New Confluent Platform for Apache Flink Makes It Easy to Manage and Secure High-Performance Stream Processing On-Premises

Rhea-AI Summary

Confluent (NASDAQ:CFLT) has announced the general availability of Confluent Platform for Apache Flink®, enhancing enterprise-level security and management capabilities for on-premises Apache Flink workloads. The platform introduces Confluent Manager for Apache Flink (CMF), providing simplified deployment, updating, and scaling in Kubernetes environments.

The platform offers streamlined lifecycle management, integrated security controls, and consolidated Flink and Kafka support. A Fortune 50 telecom customer has already achieved significant cost savings and reduced churn using the platform. Additionally, Confluent announced WarpStream Orbit, facilitating easier migration to WarpStream's 'Bring Your Own Cloud' deployment model, simplifying the transition from open source Kafka to WarpStream clusters.

Positive

• Fortune 50 telecom customer achieved significant cost savings and reduced churn using the platform
• Platform offers integrated security model with unified access controls
• Streamlined lifecycle management capabilities for improved operational efficiency

Negative

• None.

Insights

Tech Expert

This release of Confluent Platform for Apache Flink represents a significant advancement in enterprise stream processing capabilities. The platform addresses critical pain points in managing on-premises Flink deployments by introducing robust security features and simplified management tools. The Confluent Manager for Apache Flink (CMF) brings cloud-like operational efficiency to on-premises environments, which is particularly valuable for organizations with strict data residency requirements.

The integration of WarpStream Orbit streamlines migration paths and adds important disaster recovery capabilities - essential features for enterprise-grade deployments. The platform's ability to unify Kafka and Flink management under a single control plane reduces operational complexity and could significantly lower the total cost of ownership for organizations running large-scale stream processing workloads.

Market Research Analyst

The timing of this release aligns with growing market demand for robust stream processing solutions, particularly as organizations seek to process and analyze data in real-time. The cited example of a Fortune 50 telecom customer achieving significant cost savings and reduced churn demonstrates tangible business value. For Confluent, this expansion strengthens their competitive position against other data streaming platforms and could drive increased enterprise adoption.

The BYOC (Bring Your Own Cloud) capabilities through WarpStream Orbit address the growing trend of organizations seeking flexible deployment options while maintaining control over their infrastructure. This strategic move could help Confluent capture a larger share of the enterprise market, particularly among organizations with hybrid cloud strategies.

Confluent Manager for Apache Flink provides a cloud-like management experience for on-premises Kubernetes environments

WarpStream Orbit streamlines “Bring Your Own Cloud” adoption for easier, fail-proof migrations

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Confluent, Inc. (NASDAQ:CFLT), the data streaming pioneer, announced the general availability of Confluent Platform for Apache Flink^® with added enterprise-level security capabilities and easier ways to manage and scale on-premises Apache Flink workloads. Confluent is now the only company that offers data streaming paired with stream processing for cloud and on-premises workloads so businesses can turn their data into value faster. In addition, Confluent announced WarpStream Orbit for easier migration to WarpStream’s “Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC)” deployment model.

“Stream processing is where the magic happens. It transforms real-time data into experiences and operations that drive modern businesses forward,” said Shaun Clowes, Chief Product Officer, Confluent. “With our latest announcement, any organization can take advantage of Apache Flink — scaling, securing, and managing it with ease — unlocking innovation without limits.”

Stream processing enables businesses to analyze and react to massive amounts of data in real time for decision-making, fraud detection, personalized customer experience, and more. Apache Flink has emerged as the de facto stream processing solution for enterprises with its incredible performance, robust state management, and the flexibility to handle complex, real-time analytics at scale. However, teams often struggle to self-manage Flink because it requires configuring, operating, scaling, and securing a complex distributed system. For organizations with on-premises workloads, there’s a need for a solution that provides the flexibility and benefits of cloud-native technologies within private infrastructures.

Scale, secure, and simplify stream processing for on-prem workloads

With the general availability of Confluent Platform for Apache Flink, organizations can manage on-prem workloads at scale with long-term support from the world’s leading Apache Kafka® and Flink experts. Confluent Platform’s enterprise-grade Flink distribution and control plane enables teams to:

• Streamline lifecycle management with simplified deployment and scaling, enhanced automation, and efficient resource allocation.
• Ensure an integrated security model with unified access controls and consistent security policies across all systems.
• Minimize risk with consolidated Flink and Kafka support and guidance from the foremost experts in the data streaming industry.

