3CX Announces Multi-Tenant Capability: A Game Changer for SMBs, yes you heard it right! In an exciting update, 3CX has revealed its latest feature: multi-tenant capability, included in the V20 update 2. This new addition enables hosting multiple companies on a single 3CX instance, a significant enhancement that promises to simplify and improve services for smaller SOHO/SMB businesses. Let’s dive into what this means for partners and customers alike.
A Solution Customized for Smaller Businesses
The multi-tenant mode is perfect for smaller businesses with up to 20 users and basic to moderate communication needs. Instead of requiring each company to manage a dedicated instance—an often cumbersome and resource-intensive task—multiple companies can now be configured as departments within a single, dedicated 3CX instance. This setup reduces the need for extensive management and technical overhead.
Meeting Growing Security and Computing Demands
As security and computing demands for dedicated phone systems increase, smaller businesses with simpler requirements will find the multi-tenant solution a more viable and cost-effective option. By consolidating resources and management, businesses can maintain strong communication systems without the hefty overhead.
Ideal for Various Users
The multi-tenant capability is design for a wide range of users, including:
- Partners: Enhance your service offerings by hosting multiple clients on one 3CX instance.
- MSPs (Managed Service Providers): Simplify management and support for numerous smaller customers.
- VoIP Providers: Offer a scalable solution to clients with minimal complexity.
- Companies with Multi-Company Environments: Perfect for virtual office services and similar setups.
For partners capable of hosting at least 10 tenants, this solution is ideal. However, for those with fewer tenants, the support and training required might outweigh the benefits. In such cases, moving these customers to 3CX SMB or another solution is recommend.
How It Works
The multi-tenant capability operates by using 3CX departments to separate companies. Each department is dedicate to a single company, with the multi-tenant switch ensuring these departments remain invisible to each other. This separation is crucial for maintaining privacy and security across different tenants.
Licensing and Beta Version
The licensing for the multi-tenant capability mirrors that of a standard 3CX license, with some specific requirements. While you can’t use an NFR license for the multi-tenant version, the SIM call licenses are distributed among the configured customers. As the system grows, you can upgrade your license similarly to a regular installation.
During the Beta phase, there are no enforced licensing requirements, allowing anyone to experiment with the multi-tenant feature using any 3CX license. However, in the future, a minimum license of either 64 or 32 SIM calls (currently under discussion) will be required.
License Registration
For the multi-tenant edition, 3CX licenses must be register under the partner/MSP’s name, making them the primary customer responsible for communication with individual companies. This change ensures streamlined management and accountability.
SIP Trunks
The 3CX multi-tenant setup supports all trunks, including generic ones. It allows assigning DIDs to various extensions and queues within the tenants. However, only system owners can configure SIP trunks. Future updates may allow tenants to configure their trunks, provided they use 3CX-supported SIP trunks supporting the “instance” parameter.
Setting Up 3CX Multi-Tenant
Setting up the multi-tenant feature can be done in two ways:
- Manually: Create a department and assign or create users within it. Grant company owners Group ownership rights for independent system management.
- Programmatically: Use the new 3CX XAPI configuration API to create tenants programmatically.
For detailed setup instructions, refer to the official 3CX documentation.
The Telephony Co. 3CX Preferred and Gold Partner
The Telephony Co. is proud to be a 3CX preferred and Gold partner. This new multi-tenant capability marks a significant step forward in offering flexible and efficient communication solutions to our valued customers. We look forward to helping you leverage this innovative feature to its fullest potential. That was it in 3CX Announces Multi-Tenant Capability: A Game Changer for SMBs, if you have any queries or doubts feel free to reach The Telephony Co., remember we are always just one call away to help you grow your business and solve all your 3CX queries.