What’s Better for Security Single-tenant vs. Multi-tenant?

Data Storage 101

Let's go over some terms

School Data: Information about an edtech company's school customers, including the names and emails of students and staff.
Server: A system that stores data and sends it from the edtech company to schools, and vice versa.
Single-tenant system: A system of servers that only stores data from one school or district.
Multi-tenant system: A system of servers that stores data from multiple schools or districts.

Single-tenant systems provide each school with a separate system of servers. This decreases the chance of a database-wide security incident. However, more servers equal more security vulnerabilities.

Multi-tenant systems, which keep data in one place, are a more secure option. They allow edtech companies to better focus security resources and decrease exposure to bad actors.

What's the difference between a single-tenant system and a multi-tenant system?

School data can either be stored in a single-tenant system or a multi-tenant system.

A single-tenant system only interacts with ONE school or district's data.
A multi-tenant system can interact with multiple schools or districts.

Pros of single-tenant systems:

If the database has a security breach, it's likely that not all of the data will be compromised. This is because the attacker would only have compromised 1 of the multiple systems.

Cons of single-tenant systems:

More systems create more security vulnerabilities. In other words, more places for bad actors to hack into.
More systems are more challenging to manage. It's harder to make database-wide changes to multiple systems. It's also harder to make sure all systems are secure.
Single-tenant systems require more complex software to support. This is a source of security challenges, which include fixing database-wide bugs and maintaining a more complex code deployment strategy.

Pros of multi-tenant systems:

Using one system creates the least possible number of security vulnerabilities.
It's easier to make database-wide updates and prevent bugs.
It's easier to make one system secure. There's less to track, manage, update, and protect.

Cons of multi-tenant systems:

Using an individual system potentially leaves more data exposed during a security incident.

Which is better for data security?

Multi-tenant. Why?

Because less exposure to security vulnerabilities is key to protecting school data. That's why we (Edlink) use an individual multi-tenant system.

Additionally, using single-tenant systems stretches security resources too thin. It's difficult for companies to ensure every server is equally secure at all times.

Single-tenant vs. Multi-tenant: What's better for your app's data security?

Data Storage 101

Which is better for data security?

Read more about Edlink's Security and Privacy Practices