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Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud vs Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Apache Kafka on Confluent C...
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
5.6
Number of Reviews
15
Ranking in other categories
Streaming Analytics (12th)
Cloud Security Connector fo...
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
8.8
Number of Reviews
3
Ranking in other categories
Internet Security (11th)
 

Mindshare comparison

Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud and Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler aren’t in the same category and serve different purposes. Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud is designed for Streaming Analytics and holds a mindshare of 0.5%.
Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler, on the other hand, focuses on Internet Security, holds 0.6% mindshare.
Streaming Analytics Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud0.5%
Apache Flink11.3%
Databricks9.5%
Other78.7%
Streaming Analytics
Internet Security Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler0.6%
Cisco Umbrella30.4%
Zscaler Internet Access28.8%
Other40.2%
Internet Security
 

Featured Reviews

AF
Lead Software Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Has unified log streams from multiple systems and accelerated issue tracking through streamlined setup
I think Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud can be improved by probably working more around Confluent or the tool. In my opinion, it should utilize the response structures in a better way or be able to detect if there is any variable or if there is any data structure that is mismatched, as it would be easier than us manually having to put in the exact name in order for it to match the response. Regarding additional improvements, I would say probably around error handling, where when we encounter errors specific to our response structures and everything, or the tables or anything of that nature, it would be better if we were prompted with better error handling mechanisms. I do not think there are any other improvements Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud needs, aside from error handling and response structures.
Jaspreet k - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of Development at Flash.co
Addressed complex learning curve yet has improved automated routing and cloud security visibility
Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler offers multiple features, but the major feature I love specifically is automated Zscaler node detection, which helps detect any kind of problem first. Additionally, it is available all the time, providing high availability routing for seamless failover, which is one of my favorite features. It also provides Layer 4 routed bypass for TCP, UDP, and ICMP traffic, enabling granular traffic control that streamlines our services working with Zscaler. It has provided complete visibility of internal IPs on the Zscaler console, allowing us to monitor and troubleshoot whenever there is a problem, making things transparent and easy for us to monitor. The integration with SIEM or syslog enhances centralized log management for our organization.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"In case of huge transactions on the web or mobile apps, it helps you capture real-time data and analyze it."
"It's very fast and helps us to create the project, guarantee the message delivery, and the performance."
"Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud is critical infrastructure for us; without it, our infrastructure costs would increase significantly, potentially amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, and its real-time capabilities accelerate speed to value and enable new use cases, providing significant business value."
"Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud is more reliable and frequent to use compared to Apache Kafka."
"The state-saving feature is very much appreciated. It allows me to rewind a certain process if I see an error and then reprocess it."
"Kafka and Confluent Cloud have proven to be cost-effective, especially when compared to other tools. In a recent BI integration program over the past year, we assessed multiple use cases spanning ship-to-shore and various Azure integrations. Our findings revealed that Confluent Kafka performed exceptionally well, standing out alongside Genesys and Azure Event Hubs. While these three are top contenders, the choice among other tools depends on the specific use case and project requirements. The customer initially used tools like SMQs, FITRA, and Stream for real-time data processing. However, after our recommendation, Confluent Cloud proved to be a superior choice, capable of replacing these three tools and simplifying their data infrastructure. This shift to a single tool, Confluent Cloud, streamlined their operations, making maintenance and management more efficient for their internal projects."
"Confluent Cloud handles data volume pretty well."
"Confluent helped me to streamline all those logs into one place, and then I was consuming those logs that were produced, which made it very much easier because I know Kafka and using Confluent made it much simpler."
"It is very useful ............visibility on the end-user,"
"The solution is secure."
"Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler has positively impacted our organization by helping us in our cloud environment to connect our resources to Zscaler, ensuring that security policies are consistent with zero-trust access and increasing reliability by 28%."
 

Cons

"Regarding real-time data usage, there were challenges with CDC (Change Data Capture) integrations. Specifically, with PyTRAN, we encountered difficulties. We recommended using our on-premises Kaspersky as an alternative to PyTRAN for that specific use case due to issues with CDC store configuration and log reading challenges with the iton components."
"In terms of improvements, observability and monitoring are areas that could be enhanced. They are lacking in terms of observability and monitoring compared to other products."
"Maybe in terms of Apache Kafka's integration with other Microsoft tools, our company faced some challenges."
"The solution is expensive."
"The administration port could be more extensive."
"I thought Confluent would stop me when I crossed the credits, but it did not, and then I got charged."
"There could be an in-built feature for data analysis."
"The clustering is a little hard for juniors and clients. It's suitable for senior engineers, but the configuration and clustering are very hard for juniors."
"If there are any issues at the network level, such as users working from home, then it is very hard to catch up with them and resolve issues on the end-user machine."
"The connectivity could be faster."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I consider that the product's price falls under the middle range category."
"I think the pricing is fair, but Confluent requires a little bit more thinking because the price can go up really quickly when it comes to premium connectors."
"Regarding pricing, Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud is not a cheap tool. The right use case would justify the cost. It might make sense if you have a high volume of data that you can leverage to generate value for the business. But if you don't have those requirements, there are likely cheaper solutions you could use instead."
Information not available
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
12%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Insurance Company
5%
Insurance Company
17%
Manufacturing Company
16%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Computer Software Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business6
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise8
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud?
I think Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud can be improved by probably working more around Confluent or the tool. In my opinion, it should utilize the response structures in a better way or be able to...
What is your primary use case for Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud?
I have used Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud for one of my projects with regard to log monitoring. My main use case for Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud in that project was mainly streaming of the lo...
What advice do you have for others considering Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud?
My advice to others looking into using Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud is that it is easier and has a low learning curve. If there is any use case regarding streaming, I would suggest starting off ...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler?
The experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler is definitely competitive. They provide us a good cost, and since we obtained it through AWS Marketpl...
What needs improvement with Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler?
I feel that they are doing great with Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler. If I need to suggest an improvement, it would be to simplify the steep learning curve, as it can be complex for newcomers...
What is your primary use case for Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler?
In our current organization, we have been using Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler by Maiden Edge, Maidenhead Bridge for almost two and a half years. They are providing us specialized virtual app...
 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Apache Kafka on Confluent Cloud vs. Cloud Security Connector for Zscaler and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
881,733 professionals have used our research since 2012.