Multi-tenancy is a software architecture principle where a service provider stores software applications on central servers for use by multiple organizations, each independent without access to others’ data. This concept gained popularity in early computing and is now used in cloud computing to provide access to enterprise-grade applications for multiple users.
Multi-tenancy, as it pertains to computing, is a software architecture principle most common to enterprise computing. A service provider stores software applications on one or more central servers for use by multiple organizations. Each organization uses the application as if it were installed on its native computer network. While these organizations share usage, each is independent without access to the others’ data, settings, or user information. The concept of multi-tenancy works the same way as multiple users on a single personal computer, but on a much larger scale.
The concept of multi-tenancy gained popularity in the early years of computing. Companies have leased data storage space or processing power from mainframe computers to reduce the expenses associated with running an independent computer network. In the early years, computer components were large, required a large amount of space, and involved considerable expense. Leasing space or processing power from a large mainframe, such as a university or government contractor, provided a viable solution.
As the Internet has grown in popularity, application service providers have hosted software on their own servers for the benefit of specific customers. Hosted applications have enabled organizations to use processing-intensive software without investing in expensive servers and additional equipment. The primary difference in this form of multi-tenancy is the access method. Users access hosted applications through a web portal, rather than a mainframe. Websites and web-based email are prime examples of hosted multi-tenant architectures.
Consumer-oriented Web services, such as common free email accounts, require a single application but are not multi-tenant. If an organization leases a segment of those accounts, customizing the accounts and limiting access for a particular organizational or intranet purpose, then a multi-tenancy architecture exists. While these email providers don’t offer such customization and limited access, the concept provides an easy-to-understand example of a hosted multi-tenant architecture.
Multi-tenant hosted applications have limitations. Just as a single personal computer can only run one operating system for one user at a time, hosted applications face similar limitations. Hosted multi-tenant environments typically require separate machines for multiple installations of a single application. In some cases, applications run on a single machine as separate processes.
Modern cloud computing uses the principles of multi-tenancy to provide hundreds of customers and organizations with access to software applications. Instead of hosting a single installation of an application, providers deliver enterprise-grade applications. These applications reside on multiple servers and allow many individual and organizational users to access the applications simultaneously.
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