In simple terms, a multi-tenant cloud is a cloud architecture where a single instance of a software application serves multiple tenants. Tenants could be comprised of different businesses, departments — or users who all share the same resources.
For example, consider a condominium. The building structure is the software instance, whereas the individual units are the tenants sharing the same infrastructure. Despite having the resources shared, each tenant operates independently under their secure model.
Like firewall-as-a-service (FAAS), which provides an essential layer of security, the multitenant architecture helps isolate each tenant’s data, maintaining confidentiality and preventing unauthorized access.
In multitenant cloud architecture, multiple cloud customers (or tenants), share the same computing resources.
Each tenant’s data and interactions remain isolated from other tenants. This is achieved through a mechanism called ‘data sharding’.
Data sharding is like creating virtual partitions in a database, where each tenant’s data resides in its own isolated space, securely separated from others.
This way, even though customers are leveraging the same infrastructure, they cannot access one another’s data. Implementation of a multi-tenant system can be done in a few ways, predominantly:
These are user-friendly applications accessible via an internet connection and typically supplied on a subscription basis. Powering most business applications, SaaS provides infrastructural efficiency and cost-effectiveness while still enabling granular control over the data and services.
These involve enclosing an app along with its dependencies in a separate ‘container.’ These operable standalone units increase efficiency, facilitate error isolation, simplify the debugging process, and offer enhanced security. Applications can be seamlessly ported across computing environments.
On this platform, developers can write and deploy code without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. It’s a method that allows applications to rely on third-party services for server-side logic and state.
This formative tool changes the way software is constructed, deployed, and, finally, how it is priced. It leverages back-end services to perform necessary tasks as it dynamically manages the distribution of machine resources.
Although multi-tenancy brings about complexities in implementation — it opens up advantages such as scalability, reduced cost, upgradability, and shorter time-to-market, thus making it an increasingly popular choice for large-scale application deployments.
While, on a surface level, it seems that adopting a multi-tenant model is just for cost reduction, there are numerous other benefits:
Even in a shared environment, each tenant’s data is isolated and secure in its own virtual compartment. No tenant can access or interfere with another’s data, providing high-level security.
With the multi-tenant cloud system, everyone can shape and customize the UI and experience in line with their specific business needs. This element of personalization tends to improve employee experience and overall user productivity.
This feature facilitates migration and compatibility across different platforms. No matter where your business currently straddles, migrating software to a multi-tenant cloud solution won’t pose a roadblock.
With resources being pulled collectively, enterprises can avoid hardware redundancy, server shelf life, and other onsite physical storage issues. The cost savings can be directed towards business-centric needs like R&D and innovation.
Think of the multi-tenant cloud as elastic; it grows or shrinks depending on your requirements. This highly adaptable system adjusts resources per the business’s changing needs and workloads, allowing it to evolve easily without major infrastructure investments.
Maintenance and upgrade cycles are managed centrally, ensuring all the tenants get the latest features and improvements simultaneously and without business disruptions.
Multi-tenancy often results in a more resilient system – in the event of a disaster, recovery tends to be quicker owing to the distributed nature of the model.
All these reinforce the fact that multi-tenancy isn’t just about cost savings – rather, it nudges enterprises towards an efficient, flexible, scalable, and resilient model.
In comparing cloud architecture types, it’s essential to understand how a multi-tenant differs from a single-tenant model.
Let’s take the real estate analogy again to understand this better.
Think of a multi-tenant cloud as an apartment block; different tenants share the same building (infrastructure and resources), but each has its own apartment (data and applications).
On the other hand, the single-tenant cloud is akin to a private home where one resident occupies the entire building (resource).
Like cloud VPN services, which ensure secure and isolated connectivity, the multi-tenant architecture isolates each tenant’s digital “apartment.”
This model generally translates to numerous benefits for larger businesses, while smaller businesses or individuals may find single tenancy more suited to their needs.
So, diluting it to absolute specifics:
Firstly, in a single-tenant cloud, all the server’s resources, such as compute power, memory, and storage, are exclusive to one tenant. In contrast, a multitenant architecture shares the server resources among multiple customers, leading to efficient use of resources and easily scalable capabilities.
Modifications and scalability are easier in a multi-tenant environment as resources can be adjusted as per the demand and aren’t fixed or limited. On the other hand, changes in a single-tenant cloud usually require infrastructure expansion, which is time-consuming and expensive.
While a multi-tenant environment has data sharding mechanisms to ensure tenant data isolation, the single-tenant environment gives a seemingly higher level of security as tenant resources are preserved solely for them.
Constant updates and critical performance tweaks can be enacted simultaneously across multiple accounts in a multi-tenant setup. A single-tenant customer has its own isolated update pattern, which may lead to longer times between updates.
Single-tenant pattern entails higher initial and maintenance costs due to separate hardware and software infrastructure per tenant. In contrast, with resource pooling and central updates, the multi-tenant cloud curbs overheads and drastically lowers costs.
In multi-tenant, redundant systems are more accessible than in single-tenant. One can leverage cloud service redundancy to minimize downtime and speed up incident recovery.
Security is a primary concern in any cloud environment, and multi-tenancy is no exception. However, all cloud models generally present features such as individualized tenant configuration, siloed data storage, and stringent process boundaries.
Brands like Hubspot, Github, Salesforce, and Slack — all use multi-tenancy to offer globally managed, scalable cloud services.
From Salesforce’s CRM to Slack’s collaborative platforms, these services use the multi-tenancy model, providing flexibility, robust architecture, and seamless security right at the fingertips.
Hubspot offers a comprehensive suite of marketing, sales, and customer service tools through its multi-tenant cloud. GitHub uses the same to host numerous developer repositories on the same shared platform, assuring maximum efficiency and collaboration.
From small businesses to scaling enterprises, these multi-tenant cloud solutions cater to the diverse needs of customers by providing scalability, flexibility, performance, and, above all, security while significantly optimizing costs.
Perimeter 81 offers its services in a hardware-less approach, fostering streamlined management of multiple clients. Managed Service Providers, as well as their clients, experience highly efficient network security, free from unnecessary complications. Its affordably priced model adds to its virtues while ensuring high scalability.
This cloud-based solution thus offers a balance of optimal cost and uncompromised performance. Facilitating smooth transitions to cloud environments — Perimeter 81 is the preferred choice for entities seeking security, stability, and growth. Get a demo today!
