Aiven has introduced "Iceberg Topics" for Apache Kafka, enabling open-source users to natively handle data as Apache Iceberg tables, effectively eliminating the need for data copying and reducing ETL costs. These table-formatted topics are integrated into Kafka’s Tiered Storage via the RemoteStorageManager without altering client APIs or broker functions, allowing Kafka to process data for analytics and data engineering with native SQL support. This innovation allows users to manage Kafka, Diskless, and Iceberg topics concurrently within a single cluster, optimizing resource use and reducing the redundancy of Kafka sink connectors. The Iceberg Topics aim to preserve Kafka's network effects by facilitating a "publish once, reuse everywhere" model, eliminating the need for extensive connector frameworks, and maintaining open-source compatibility. By transforming topics into queryable tables, Iceberg Topics enhance data accessibility across organizations, allowing non-technical teams to utilize SQL for data analytics without needing to understand Kafka's complexities. This approach promises improved scalability, reduced costs, and a more streamlined data integration process for companies leveraging Apache Kafka.