Multi-tenant architecture for distance-learning SaaS platforms: scalability, data isolation and cost efficiency

Distance learning became the main entry route into Brazilian higher education, with 62.8% of new students in 2021. This growth favours software-as-a-service platforms with multi-tenant architecture. Based on the literature published up to 2022, this paper discusses SaaS maturity levels, data-isolation models (silo, bridge and pool), multi-tenant schema-mapping techniques, tenant resolution, horizontal scalability, observability, per-tenant cost allocation and data-protection requirements, and proposes a layered reference architecture and a decision matrix for isolation models.