Terms

Load Balancing

Load balancing is the method of distributing network and application traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server becomes overwhelmed. It acts as a traffic manager, sitting between clients and a server farm, intelligently routing requests to the most suitable server. This process improves an application's availability, scalability, and overall performance by preventing bottlenecks.

Types of Load Balancing

Load balancers are classified by the network layer where they operate. Layer 4 balancers use network data like IP addresses to direct traffic. Layer 7 balancers are more advanced, inspecting application content like HTTP headers for smarter routing.

They also exist as physical hardware appliances or flexible software solutions, which are common in cloud settings. For global applications, DNS or global server load balancing directs users to the geographically closest server, reducing latency and improving performance.

Benefits of Load Balancing

Implementing load balancing brings a host of advantages that are crucial for modern applications. By distributing traffic effectively, it enhances the overall user experience and strengthens the underlying infrastructure. The primary benefits revolve around reliability, performance, and security.

  • Availability: Ensures applications remain online and accessible by rerouting traffic away from failed or overloaded servers.
  • Scalability: Allows applications to handle high traffic volumes by distributing requests and enabling the easy addition of more servers.
  • Performance: Improves response times and reduces latency by preventing server bottlenecks and optimizing resource use.
  • Security: Enhances protection by distributing traffic to minimize the impact of DDoS attacks and hiding backend infrastructure.

Load Balancing vs. Load Sharing

While often used interchangeably, load balancing and load sharing have distinct functions and applications.

  • Load Balancing: This method intelligently distributes traffic across servers using algorithms to ensure high availability and performance. It's ideal for enterprises with mission-critical applications that need to handle high traffic volumes, prevent downtime, and scale seamlessly. The primary goal is to optimize resource use and maintain application health.
  • Load Sharing: This approach splits traffic across multiple network links or paths, often without deep inspection of server health. Its main advantage is aggregating bandwidth and providing redundancy at the network level. It's typically preferred for network infrastructure optimization rather than application-level traffic management.

Load Balancing Algorithms

A load balancing algorithm is the set of rules a load balancer uses to determine the best server for each client request. These methods range from simple, fixed patterns to complex, dynamic assessments of server health. The right algorithm optimizes resource use and ensures high availability.

  • Static: Follows fixed rules, like round-robin, regardless of the current server state.
  • Dynamic: Considers the real-time state of servers, such as active connections or response time.
  • Hashing: Uses client data, like an IP address, to consistently route requests to the same server.

Common Load Balancing Tools

Various tools are available to implement load balancing for different infrastructure needs.

  • Hardware: Dedicated physical appliances offering high performance for on-premise data centers.
  • Software: Versatile applications like NGINX that provide flexible, server-based traffic management.
  • Services: Cloud-based solutions from providers like AWS that automate scaling and management.

Frequently Asked Questions about Load Balancing

How does load balancing handle SSL/TLS encryption?

Load balancers can perform SSL termination, decrypting traffic before it reaches backend servers. This offloads cryptographic work from the servers but centralizes certificate management on the load balancer, which must be securely configured to protect sensitive data.

Doesn't a load balancer create a single point of failure?

It can, but this is mitigated by deploying load balancers in a high-availability (HA) pair. A passive or standby load balancer automatically takes over if the primary one fails, ensuring uninterrupted service and eliminating this potential bottleneck.

When is session persistence (sticky sessions) necessary?

Session persistence is crucial for stateful applications where a user's session data is stored on a specific server, like an e-commerce shopping cart. It ensures all requests from that user are routed to the same server, maintaining a consistent experience.

Other terms

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Site Retargeting

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Buyer Intent

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Buyer Intent

Unit Economics

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Unit Economics

Behavioral Analytics

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Behavioral Analytics

Sales Prospecting Software

Sales prospecting software automates the process of finding, contacting, and tracking potential customers to help sales teams build their pipeline.

Sales Prospecting Software

Lead Routing

Lead routing is the automated process of distributing incoming leads to the right sales reps based on predefined criteria.

Lead Routing

Rollback Procedures

Rollback procedures are a set of steps to restore a system to a previous, stable version after a failed update, ensuring minimal disruption.

Rollback Procedures

Sales Plan Template

A sales plan template is a reusable document that outlines your sales strategy, goals, and tactics, providing a clear roadmap for your team.

Sales Plan Template

GDPR Compliance

GDPR compliance means following the EU's strict data protection laws to ensure the secure and lawful handling of personal data.

GDPR Compliance

Demand Generation

Demand generation is the process of creating awareness and interest in your products to build a pipeline of qualified leads for your sales team.

Demand Generation

Persona

A persona is a semi-fictional profile of your ideal customer, based on market research and real data about your existing customers.

Persona

Return on Investment (ROI)

Return on Investment (ROI) is a key performance metric that measures the profitability of an investment relative to its initial cost.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Content Delivery Network

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a system of distributed servers that deliver web content to users based on their geographic location.

