The present invention provides techniques for storing information on a multi-tenant database system to control query latency that includes a method that stores the information on the database among a plurality of tables arranged in columns and rows. For each of a subset of the plurality of tables, sets of the rows are distributed amongst different storage nodes on the database, with the set of rows stored at a common node having a common index value. Data storage and retrieval capabilities to the database are provided to allow access to the information, in response to requests from one of a plurality of remotely disposed computer systems. The retrieval capability includes a query condition that includes a query index value, with the query condition and the query index value being established to control retrieval latency. Also disclosed is a machine-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for storing information on a multi-tenant database system to control query latency when executed by one or more processors and cause the one or more processors to carry out steps of the method. A data center for storing information on a multi-tenant database system to control query latency is also disclosed that carries-out the functions of the method.