Spike testing is a form of load testing aimed at assessing a system's ability to handle sudden and extreme increases in utilization, such as those experienced during events like ticket sales, product launches, or seasonal promotions. This testing involves rapidly ramping up the load to a high level without a gradual build-up and often with a very brief or non-existent plateau period, followed by a quick ramp-down. Spike tests are crucial for identifying how a system responds to unexpected traffic surges and may necessitate modifications to scripts or system processes that differ from average-load tests. Preparation for spike tests includes focusing on key processes, monitoring backend performance, and conducting multiple test iterations to fine-tune the system for high-demand events. Performance metrics such as pod speeds, recovery times, and the behavior of critical processes during overload are essential for evaluating system resilience. Tools like Grafana k6 facilitate spike testing by providing configurations to simulate these conditions and aid in optimizing systems to ensure they can withstand real-world spikes.