The solution came in the form of Apache Kafka, an open-source messaging system developed by the Apache Foundation and managed by Confluent. Confluent's Kafka stood out for its cloud-native nature, high availability, and performance – essential qualities for Modica's requirements. Modica's choice of Confluent was influenced not only by its expertise and substantial contributions to Kafka but also by its position as a leader in offering a cloud-native managed service. Implementing Confluent's Kafka was a delicate operation, described by Lago as akin to "replacing the engine of a plane while it's flying."