This blog post compares three potential setups for Apache Kafka: self-managed, managed by Confluent, and managed by Aiven. It covers key questions to consider when deciding on a setup, such as who should manage the environment, where it should be physically located, whether there is an existing cloud account, if dedicated servers are needed, what monitoring tools to use, how to integrate with other systems, availability requirements, migration needs, and pricing concerns. The post provides detailed information on each option and helps readers make informed decisions based on their specific needs and circumstances.