Customer data glossary
Self-hosted (private) customer data platform (CDP)
By Art Kukharenko · Published · Updated
Browse learn glossary resourcesA self-hosted customer data platform (CDP) runs on infrastructure the customer controls, on-premise or in its own cloud account, rather than in the vendor's shared SaaS environment.
Part of the Learn hub and the customer data glossary.
What it means in practice
Several terms overlap, so define them when you buy:
- On-premise: runs in your own data centre or on hardware you control.
- Private cloud: a dedicated environment, in your cloud account or operated for you by a vendor.
- Self-hosted: you operate the software yourself, wherever it runs.
- Customer-owned: you hold the data, keys and infrastructure accounts.
- Sovereign: the environment sits under the jurisdiction and operators you require.
Choices range from vendors with on-premise or self-hosted deployment, such as Meiro, to open-source and source-available projects. Apache Unomi is Apache 2.0, while RudderStack's rudder-server uses the Elastic License 2.0, which is source-available rather than open source.
Self-hosting is a poor fit without engineering capacity for patching, upgrades, high availability and backups, or where no residency, ownership or sovereignty need exists that SaaS cannot meet. PrivyCDP, the publisher of this glossary, offers customer-owned single-tenant deployments; the guide below compares options neutrally.
Example (public agency): an agency that must keep citizen contact data in-country runs the platform in its own data centre, with its own keys, and exports nothing to external SaaS.
Related terms
- Single-tenant vs multi-tenant: isolation models.
- Bring your own cloud (BYOC): vendor-managed, customer-account.
- Air-gapped deployment: the strictest isolation.
- Packaged customer data platform (CDP): the SaaS default.
- Data sovereignty: a common reason to self-host.
Where it matters
- On-premise, private cloud and self-hosted customer data platforms: the complete guide: options and trade-offs.
- Open-source customer data platforms compared: licences and production readiness.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between self-hosted and private cloud?
Self-hosted means you operate the software. Private cloud means the environment is dedicated to you, but a vendor may operate it. Ask who holds administrative access.
Is an open-source CDP the same as self-hosted?
No. Open source describes the licence; self-hosted describes who runs it. Licences differ, so check each for production-use limits.
What does self-hosting cost beyond the licence?
Infrastructure, backups, high availability, security patching, upgrades and the people to run them. Include these in a three-year cost comparison.
Back to the customer data glossary or the Learn hub.
Further reading
- Customer Data Glossary: 50 Terms
- Self-hosted and on-prem CDPs
- Open-Source CDP Compared (2026)
- Learn about CDP
- Air-gapped deployment — definition
Published: · Updated:
Publication date recorded for the approved release. Editorial updates do not establish legal approval or a customer result.