Apache Kafka is an open-source event streaming platform that enables businesses to make data-driven decisions in real time, but can be complex and costly for small teams to manage. DigitalOcean Managed Kafka is a fully managed event streaming platform as a service that removes the operational burden and provides a flat-rate pricing model starting at $147/month, allowing small businesses to leverage Kafka without the administrative hassle. Benefits of Managed Kafka include simple pricing, easy scalability, quick provisioning, monitoring and maintenance with ease, automatic updates, high availability, end-to-end security, stable-performance, and affordable pricing, making it an attractive option for SMBs in growing industries such as streaming, IoT, and data analytics.