the expected usage of a system while Stress Testing examines the ability to support exceptional and extreme transaction volumes.
Methodology
Our standardised methodology for Performance Testing includes questionnaires for information gathering, coding standards for scripts, and structured templates for plans and reports. This allows our Consultants to deliver each engagement to universally high standards.
The Consultants use a range of tools to design and execute workload modelling and realistic simulations of peak loads to find breaking points while measuring response times and system resources.
We’re not tied to any testing tool providers, so we are able to offer an impartial service that pairs the best tool for each project with your desired outcomes, taking into account the nature of your requirements and technical architecture.
Performance Testing and Agile
Increasingly, we are working with clients who are keen to integrate testing into software development as part of Agile deployments and regular releases. A subset of performance tests is commonly identified against the key functionality of an evolving application. This is added to during subsequent sprints so that, over time, coverage expands with the application and any performance problems are identified at the source.
Tests are run automatically alongside functional tests using continuous integration servers. We have particular expertise in designing and delivering performance test suites based on the JMeter open-source platform and integrating with Jenkins.
By running these tests regularly, confidence in application performance can be maintained throughout the development process. This largely reduces the likelihood of application rework further down the line, when inevitable performance problems are discovered.
Performance Testing Tools
We excel in Open Source Performance Testing solutions. Our team has significant expertise in using Apache JMeter on a wide range of projects for many different customers. We also partner with leading enterprise tool vendors, including Micro Focus and Radview. Additionally, we offer training sessions to bolster skills transfer through our engagements and enhance ROI as test assets are handed over and integrated into projects.
Performance Engineering
Performance Engineering enables Performance Testing to be run as a part of Continuous Deployment and DevOps models. Using reliable and tested methods, together with the latest tools, our Consultants design and implement integrated Performance Testing into your development process that evolves with applications, allowing development teams better, earlier visibility of potential performance problems, identifying and fixing issues at source.
Delivery
Performance Testing services can be performed either onsite or remotely, or, as is most common, using a combination of the two. Initial scoping on client applications ensures we recommend the best tools for the job, which are supported by our own custom injectors and reporting server from the cloud.
Using secure cloud infrastructure helps ensure we keep our costs low. Where cloud-based injectors are not suitable for a client (due to security concerns or on-premise systems), we can use machines on your networks so the whole test infrastructure is kept within your private infrastructure.
Organisations recognise the pivotal role Performance Testing plays in the launch of applications with high transactional value.
The ramifications of failed applications can be lasting and damaging. Performance Testing gives you the confidence that your applications and websites:
- Can cope with expected user levels at normal and peak load while keeping response times within acceptable levels
- Can cater to extended load (soak) and sudden increases in load (spikes) during normal operation
- Are not affected when accessed by a range of different configurations (browsers, operating systems, mobile devices, etc)
- Will stay online at launch and after changes or updates
Performance Testing Services
Find out more about our Performance Testing Services