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The Data Streaming Landscape 2026

Data streaming is now a core software category in modern data architecture. It powers real-time use cases like fraud prevention, personalization, supply chain optimization, and AI automation. What started with open source Apache Kafka and Flink has grown into a critical layer for business operations. The 2026 Data Streaming Landscape shows the most relevant Data Streaming Platform evolution. These platforms connect systems, process data in motion, enforce governance, and support mission-critical workloads at scale. Kafka is the standard protocol, but protocol support alone is not enough. Enterprises need full feature compatibility, 24/7 support, and expert guidance for security, resilience, and cloud strategy.
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The Importance of Focus for Software and Cloud Vendors - Data Streaming with Apache Kafka and Flink
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The Importance of Focus: Why Software Vendors Should Specialize Instead of Doing Everything (Example: Data Streaming)

As real-time technologies reshape IT architectures, software vendors face a critical decision: specialize deeply in one domain or build a broad, general-purpose stack. This blog examines why a focused approach—particularly in the world of data streaming—delivers greater innovation, scalability, and reliability. It compares leading platforms and strategies, from specialized providers like Confluent to generalist cloud ecosystems, and highlights the operational risks of fragmented tools. With data streaming emerging as its own software category, enterprises need clarity, consistency, and deep expertise. In this post, we argue that specialization—not breadth—is what powers mission-critical, real-time applications at global scale.
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Serverless Data Streaming on Azure Cloud with Apache Kafka Event Hubs Confluent Cloud for OneLake and Microsoft Fabric
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When to Choose Apache Kafka vs. Azure Event Hubs vs. Confluent Cloud for a Microsoft Fabric Lakehouse

Choosing between Apache Kafka, Azure Event Hubs, and Confluent Cloud for data streaming is critical when building a Microsoft Fabric Lakehouse. Each option caters to different needs, and this blog post will guide you in selecting the right data streaming solution for your use case.
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