Which scenario could result from improper use of a load balancer?

When a load balancer is not used properly, one of the significant risks is that a single server may become overwhelmed with requests. The primary function of a load balancer is to distribute incoming network traffic across multiple servers to ensure that no single server bears too much load. If a load balancer is misconfigured, fails to effectively distribute requests, or is bypassed altogether, the result can be that requests accumulate on one server. This can lead to that server experiencing high CPU usage, slow performance, and ultimately could cause it to crash or become unresponsive.

Understanding this scenario emphasizes the importance of proper configurations and practices in load balancing. It shows how vital it is to ensure that workloads are adequately managed to maintain service availability, performance, and reliability. Improper load balancing can lead to service degradation and negatively impact the user experience as they encounter delays or downtime when trying to access services.