Multitenancy

Multitenancy is an architecture in which a single instance of a software application serves multiple customers, called tenants. The data of each tenant is isolated and remains invisible to other tenants. With this architecture, software providers can reduce the cost of their infrastructure and maintenance by consolidating resources. 

All users share the same application, database, or computing resources in a multitenant environment. However, each tenant has its own configuration settings, data storage, and user management. Multitenancy exists in several types of software, for example, cloud computing platforms, content management systems, and customer relationship management (CRM) applications. 

There are various levels of multi-tenancy, ranging from a shared database schema to a fully isolated environment with separate databases and resources. The level of isolation depends on the requirements of the software provider and the preferences of the tenants. 

Multitenancy offers the following benefits:

Cost-effective: Multitenancy is a cost-effective solution for customers who cannot afford dedicated infrastructure. The cost spreads across all customers because multiple customers share resources in a multitenant environment. As a result, each customer pays only for the resources that they consume, which can be significantly less expensive than a dedicated infrastructure.

Scalability: Multitenancy provides greater scalability than a single tenancy. In a multitenant environment, customers can quickly scale up or down as needed because they share resources with other customers. As a result, customers can respond quickly to changing business needs without worrying about the cost or complexity of acquiring new resources. 

Efficient resource use: Multitenancy is an efficient use of resources. Because multiple customers share the same infrastructure, there is less waste and underutilization of resources, which results in cost savings. 

Easy maintenance: Multitenancy is easy to maintain. Because all customers use the same infrastructure, there is only one set of software to maintain. Managing and maintaining the infrastructure is easier for IT staff, which results in lower costs and better reliability. 

Better collaboration: Multitenancy promotes collaboration among customers. Because multiple customers use the same infrastructure, they can share data and collaborate more easily. Collaboration can lead to better communication, faster problem-solving, and greater innovation. 

Security: Multitenancy can provide better security than a single tenancy. Because all customers use the same infrastructure, security updates and patches can apply to all customers simultaneously. As a result, users can address vulnerabilities quickly, which reduces the risk of security breaches. 

On the other hand, multitenancy can also present challenges, for example, data security and customization limitations. Ensuring the privacy and security of the data of each tenant is crucial, as any breach can affect multiple tenants. Additionally, tenants might have a limited ability to customize the software because changes can impact other users in the shared environment. 

Pega Predictive Diagnostic Cloud (PDC) and Pega Academy exercise instances use multitenant architecture. 

Hybrid tenancy is a cloud computing architecture that combines elements of both single-tenancy and multi-tenancy models. In a hybrid tenancy environment, each customer has their own private cloud, which they can customize and configure to meet their specific needs. However, all customers are hosted on a shared infrastructure, which allows for greater flexibility and scalability.

Hybrid tenancy offers the following benefits:

Greater flexibility: Hybrid tenancy provides greater flexibility than single or multi-tenancy models. Customers can enjoy the customization and control of a single-tenant environment while also benefiting from the scalability and cost-effectiveness of a multi-tenant environment. Customers can optimize their cloud operations and achieve their business goals.

Workload management: Hybrid tenancy provides greater flexibility in terms of workload management. Customers can run certain workloads in their private cloud while using the shared infrastructure for other workloads, which helps to provide greater efficiency and agility, as customers can quickly scale up or down as needed.

Improved security and compliance: Hybrid tenancy offers improved security and compliance. Each customer has a private cloud, which helps to minimize the risk of data breaches and other security threats. Users can configure the shared infrastructure to meet specific compliance requirements, such as HIPAA or PCI-DSS.

Cost savings: Hybrid tenancy can be more cost-effective than a single-tenant environment. Because customers share resources in the shared infrastructure, the cost spreads across all customers. Each customer pays only for the resources they consume, which can be significantly less expensive than a dedicated infrastructure.

Better control: Hybrid tenancy gives customers greater control over their cloud environment. Each customer has a private cloud, which they can customize and configure to meet their needs. Customers can optimize their cloud operations and achieve their business goals.

Pega Cloud® follows hybrid tenancy architecture.

The following diagram shows the relationship of hybrid tenancy in the following environments: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).

IaaS delivers computing infrastructure, storage, network, and security as on-demand services.  

PaaS is a cloud computing delivery model that provides a platform for developers to build and deploy applications over the internet. PaaS providers manage the infrastructure, operating systems, and middleware, while developers focus on building and deploying their applications. 

SaaS is a popular model for software deployment that enables users to access existing online applications from anywhere with an internet connection. This type of software is typically hosted centrally and accessed through a client, such as a web browser. SaaS services are commonly used for developing and deploying modern applications, as they can allow multiple users across various locations to access the same application on the internet. This access makes it easy for individuals and organizations to collaborate and work together seamlessly, regardless of their physical location. 

Pega Cloud is a SaaS offering that encapsulates infrastructure services, platform services, and applications software, which clients can access on a browser.

The following analogy describes the SaaS model where Shelter is the software:

• An on-premises cloud offering is like purchasing a house, where the homeowner takes care of monitoring, security, maintaining the building and grounds, repairing interior appliances, paying utility bills, and purchasing furniture. 
• IaaS is like purchasing a condominium and paying fee to the association, where in you are still responsible for maintaining and repairing interior appliances, paying utility bills, and purchasing furniture.
• PaaS is like renting an apartment and paying rent for it. The renter purchases furniture and is responsible for cleaning. 
• SaaS is like living in a hotel and paying a hotel fee. The hotel takes care of maintenance, upgrades, and availability.

The following figure shows the SaaS analogy:

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