Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka
Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (MSK) manages Kafka infrastructure and operations for teams running streaming applications on AWS.
What Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka is
Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (MSK) manages Kafka infrastructure and operations for teams running streaming applications on AWS. It provisions clusters, replaces failed servers, coordinates patches and upgrades, and handles monitoring and scaling. Provisioned clusters let customers choose broker and storage options; Serverless clusters adjust resources to workload needs. MSK follows the Apache Kafka open-source client protocol, so Kafka applications and tools can work without application code changes. Listed integrations include Amazon S3, Redshift, Managed Service for Apache Flink, Lambda, Glue Schema Registry, and Database Migration Service. Clusters span multiple Availability Zones, with three as the default, and the service level agreement guarantees three 9s of availability. Security options include IAM access control, SASL/SCRAM or mutual TLS for Provisioned clusters, and encryption in transit and at rest. CloudWatch supplies over 50 default metrics at no additional cost, while enhanced metrics are billed at standard CloudWatch rates. Separate charges may apply for storage, processing, and connectivity.
Good
- Offers Provisioned and Serverless cluster options
- Kafka client protocol compatibility avoids code changes
- Clusters span multiple Availability Zones
- Provides over 50 default CloudWatch metrics
- Supports several authentication and encryption options
Watch out
- Enhanced CloudWatch metrics incur standard rates
- Storage, processing, and connectivity may cost extra
- Pricing depends on usage and cluster choices
Who it suits
MSK is aimed at developers and DevOps or platform engineers building streaming applications on AWS. It suits teams that want managed Kafka operations and can account for usage-based charges across brokers, storage, processing, or connectivity.
Verdict
MSK handles much of the cluster operation while retaining compatibility with Kafka clients and offering two cluster models. Review the separate usage charges and security options when estimating its fit for your workload.
Plans and prices
From Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| MSK Connect | $0.11 a month | Each MCU provides 1 vCPU and 4 GB memory; total cost depends on worker count and size · Hourly connector usage, billed at one-second resolution; example rate is $0.11 per hour per MCU. |
| MSK Provisioned — Standard brokers | $0.20 a month | Storage, optional provisioned storage throughput, data transfer, and private connectivity are charged separately · Hourly broker usage, billed at one-second resolution; example rate is $0.204 per hour for a kafka.m7g.large in US East (N. Virginia). |
| MSK Replicator | $0.30 a month | Cross-Region and same-Region replication supported; other charges may apply, including private connectivity · Example Replicator rate is $0.30 per hour; data processed and, for cross-Region replication, data transfer are charged separately. |
| MSK Provisioned — Express brokers | $0.41 a month | Also charged for data ingested and storage; data transfer and private connectivity may incur separate charges · Hourly broker usage, billed at one-second resolution; example rate is $0.408 per hour for an express.m7g.large in US East (N. Virginia). |
| MSK Serverless | $0.75 a month | Usage charges vary by cluster-hours, partition-hours, data written and read, and storage; data transfer may be additional · Example US East rate is $0.75/cluster-hr; additional example rates are $ 0.0015/partition-hr, $0.10/GB-in, $0.05/GB-out, and $0.10/GB-month for storage. |
The facts
Each one read from Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Broker logs
- MSK broker logs can be delivered to CloudWatch Logs, Amazon S3, or Amazon Data Firehose, and MSK API calls can be logged with CloudTrail.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Cluster options
- MSK offers Provisioned clusters, where customers choose broker and storage options, and Serverless clusters, which automatically adjust resources to workload needs.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Compliance
- AWS states that it supports 143 security standards and compliance certifications, including PCI-DSS, HIPAA/HITECH, FedRAMP, GDPR, FIPS 140-3, and NIST 800-171.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Listed integrations include Amazon S3, Amazon Redshift, Amazon Managed Service for Apache Flink, AWS Lambda, AWS Glue Schema Registry, and AWS Database Migration Service.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- AWS describes MSK as intended for developers and DevOps or platform engineers building streaming data applications on AWS.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Kafka compatibility
- MSK maintains compatibility with the Apache Kafka open source client protocol, allowing Kafka applications and tools to work without application code changes.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Managed operations
- MSK provisions and configures clusters, replaces failed servers, orchestrates patches and upgrades, and handles monitoring and scaling.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Monitoring
- CloudWatch provides a default set of over 50 metrics at no additional cost; enhanced broker and topic metrics are billed at standard CloudWatch rates.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Open monitoring
- For Provisioned clusters, MSK can export JMX and node metrics for monitoring with Prometheus-compatible solutions including Datadog, Lenses, New Relic, and Sumo Logic.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Amazon MSK manages Apache Kafka infrastructure and operations so developers and platform engineers can run Kafka on AWS without becoming experts in operating it.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Resilience
- Clusters are distributed across multiple Availability Zones, with three as the default, and the MSK service level agreement guarantees three 9s of availability.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Security
- MSK supports IAM access control, SASL/SCRAM or mutual TLS authentication for Provisioned clusters, and encryption at rest and in transit.checked 3 Oct 2026
Money
- Notable cost limit
- Enhanced CloudWatch metrics are billed at standard CloudWatch rates, and MSK pricing also lists separate charges for storage, data processing, and some connectivity.checked 3 Oct 2026
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