Source URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41426998
Source: Hacker News
Title: Launch HN: Fortress (YC S24) – Database platform for multi-tenant SaaS
Feedly Summary: Comments
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: Fortress is a new Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC) backend service that addresses multi-tenant SaaS applications’ need for data isolation and compliance. The service simplifies tenant data management with an emphasis on privacy and security, particularly regarding Row-Level Security on databases.
Detailed Description:
The text presents Fortress, a backend as a service platform aimed at simplifying the complexities associated with multi-tenant SaaS applications. Fortress particularly focuses on ensuring data isolation and privacy, a critical concern for developers as data sensitivity and regulatory compliance demands increase. Key insights and operational features include:
– **Pivot to Data Privacy**: Initially funded for AI web-scraping, the team pivoted to focus on data privacy based on feedback from SaaS developers who struggled with tenant isolation.
– **Tenant Isolation Importance**:
– Developers often inadequately implement Row-Level Security (RLS) on shared databases.
– Many lack knowledge about the best multi-tenant database architectures and postponement of appropriate security measures.
– **Growing Demand for Compliance**:
– As customers require stricter data security measures, there’s increased request for dedicated database instances.
– Developers prefer hosting databases in their own cloud environments, facilitating on-premises or siloed deployment which complies with larger enterprise requirements.
– **Fortress as a BYOC Platform**:
– Fortress aims to streamline the database service by offering native tenant isolation while eliminating the need for extensive RLS configurations or repetitive query modifications.
– Each tenant in a shared database receives a logical database within a Postgres cluster, allowing efficient routing of requests to the correct tenant’s data.
– **Integration and Ease of Use**:
– The platform simplifies developer experience with a single connection to the Fortress client, handling multi-tenant operations seamlessly.
– SDKs are designed to connect and provision databases easily on any cloud provider, enhancing operational flexibility.
– **Current Capabilities and Future Plans**:
– Fortress currently supports Postgres via AWS Aurora and is expanding to include other cloud-native databases, as well as open-source databases via Kubernetes.
– The platform is open for self-servicing on AWS, providing managed cloud options for users hesitant about IAM permissions.
– **Community Engagement**:
– The team is seeking feedback and ideas from the development community to enhance the platform and address pain points in the data privacy and security domain.
In summary, Fortress positions itself as an innovative solution for the complexities surrounding tenant data management in SaaS applications, aligning with current trends in the need for data isolation and compliance within the cloud security landscape.