Before you can work with your real-time data in Microsoft Fabric, the data (obviously) first needs to get there. The journey of telemetry and streaming data from its origin can be facilitated by a choice of application protocols, each tailored to specific use cases and challenges. This talk explores the landscape of real-time communication with a deep dive into Kafka, MQTT, AMQP, HTTP, and Web Sockets. We’ll examine the strengths and trade-offs of each protocol, focusing on their roles in streaming, messaging, telemetry, and bidirectional communication. Through practical examples and architecture patterns, you’ll learn how to choose the right protocol for your application and how you ultimately land the data into Microsoft Fabric. Join us as we demystify the protocol maze and navigate the complexities of real-time data exchange.