What does the term multi-tenancy refer to in cloud environments?

Multi-tenancy refers to a cloud computing architecture where multiple users or tenants share the same application and its underlying resources, such as databases and servers, while keeping their data isolated and secure. This approach allows for efficient utilization of resources and cost savings, as infrastructure can be centralized and operated as a shared environment.

In this model, while users share the same resources, they have their own instance of the application or configurations that allow them to operate independently, ensuring that one tenant's data is not accessible to another. This is particularly advantageous in cloud environments, where scalability and flexibility are essential, and it helps in optimizing resource management.

The other options highlight concepts that do not align with the multi-tenancy model. A single-user environment would contradict the essence of multi-tenancy, as it revolves around shared resources. A dedicated server for each client suggests a one-to-one relationship rather than a one-to-many shared resource model, which is contrary to the concept of multi-tenancy. Finally, while data segregation is essential for maintaining privacy and security, it does not encapsulate the primary definition of multi-tenancy and is more about the implementation of security measures within that shared environment.