> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex-xsiam/configure-cortex-xsiam/cortex-xsiam-data-sources/vendor-specific-data-sources-and-connectors/kafka.md).

# Kafka

You can configure collecting Kafka data using a Broker VM Kafka Collector applet applet or connector (onboarded after July 26, 2026):

| Collection Method                                 | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| ------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Kafka Collector applet overview                   | Enables you to monitor and collect events from Topics on self-managed on-prem Kafka clusters directly to your log repository for query and visualization purposes. The applet supports Kafka setups with no authentication, with SSL authentication, and SASL SSL authentication. |
| Link to Kafka Collector applet instructions       | [Activate Apache Kafka Collector](/cortex-xsiam/configure-cortex-xsiam/cortex-xsiam-data-sources/generic-on-premise-data-collectors/broker-vm-data-collector-applets/activate-apache-kafka-collector.md)                                                                          |
| Link to connector (onboarded after July 26, 2026) | [Kafka](/cortex-xsiam/configure-cortex-xsiam/cortex-xsiam-data-sources/vendor-specific-data-sources-and-connectors/kafka/kafka.md)                                                                                                                                                |


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