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Things to Know when Considering Multi-Tenant or Multi-Threaded Applications

Author
Allen Underwood, Michael Outlaw, Joe Zack
Published
Mon 02 Sep 2024
Episode Link
https://www.codingblocks.net/podcast/things-to-know-when-considering-multi-tenant-or-multi-threaded-applications/


It’s time to talk about the types of things you should consider when diving into multi-tenant applications and things to be especially aware of if you attempt to make things faster by going multi-threaded at the same time. Join us as Allen continues is non-winning / non-losing streak, JZ is taken out by a storm, and Outlaw continues to ignore the notes for the intro to the show…

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  • Single vs multi-tenanted applications and multi-threaded programming

    • Be very careful about sharing state when doing anything in multi-threaded AND multi-tenanted applications



What are some important things to consider when writing multi-tenanted applications – per Claude

As mentioned in the episode, Claude’s answers seem to be very database heavy


  • Data isolation: Ensure that each tenant’s data is securely separated and inaccessible to other tenants.

  • Authentication and authorization: Implement robust systems to verify tenant identity and control access to resources.

  • Scalability: Design the architecture to handle growth in both the number of tenants and data volume per tenant.

  • Performance: Optimize database queries and resource allocation to maintain speed as tenant count increases.

  • Customization: Allow for tenant-specific configurations and features without compromising the core codebase.

  • Monitoring and logging: Implement comprehensive logging and monitoring to track usage, errors, and performance per tenant.

  • Maintenance and updates: Design the system to allow for updates and maintenance with minimal disruption to tenants.

  • Data backup and recovery: Implement tenant-specific backup and recovery processes.

  • Compliance and data regulations: Ensure the system can meet various regulatory requirements that may differ by tenant.

  • Tenant onboarding and offboarding: Create efficient processes for adding new tenants and removing old ones.

  • Good feature flagging support?

  • Tracing / OpenTelemetry

Can you elaborate on the data isolation?
Data isolation is crucial in multi-tenant systems to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data privacy. Here are some key strategies to ensure data isolation:


  • Separate databases

    • Use a separate database for each tenant

      • Pros: Strong isolation, easier compliance

      • Cons: Higher maintenance, potentially higher costs




  • Shared database with separate schemas

    • Each tenant gets their own schema within a shared database

      • Pros: Good isolation, more cost-effective than separate databases

      • Cons: Requires careful access control, potential for errors




  • Shared schema with tenant ID

    • Use a single schema but include a tenant ID column in each table

      • Pros: Most cost-effective, easiest to maintain

      • Cons: Highest risk of data leaks, requires vigilant query filtering




  • Row-level security

    • Implement database-level security policies to restrict access based on tenant ID

    • Particularly useful with shared schema approach


  • Encryption

    • Encrypt sensitive data, potentially using tenant-specific keys

    • Adds an extra layer of protection even if other measures fail


  • Connection pooling

    • Use separate connection pools for each tenant to prevent session mixups


  • Query filtering

    • Always include tenant ID in queries, preferably at the database level

    • Use ORMs or query builders that automatically add tenant filters


  • API and application-level checks

    • Validate tenant ID in all API calls and application logic

    • Implement middleware to enforce tenant-specific access



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