At SAP TechEd, a number of customers asked me about multi-tenant cloud architecture: What’s it all about? What are its benefits? Is it secure? And what should they look out for when cloud vendors call themselves “multi-tenant-enabled.” They were also interested in knowing how SuccessFactors has architected its cloud solutions – and how our architecture differs from others. So, I thought I’d write a blog that explains multi-tenancy from the perspective of three audiences – software-as-a-service (SaaS) vendors, SaaS customers (tenants), and SaaS users (seats on the tenant’s account) – and how SuccessFactors’ multi-tenant architecture is unique.
Let’s start with a useful definition of multi-tenancy. Simply put, multi-tenancy is an architectural model where a single instance of software runs on a SaaS vendor’s servers and serves multiple client organizations (tenants). Multi-tenancy differs from a multi-instance architecture, where separate software instances (or hardware systems) are set up for different client organizations.
For the SaaS vendor, multi-tenancy increases resource utilization by allowing load balancing among tenants. It also reduces operational complexity and cost in managing the software to deliver the service. For example, vendors can easily roll out a software fix to all tenants by patching a single instance instead of many. Similarly, they can back up everyone’s data in one operation by backing up a single instance. The result? Operations costs are lower due to economies of scale and increased opportunities for automation.
For the SaaS customer and user, multi-tenancy is transparent. The customer seems to have its own dedicated instance of the software entirely to itself, while the user just sees the application as a user of any application would.
Faux vs. Real: The True Test for Multi-Tenancy
When it comes to cloud-based architecture, it’s critical to distinguish between “faux multi-tenancy” and “true multi-tenancy.” A true multi-tenant environment provides tangible benefits in terms of lower costs for the service and better service levels because it’s easier for the provider to deliver the service.
A real multi-tenant environment never comingles data from multiple customers. It provides complete flexibility to configure objects or import/export historical data. And it is not a virtualized single-tenant solution. Most importantly, each customer’s data is secure relative to other customer’s data and customization can be employed to the degree the application supports it without regard to what the other tenants are doing.
There’s a lot of confusion around how to implement multi-tenancy. In a push to join the cloud bandwagon, most on-premise vendors now call themselves “multi-tenant-enabled.” Running a customer on a single instance of a customized virtual application – and using an object ID to distinguish comingled customer data at the database level – is not the best implementation of a multi-tenant architecture.
At SuccessFactors, we believe multi-tenancy is the ability to run multiple customers on a single software instance installed on multiple servers. This approach delivers valuable benefits. It increases resource utilization by allowing load balancing among tenants. It reduces operational complexity and cost in managing the software that delivers the service. And it allows tenants to use the application as though they have an instance of the software entirely to themselves, which is completely secure and insulated from impact by others.
The SuccessFactors Approach
SuccessFactors uses a unique, hybrid multi-tenant architecture that serves millions of users around the world in a secure yet cost-effective manner. This architecture completely separates your data from other customers’ data, while allowing us to roll out rapidly the latest functionality to everyone, all at once. This approach also offers the most configurability and allows you to extract deep insight from your data.
Not all approaches to multi-tenancy are created equal. The following descriptions show how SuccessFactors’ multi-tenant architecture differs from other approaches:
It’s the Real Deal
Developing a scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud technology platform requires a unique approach. Our distinctive multi-tenant cloud architecture has been tried and tested for over a decade. Today, the millions of users around the world who are currently benefiting from the system 24x7 are direct proof of its credibility.
Remember, multitenancy if done right offers several advantages. With SuccessFactors unique multi-tenant architecture there are no pitfalls, only perks and power in your hands.
Thanks for reading!