THE BACKGROUND

The programme had several applications and systems within it.  Our global insurance client wanted to know which were essential to performance test.

There were a series of Non-Functional Requirements against which testing was required to validate whether applications were fit for purpose.

THE CHALLENGE

• One system was for an external client of theirs which would be accessed via a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).  It was deemed important that the performance of both the VDI and the system were validated.
• Performance Testing activities were to be conducted using two cost centres.
• Urgent work was required that was outside the initial scope.

THE SOLUTION

• Our initial risk assessment of the programme showed that only three applications were high risk.
• Using LoadRunner and Login VSI to validate the performance of the VDI we conducted extensive performance testing of up to 500 users.
• Initial testing concentrated on their internal system and once it was understood and validated then performance testing was conducted against the external client focusing on the VDI farm.
• We stressed the BIZ talk server and it responded well.  We also performed data upload automation vi SoapUI web services as there was no capability at the time.

THE OUTCOME

• As our initial risk assessment only showed three applications at risk, performance testing efforts could be targeted and cost-effective.
• Tool knowledge meant that the most appropriate and cost-effective tools were selected.
• We managed the cost against two cost centres as per client request meaning that costs could be fairly shared and no duplication of testing effort required.
• At very last minute, a document management tool was added to the performance testing scope.  We were able to quickly prove poor performance, initiate and implement fixes working closely with the third-party supplier.  This work took place as urgent over the Christmas and New Year holiday season.
• We discovered an incorrect configuration which meant the error could be corrected before the deploying to their customer.
• Our client could deploy to their customer with full confidence in the product and the VDI.
• Several performance issues were identified and resolved.

THIS EXAMPLE DEMONSTRATES

• Testing Performance’s ability to conduct a risk assessment for a large programme of work and being able to illustrate at stakeholder level which applications were at high risk and why.
• How flexible we were able to be, conducting urgent work that was out of scope over the Christmas period.  
• How we work with third party suppliers to initiate and implement fixes for problems found during performance testing.