Content Delivery Network

Virtual Private Cloud

A Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) is a secure, isolated section of a public cloud. It lets you provision your own logically isolated resources.

Virtual Private Cloud

Challenger Sales Model

The Challenger Sales Model is a sales approach where reps challenge a customer's thinking by teaching, tailoring, and taking control of the sale.

Challenger Sales Model

Targeted Marketing

Targeted marketing focuses on specific consumer groups whose needs align with your product, allowing for more personalized and effective messaging.

Targeted Marketing

Warm Outreach

Warm outreach is contacting prospects with whom you have a pre-existing connection, like a mutual contact, making your message more personal and effective.

Warm Outreach

Lead Generation

Lead generation is the process of identifying and cultivating potential customers for a business's products or services.

Lead Generation

Dynamic Segment

Dynamic segments are self-updating lists that group contacts based on real-time data, ensuring your outreach is always timely and relevant.

Dynamic Segment

SEO

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search results.

SEO

Business Intelligence In Marketing

Learn about business intelligence in marketing, including the role of data in marketing BI, key components of marketing BI, & marketing BI vs. market research.

Business Intelligence In Marketing

Product-Market Fit

Product-market fit is when a product meets the needs of a strong market, leading to high demand, customer satisfaction, and organic growth.

Product-Market Fit

Persona Map

A persona map visually outlines a target customer, detailing their goals, behaviors, and pain points to help your team build genuine empathy.

Persona Map

Warm Email

A warm email is a message sent to a prospect with whom you have a pre-existing connection, like a mutual contact or a prior interaction.

Warm Email

Always Be Closing

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Always Be Closing

Brand Equity

Learn about brand equity, including understanding its importance, building strong brand equity, measuring brand equity, & real-world applications.

Brand Equity

Contact Data

Contact data is the set of details, like names, emails, and phone numbers, used to get in touch with a person or business for outreach.

Contact Data

Process Automation

Process automation uses technology to execute recurring tasks or processes, replacing manual effort to cut costs and boost efficiency.

Process Automation

Quarterly Business Review

A Quarterly Business Review (QBR) is a recurring meeting to assess performance against goals and align on strategy for the next quarter.

Quarterly Business Review

B2B Sales

Learn about B2B sales, including key strategies for B2B success, types of B2B sales models, & B2B vs. B2C sales: understanding the differences.

B2B Sales

Virtual Selling

Virtual selling is the process of selling to customers remotely using technology like video calls, rather than meeting them in person.

Virtual Selling

Value-Added Reseller

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Value-Added Reseller

Drupal

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Drupal

Cybersecurity

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Cybersecurity

Fulfillment Logistics

Fulfillment logistics is the entire process of getting an order to a customer, from storing inventory to picking, packing, and final shipment.

Fulfillment Logistics

Lead Conversion

Lead conversion is the process of turning a prospect into a customer by getting them to complete a desired action, such as making a purchase.

Lead Conversion

Account View Through Rate

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Account View Through Rate

Sales Pipeline Velocity Formula

The sales pipeline velocity formula is a key metric that measures how quickly deals move through your pipeline and turn into revenue.

Sales Pipeline Velocity Formula

Cold Call

Cold calling is a sales technique where reps contact potential customers who have had no prior interaction with their company or product.

Cold Call

Warm Calling

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Warm Calling

Request for Proposal

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Request for Proposal

Social Proof

Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where people assume the actions of others reflect correct behavior for a given situation.

Social Proof

Average Selling Price

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Average Selling Price

Data Warehousing

Data warehousing is the process of storing and managing large sets of data from various sources for business intelligence and reporting purposes.

Data Warehousing

Time on Site

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Time on Site

NoSQL

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NoSQL

Outside Sales

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Outside Sales

Sales Engineer

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Sales Engineer

Customer Churn Rate

Customer churn rate is the percentage of subscribers or customers who cancel their service with a company during a given time frame.

Customer Churn Rate

Digital Analytics

Digital analytics is the analysis of data from digital channels to understand user behavior and optimize online experiences for business goals.

Digital Analytics

Custom API integration

A custom API integration is a bespoke connection between software, enabling them to communicate and share data to meet unique business requirements.

Custom API integration

Discount Strategies

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Discount Strategies

Digital Advertising

Digital advertising is the practice of delivering promotional content to users through various online and digital channels like social media or search engines.

Digital Advertising

Lightning Components

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Lightning Components

Awareness Buying Stage

The awareness stage is the first step in the buyer's journey, where a potential customer realizes they have a problem or an opportunity to explore.

Awareness Buying Stage

Closed Won

Closed Won is a CRM status for a sales deal that has been successfully concluded, resulting in a signed contract and a new customer.

