# Connect to Confluent
Confluent is a full-scale, advanced data [streaming platform](https://docs.confluent.io/platform/current/_glossary.html#term-event-streaming-platform) that facilitates seamless access storage, and management of continuous real-time data streams.
The Confluent cost center is available in the [MegaBill](https://docs.finout.io/user-guide/inform/megabill), providing breakdowns by services, clusters, usage type (e.g., network write, storage), and network access type (e.g., Peered VCP, Internet).
This integration ensures a unified view of all associated costs, combining the environment's expenditures with its related cloud expenses. [Virtual Tags](https://docs.finout.io/user-guide/inform/virtual-tags) can be utilized to further consolidate costs and obtain a comprehensive view.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**: To retrieve cost data from Confluent, use the following endpoint:\
`http://api.confluent.cloud/billing/v1/costs`
{% endhint %}
## **1. Connect Confluent to Finout**
1. Navigate to confluent cloud home.
2. Select the menu on the right and choose **Cloud API keys**.
3. Click on **Add** key.
4. Choose **Granular access**.
5. Select **Create a new one**, input a new service account name and description, and proceed (a new service account will be created).
6. Once the key is generated, an option to describe it appears. Click **Download** and continue.
## **2. Grant permissions to the cloud API key**
1. On the right menu, select **Accounts and Access**.
2. Navigate to **Service Accounts** under **Accounts**.
3. Search for the newly created service account and select it.
4. Select **Add role assignment** under organization.
5. Choose **BillingAdmin** and confirm this choice.
6. Provide Finout with the generated API key and secret.
{% hint style="warning" %}
**Important**: You must hold the BillingAdmin role for successful integration.
{% endhint %}
