How to Interpret Stress Test Results: A Step-By-Step Guide

Stress testing is an important tool for assessing the operation (performance and stability) of websites under extreme load conditions. Moreover, modern stress tests are quite safe, flexible, and easy to manage. Based on the results of the stress test, the user receives a report, the data of which we invite you to learn how to interpret in order to promptly eliminate the identified system deficiencies.

Stress tests allow:

• make the site more resistant to crashes, system overload, DDoS attacks;
• assess and promptly correct deficiencies in the infrastructure of the web resource;
• find out the limiting capabilities of the functioning of a web resource;
• avoid downtime, customer loss, reputational and financial losses.

Step-by-step instructions for interpretation of test results

Let's look at a step-by-step guide to interpreting website stress testing results. It includes 8 stages.

Stage No. 1. Defining testing goals. Before purchasing a stress test, it is necessary to clearly understand what goals the owner of the resource is pursuing. Most often, the main task of conducting a stress test is to determine the level of system reliability. Also, relevant are the issues of identifying bottlenecks and site stability problems under heavy loads. Another stress test allows you to assess how quickly a site can recover after a system failure or DDoS attack.

Stage No. 2. Data generation. At this stage, all test results are collected for analysis. These are all kinds of mistakes and bugs. Information is accumulated in a format convenient for analysis (tables or graphics).

Stage No. 3. The next important step involves analyzing the indicators that were obtained as a result of testing. The site's performance is assessed based on the following key metrics:

• Speed of response. Measured in time. The longer the response time, the more likely the site is to experience performance issues.
• Number of detected errors. The number of errors that occurred during testing must be analyzed. Errors directly indicate problems in the design of the system.
• Processing requests. This parameter allows you to determine how fast the site processes incoming requests during peak load.
• Site bandwidth. This is a complex analysis of memory, network resources, CPU. This analysis shows the level of sustainability and reliability of the website.

Stage No. 4. Making a "diagnosis". After analyzing the main metrics, weak points in the site’s performance are identified. This could be reliability, sustainability, or other performance components.

Stage No. 5. Analysis of recovery ability. Stress testing determines the strength threshold of a web resource. The behavior of the system is reviewed to determine whether it can be restored after a failure.

Stage No. 6. Comparison with standards. At this stage, the test results obtained are compared with the baseline indicators. This allows you to understand whether the site is functioning normally. And in case of significant deviations, the reasons should be established and urgent measures to optimize the system should be developed.

Stage No. 7. At the seventh stage, a report is generated, which includes conclusions from the analysis. The report format is as follows: defining the testing purpose, providing test results, identifying recommendations for improving the system. Each paragraph describes in detail the nuances and provides testing details.

Stage No. 8. At the end of the stress testing procedure, the customer studies the report and results. Based on the recommendations, makes decisions on site optimization, which may concern changes in architecture, implementation of an additional monitoring system, or increase in resources. After changes have been made, re-testing should be done to evaluate the improvements made.

Conclusions

Stress testing plays an important role in ensuring the stability and reliability of a website. Stress tests help identify problems that lead to a violation of the site’s stability, which in turn helps prevent technical failures during peak load periods or possible DDoS attacks. The key parameters must be analyzed by a specialist. At the same time, following the step-by-step guide to interpreting the test results will allow you to make effective decisions regarding website optimization.