What does multi-tenancy refer to in cloud computing?

Multi-tenancy in cloud computing refers to multiple users sharing the same infrastructure. This model allows different customers or tenants to use a single instance of the software or service while keeping their data isolated and secure. In a multi-tenant architecture, resources such as storage, memory, and processing power are efficiently allocated among various tenants, maximizing resource utilization and lowering costs for both the cloud provider and users.

This setup is a fundamental characteristic of many cloud services, allowing for scalable and efficient use of resources while maintaining data privacy and security through logical partitioning. With multi-tenancy, providers can serve a large number of users with a single set of hardware and software, which contributes to the cost-effectiveness of cloud solutions.

In contrast, the other concepts mentioned, such as a single user accessing multiple services, a provider hosting multiple data centers, or accessing resources from anywhere, do not encapsulate the essence of multi-tenancy, which is specifically about the shared use of infrastructure by multiple users.