It is important to fully test a managed service before moving forward with a new vendor. You can use the following spreadsheet to know what to test and how to test it.
Aiven Kafka Proof of Concept Checklist
The linked document includes the following sections:
Functionality testing
Performance testing
Operations and management
User access
Integrations
Schema registry
Multi-cluster via MirrorMaker
REST proxy
Make a copy of the document to keep track of your Kafka POC phase. Aiven is happy to collaborate with you during your evaluation phase and answer any questions. Reach out to sales@aiven.io with any questions or to set up a call with a solutions architect.