What is multi tenancy in cloud computing?
Multi tenancy is a cloud computing model where a single shared system serves multiple customers, called tenants, while keeping each tenant’s data and settings isolated from the others. It is how cloud providers serve customers efficiently.
Key takeaways
A single shared system serves multiple customers, called tenants, while keeping each tenant’s data and settings isolated from the others.
Servers, databases, and computing power are pooled and divided logically rather than physically.
Strong isolation between tenants is what keeps shared systems safe.
How the resources are shared
The shared resources, servers, databases, and computing power, are pooled and divided logically rather than physically. You get the benefits of dedicated software without the cost of dedicated hardware.
- Servers
- Databases
- Computing power
How much tenants share
It is a spectrum, not a switch. Some systems share almost everything. Others share only the hardware and keep a separate database per tenant.
Figure 1. Multi tenancy is a spectrum, not a switch
Restates this article: multi tenancy runs from systems that share almost everything to systems that share only the hardware and keep a separate database per tenant. The figure shows structure only; nothing in it is measured.
Related terms
Is multi tenancy secure?
Yes, when it is built correctly. Strong isolation between tenants is what keeps shared systems safe.