Many companies globally are already seeing success by using Confluent Platform for Apache Flink to process and analyze their data. For example, a Fortune 50 telecom customer is using it for real-time analytics to help process and analyze network performance, deliver consistent and personalized customer experiences, and provide network visibility for threat detection. By leveraging Confluent Platform’s Flink offering, the telecom provider has saved tens of millions of dollars and significantly reduced churn, boosting its overall margins.

A new feature of Confluent Platform for Apache Flink, Confluent Manager for Apache Flink (CMF), makes deploying, updating, and scaling Flink as easy on-premises as it is in the cloud. Confluent Manager for Apache Flink enables:

• Simplified management to streamline large-scale Flink deployments in Kubernetes, making resource management and scaling more efficient.
• Enhanced collaboration that centralizes management across the Confluent ecosystem. CMF promotes consistency and optimizes processes, facilitating better collaboration among teams.
• Improved security with robust security mechanisms, simplifies security management, and ensures compliance with organizational policies.

"Companies need to make Flink more accessible, secure, and easier to operationalize wherever their workloads are deployed,” said Shari Lava, Senior Research Director, AI and Automation, IDC. “Businesses should look for offerings that combine deep Flink expertise with capabilities like built-in connectors, automated operations, and strong customer success and support to accelerate time-to-value and simplify getting Flink applications into production. Solutions that provide a unified control plane across Flink and other components like Kafka go a long way in enabling more companies to harness real-time data and govern it effectively.”

Speed up migrations to WarpStream with reduced costs and disaster recovery capabilities

WarpStream’s BYOC deployment model is a popular option for customers with large-scale workloads and relaxed latency requirements who are looking to use their own virtual private cloud (VPC). Traditionally, it can be a challenging and manual process to migrate from open source Kafka to a BYOC model because it involves navigating different Kafka environments and building custom solutions that increase time, costs, and data quality issues. WarpStream Orbit makes it easier than ever to move existing workloads from open source Kafka, or any Kafka-compatible service, to WarpStream clusters. Customers can seamlessly migrate to WarpStream, optimize existing Kafka clusters with tiered storage to reduce costs, and set up disaster recovery for high throughput, relaxed latency workloads.

Additional resources

• Learn more about new Confluent Platform features
• Check out WarpStream’s new Orbit capabilities

As our roadmap may change in the future, the features referred to herein may change, may not be delivered on time, or may not be delivered at all. This information is not a commitment to deliver any functionality and customers should make their purchasing decisions based upon features that are currently available.

About Confluent

Confluent is the data streaming platform that is pioneering a fundamentally new category of data infrastructure that sets data in motion. Confluent’s cloud-native offering is the foundational platform for data in motion—designed to be the intelligent connective tissue enabling real-time data, from multiple sources, to constantly stream across the organization. With Confluent, organizations can meet the new business imperative of delivering rich, digital front-end customer experiences and transitioning to sophisticated, real-time, software-driven back-end operations. To learn more, please visit www.confluent.io.

Confluent^® and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Confluent, Inc.

Apache^®, Apache Flink^® and Apache Kafka^® are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation in the United States and/or other countries. No endorsement by the Apache Software Foundation is implied by the use of these marks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210895088/en/

Media Contact:

Natalie Mangan

pr@confluent.io

Source: Confluent, Inc.

FAQ

What new features does Confluent Platform for Apache Flink (CFLT) offer?

Confluent Platform for Apache Flink offers enterprise-level security capabilities, simplified lifecycle management, unified access controls, and Confluent Manager for Apache Flink (CMF) for easier deployment and scaling in Kubernetes environments.

How has the Fortune 50 telecom customer benefited from Confluent's (CFLT) Flink platform?

The telecom customer has saved tens of millions of dollars and significantly reduced churn by using the platform for real-time analytics, network performance processing, and threat detection.

What is WarpStream Orbit in Confluent's (CFLT) latest announcement?

WarpStream Orbit is a new feature that simplifies migration from open source Kafka to WarpStream clusters, enabling easier transition to the Bring Your Own Cloud deployment model with reduced costs and disaster recovery capabilities.