Deployment models
DVARA is the same governance platform however you run it. There are three deployment models, and a few sections of these docs apply to only one of them. This page tells you which.
The three models
| Model | Who runs it | How you onboard | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Managed | You, in your own infrastructure (VPC, cloud, or on-prem). Activated by a signed license key. | A platform owner installs DVARA, then invites teammates (invite-first onboarding). | Strict data-residency, air-gapped, or regulated environments where data must never leave your perimeter. |
| Managed Hosting | We run a dedicated DVARA cluster for you, in your region. | Sales-led — talk to us. | Enterprise scale and isolation without operating the infrastructure yourself. |
| DVARA Cloud | We run it — the public, self-service multi-tenant SaaS at dvarahq.com. | Sign up online, 30-day free trial, no credit card. | Teams that want to start in minutes and grow on a flat-rate plan. |
The core platform — the gateway, Policy-as-Code, immutable audit, PII redaction, routing, MCP Proxy, observability — behaves identically across all three models. Those sections are unlabeled because they apply to everyone. Only the install/operate and sign-up/billing sections are model-specific, and those pages carry an "Applies to" note at the top.
Which docs apply to you
Self-Managed
You install and operate DVARA yourself. Relevant model-specific sections:
- Deployment — where and how to run DVARA (Docker, Kubernetes, cloud) and how to configure it.
- Onboarding — the first owner bootstraps the install, then invites tenant admins and teammates (invite-first; there is no public signup).
- Everything in Core Concepts, Governance, Flight Deck, Integrations, Security, APIs & Tools applies as written.
Managed Hosting
We run a dedicated cluster for you. You don't install or operate anything; your team uses DVARA exactly as documented in the core sections. Provisioning and plan changes are handled with us directly — there is no self-service signup or billing portal. Contact us.
DVARA Cloud (public SaaS)
You sign up at dvarahq.com, start a free trial, and manage your plan and account yourself. The model-specific section is DVARA Cloud — signing up, the trial, plans and billing, and managing your account and API keys in the portal. You do not install or operate DVARA; the Deployment section does not apply to you.
If you went to dvarahq.com and signed up online, you're on DVARA Cloud. If a platform team in your company runs DVARA, you're on Self-Managed (or Managed Hosting) — ask them which.