Free SQL Help for Devs, DBAs, and the Curious

Managing multi-tenant data in SQL Server can present a unique set of challenges. Multi-tenant data models are used when a single instance of a software application serves multiple customers, also known as tenants. Each tenant's data is isolated and remains invisible to other tenants. In this article, we will explore different strategies for handling multi-tenant data models in SQL Server 2019, MySQL 8.0, DB2 11.5, Azure SQL, and Azure Synapse.

A common approach in SQL Server is to use the Schema separation strategy, where each tenant has its own schema. To ensure data isolation, you can use separate views for each tenant. Here's an example using T-SQL:

CREATE SCHEMA Tenant1

GO

CREATE TABLE Tenant1.Orders (OrderID int, CustomerID int, OrderDate date)

GO

In MySQL, the database separation strategy can be adopted, where each tenant has its own database. This approach simplifies the backup and restore processes. Here's an example of creating a tenant database in MySQL:

CREATE DATABASE Tenant1;

USE Tenant1;

CREATE TABLE Orders (OrderID INT, CustomerID INT, OrderDate DATE);

For DB2, you can use the tenant column strategy. This involves adding a tenant identifier to every table and including the tenant ID in every query. Here's an example:

CREATE TABLE Orders (TenantID INT, OrderID INT, CustomerID INT, OrderDate DATE);

SELECT * FROM Orders WHERE TenantID = 1;

Azure SQL and Azure Synapse fully support all of the aforementioned strategies. In addition, Azure SQL Database offers the catalog separation strategy. This involves using separate databases for each tenant and a catalog database that directs requests to the correct tenant database. Here's an example of creating a tenant database and a catalog database in Azure SQL:

CREATE DATABASE Tenant1; 

CREATE DATABASE Catalog; 

USE Catalog; 

CREATE TABLE Tenants (TenantID INT, DatabaseName NVARCHAR(128));

INSERT INTO Tenants VALUES (1, 'Tenant1');

In conclusion, handling multi-tenant data models in SQL Server and other databases can be achieved using various strategies, such as schema separation, database separation, tenant column, and catalog separation strategies. The choice of strategy depends on your specific requirements for data isolation, manageability, and scalability. Always ensure that your chosen strategy adheres to the principle of least privilege, meaning each tenant should have the minimum levels of access necessary to perform their functions.