What You Can Learn From Target's Site Crash

Web Load Testing Prevents Outages
The only way to prevent events like this from happening is to perform realistic web load tests that prepare for these scenarios. In this case, Target claims to have prepared for the kind of traffic it typically experiences on Black Friday — i.e., a buildup over the course of the day. Clearly this wasn't the realistic scenario to prepare for. The Missoni line became available at a certain time and day, akin to a ticketing merchant where a concert sells out within minutes of its availability. Target didn't expect the suddenness of the demand surge.