Integrating load and performance testing into a continuous integration pipeline can help detect performance issues early, and this guide offers insights into using Grafana k6 with Azure Pipelines for this purpose. k6 is a free, open-source tool that allows developers to write load and performance tests in JavaScript, easily integrating into their daily workflows. Azure Pipelines, part of Microsoft's Azure DevOps, supports continuous integration and delivery by testing, building, and deploying code. The guide suggests starting small with isolated tests and progressively expanding them, emphasizing the importance of clear service level objectives (SLOs) to assess system reliability. The document provides a practical example of a load test script using k6, demonstrating how to configure virtual user stages and set performance thresholds. Additionally, it explains how to execute tests locally and through Azure Pipelines, as well as how to use cloud execution for geographically distributed or resource-intensive tests. The integration is straightforward and can help maintain system performance by identifying regressions before they impact users.