diff --git a/docs/design/kafka_topics.md b/docs/design/kafka_topics.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4935f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/design/kafka_topics.md
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# Kafka topics for micro-services.
+Here are some of the topics going on the kafka bus to maintain the microservice architecture
+
+## `service_events` topic
+
+### Payload
+
+#### Service joins the stack
+Upon starting up, a service needs to send this message.
+```json
+{
+  "event" : "join",
+  "id" : 1,
+  "type" : "ucentral/security/firmware/prov/topology/other",
+  "endPoint" : "https://endpoint.com:16001",
+  "key" : "access-key",
+  "version": "1.0.0"
+}
+```
+
+#### Service leaves the stack
+Upon going down, a service should send this notice.
+```json
+{
+  "event" : "leave",
+  "id" : 1,
+  "type" : "ucentral/security/firmware/prov/topology/other",
+  "endPoint" : "https://endpoint.com:16001",
+  "key" : "access-key",
+  "version": "1.0.0"
+}
+```
+
+#### Service heartbeat
+Sent every minute by all services.
+```json
+{
+  "event" : "keep-alive",
+  "id" : 1,
+  "type" : "ucentral/security/firmware/prov/topology/other",
+  "endPoint" : "https://endpoint.com:16001",
+  "key" : "access-key",
+  "version": "1.0.0"
+}
+```
+