Databases · intermediate
Apache Kafka for Cloud Engineers
Master Apache Kafka from architecture fundamentals through production operations on AWS MSK and Confluent Cloud. Learn to build real-time data pipelines, design event-driven microservices, and operate Kafka clusters at scale using the tools cloud engineers use every day.
- 10 hours
- 21 lessons
- 5 modules
- updated May 2026
Try it before you sign up
Read a full lesson and answer 3 questions from the Module 1 quiz. No account needed.
Understanding Apache Kafka: Architecture and Use Cases
5 modules, 21 lessons
Module 1 is free — lessons, hands-on walkthrough and quiz.
- readUnderstanding Apache Kafka: Architecture and Use Cases25 min
- videoApache Kafka 101: Event Streaming Fundamentals20 min
- hands-onHands-On: Explore Kafka with Docker and CLI25 min
- quizKafka Fundamentals Quiz10 min
Built by the CloudaQube team
No celebrity instructor — here is exactly what goes into the course instead.
- 01 6 guided hands-on walkthroughs you run in a real environment.
- 02 5 module quizzes — every answer comes with an explanation.
- 03 Last updated May 2026.
- 04 Any module can become a hands-on lab in Labs Studio.
What you'll be able to do
- 01 Explain Kafka architecture including brokers, topics, partitions, producers, and consumers
- 02 Implement Kafka producers and consumers using the CLI and Python client library
- 03 Build stateful stream processing pipelines using Kafka Streams and ksqlDB
- 04 Deploy and manage Kafka clusters on AWS MSK and Confluent Cloud
- 05 Secure Kafka with TLS encryption and SASL authentication
- 06 Monitor Kafka cluster health using JMX, Prometheus, and Grafana
- — Linux command line proficiency
- — Basic Python or Java programming
- — Familiarity with Docker and containers
- — Understanding of microservices architecture concepts
Before you start
How long does it take?
About 10 hours of lessons, videos and hands-on walkthroughs across 5 modules.
What’s free?
Module 1 in full — lessons, hands-on walkthrough and quiz — with no card required. Any paid plan (from $8.99/mo) unlocks all 5 modules, and starts with a 14-day free trial.
Start the course with Module 1 free.
No card required. Unlock every module from $8.99/mo when you’re ready.