Multi-Tenant Architecture

Multi-tenant architecture allows multiple users, teams, or organizations to share the same backend platform while keeping their data and models secure and isolated.

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Table of contents

• What is multi-tenant architecture?
• How does multi-tenancy work?
• Benefits of multi-tenant systems
• Challenges in multi-tenant design
• Use cases for multi-tenancy in computer vision
• Multi-tenant support in BaaS platforms
• FAQs

What is multi-tenant architecture?

In software, multi-tenancy means a single system serves multiple customers (or “tenants”) at once. Each tenant shares the same infrastructure, but their data, models, and workflows are logically isolated.

Think of it like an apartment building:

• One building (the backend platform).
• Multiple tenants (organizations).
• Shared utilities (compute, storage).
• Private apartments (data and access controls).

How does multi-tenancy work?

A multi-tenant system enforces:

• Logical separation: Data is partitioned by tenant ID or workspace.
• Access control: Tenants only see their own data and pipelines.
• Resource management: Compute and storage are allocated fairly across tenants.
• Scalability: Infrastructure expands as new tenants join.

Benefits of multi-tenant systems

• Efficiency: One platform supports many organizations.
• Scalability: Easier to onboard new users without duplicating infrastructure.
• Cost savings: Shared resources reduce overhead.
• Faster innovation: Updates apply across all tenants instantly.

Challenges in multi-tenant design

• Data isolation: Preventing leaks across tenants is critical.
• Performance fairness: Heavy usage by one tenant shouldn’t degrade others.
• Customization: Balancing shared core features with tenant-specific needs.
• Compliance: Meeting security and privacy standards across industries.

Use cases for multi-tenancy in computer vision

• Enterprises: Different business units running separate CV apps on the same backend.
• Startups: Serving multiple clients from one platform without rebuilding infrastructure.
• Academia: Universities hosting projects for multiple research groups.
• Government: Secure partitions for different agencies on shared infrastructure.

Multi-tenant support in BaaS platforms

Platforms like Lid Vizion are designed multi-tenant by default:

• Each organization has its own workspace, data, and models.
• Embeddings, pipelines, and logs are isolated per tenant.
• Admins can manage roles, permissions, and billing per tenant.
• Shared compute resources scale elastically without sacrificing isolation.

This enables one platform to serve startups, enterprises, and institutions securely and cost-effectively.

FAQs

Is multi-tenancy the same as multi-instance?
No. Multi-instance spins up separate environments per tenant, while multi-tenancy shares one environment with logical separation.

Is tenant data ever mixed?
No. Strong isolation ensures each tenant’s data and results remain separate.

Does multi-tenancy affect performance?
Not if designed well. Resource quotas and monitoring prevent noisy neighbors.

Can tenants customize pipelines?
Yes. Tenants can run custom models and workflows while still using the shared platform.

Is multi-tenancy secure enough for regulated industries?
Yes, if combined with encryption, access controls, and compliance standards (HIPAA, GDPR, SOC2).

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