Hierarchical multi-tenant pattern

Designing security model for multi-tenancy applications is challenging, especially when we develop a cloud-based system that must support hierarchical users, multiple access levels and hierarchical service data. In this paper, we present hierarchical multi-tenant pattern to model hierarchical multi-tenancy and security aspects (hierarchical data authentication and authorization) of a cloud-based software system. This pattern proposes a consistent and flexible blueprint to manage multiple tenants, security and service data that require hierarchy based on real world scenarios. We hope that our design pattern will be useful for building both PaaS and SaaS frameworks for software providers as well as normal organizations.