Closed Won

Sandboxes

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Sandboxes

White Label

White labeling is when a company puts its own branding on a product or service that was actually produced by a different company.

White Label

Mobile Optimization

Mobile optimization adapts your website to ensure visitors on smartphones and tablets have a seamless, user-friendly experience.

Mobile Optimization

Closing Ratio

Closing ratio is a key sales metric that shows the percentage of leads or proposals that result in a successful sale.

Closing Ratio

Weighted Pipeline

A weighted pipeline forecasts sales revenue by assigning a closing probability to each deal based on its stage in the sales funnel.

Weighted Pipeline

Enterprise

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Enterprise

Buyer Intent Data

Learn about buyer intent data, including sourcing and interpreting buyer intent data, & key metrics in buyer intent analysis.

Buyer Intent Data

Sales Pitch

A sales pitch is a persuasive presentation of a product or service, aimed at convincing a potential customer to make a purchase.

Sales Pitch

Account Mapping

Account mapping is comparing your customer list with a partner's to find common prospects and unlock new sales opportunities.

Account Mapping

Marketing Play

A marketing play is a repeatable tactic used to achieve a specific marketing goal, like generating leads or driving engagement.

Marketing Play

Data Appending

Data appending is the process of adding new data fields to your existing database records to enrich and complete your information.

Data Appending

Programmatic Display Campaign

Programmatic display campaigns use automation to buy and sell digital ad space in real-time, targeting specific audiences across the web.

Programmatic Display Campaign

Event Tracking

Event tracking is the method of collecting data on specific user actions, or 'events,' on a website or app, such as clicks or downloads.

Event Tracking

ABM Orchestration

ABM orchestration aligns marketing and sales actions across channels to deliver seamless, personalized experiences to high-value accounts.

ABM Orchestration

Pay-per-Click (PPC)

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Pay-per-Click (PPC)

Sales Velocity

Sales velocity is a key metric measuring the speed at which your company makes money. It shows how fast deals move through your sales pipeline.

Sales Velocity

Lead Scoring

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Lead Scoring

Click-Through Rate

Click-through rate (CTR) is a metric that measures the percentage of people who click on a specific link, ad, or call-to-action.

Click-Through Rate

Digital Contracts

Digital contracts are legally binding agreements created, signed, and stored electronically, offering a faster, more secure alternative to paper.

Digital Contracts

Revenue Operations KPIs

Revenue Operations KPIs are quantifiable metrics that track the performance, efficiency, and health of a company's revenue-generating engine.

Revenue Operations KPIs

Voice Broadcasting

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Voice Broadcasting

Sales Playbook

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Sales Playbook

Horizontal Market

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Horizontal Market

Sales Methodology

A sales methodology is the framework that guides how your sales team approaches the entire sales process, from prospecting to closing deals.

Sales Methodology

Sales Coaching

Sales coaching is a process where managers help reps improve their skills and performance through personalized feedback, training, and guidance.

Sales Coaching

Account-Based Selling

Account-Based Selling is a B2B strategy where sales and marketing treat high-value accounts as markets of one, using personalized outreach.

Account-Based Selling

Deal-Flow

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Deal-Flow

Sales Qualified Lead

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Sales Qualified Lead

Below the Line

Learn about below the line, including key strategies for below the line marketing, & distinguishing above and below the line tactics.

Below the Line

HTTP Requests

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HTTP Requests

Sales Automation

Sales automation uses software to streamline and automate repetitive, manual sales tasks, freeing up reps to focus on selling.

Sales Automation

Customer Success

Customer Success is a business strategy focused on proactively helping customers achieve their goals with your product or service.

Customer Success

CRM Enrichment

CRM enrichment is the process of adding third-party data to your existing customer profiles to make them more complete and accurate.

CRM Enrichment

B2B Leads

Learn about B2B leads, including identifying quality B2B leads, generating B2B leads effectively, & B2B leads vs. B2C leads: understanding the differences.

B2B Leads

B2B Data Erosion

Learn about B2B data erosion, including causes of B2B data decay, strategies to combat data erosion, & measuring the impact of data erosion.

B2B Data Erosion

ClickFunnels

ClickFunnels is a popular online tool that lets entrepreneurs easily build sales funnels to guide potential customers through the buying process.

ClickFunnels

Integration Testing

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Integration Testing

Serverless Computing

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Serverless Computing

Email Verification

Email verification is the process of confirming that an email address is valid and deliverable, which helps improve campaign performance.

Email Verification

Channel Marketing

Channel marketing is a strategy where a company sells its products or services through third-party partners, like resellers or affiliates.

Channel Marketing

Product Champion

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Product Champion

Decision Buying Stage

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Decision Buying Stage

Single Sign-On (SSO)

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Single Sign-On (SSO)

Database Management

Database management is the process of organizing, storing, and maintaining data in a database to ensure its accuracy, security, and availability.

Database Management