Google is making a bold move in the cloud security space, announcing on March 18 that it will acquire Wiz for a staggering $32 billion in an all-cash deal. This marks Google’s biggest acquisition to date and a strategic expansion of its cybersecurity capabilities within Google Cloud.
A Mega Deal That Reshapes Cloud Security
The acquisition of Wiz is a significant step in Google’s ongoing effort to bolster its position in the cloud computing industry. Wiz, a leading cloud security company, has made a name for itself with its Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP), which helps businesses secure cloud environments across multiple providers, including Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Wiz’s approach to security is based on a multicloud model, allowing its customers to protect their digital assets across different cloud providers without being locked into a single ecosystem. Google has made it clear that Wiz will continue to operate across all major cloud services, ensuring flexibility for its users. This is a key differentiator, as multicloud adoption is becoming more widespread among enterprises.
Why Google Pulled the Trigger on Wiz
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, emphasized that integrating Wiz into Google’s security portfolio will drive further adoption of multicloud cybersecurity solutions and strengthen competition in the cloud market.
- “Google Cloud is a leader in cloud infrastructure, with deep AI expertise and a track record of industry-leading security innovation,” Kurian stated in a blog post. “Bringing this to Wiz will help make their solutions even better and more scalable, helping protect more organizations faster.” *
Wiz’s CEO, Assaf Rappaport, echoed a similar sentiment, calling the acquisition a massive acceleration for his company. “Becoming part of Google Cloud is effectively strapping a rocket to our backs: it will accelerate our rate of innovation faster than what we could achieve as a standalone company,” he wrote.
With Wiz, Google will integrate the platform into its existing Google Security Operations—formerly Google Chronicle—enhancing its AI-driven security capabilities. However, the specifics of how the Wiz brand will be incorporated remain unclear.
Competitors React: No Fear, Just Opportunity
The deal has raised questions among competitors in the cloud security market. Some view it as a consolidation play by Google, while others see an opportunity for independent players to differentiate themselves.
Gil Geron, co-founder and CEO of Orca Security, a direct rival of Wiz, remains unfazed by the acquisition. “We are not concerned. On the contrary, this deal opens up the market even more for independent companies like Orca,” he told Dark Reading.
Geron believes Orca still has a competitive edge, particularly in head-to-head battles with major security firms like Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike, and Wiz. “We win the majority of deals because we meet customers’ multicloud needs better than anyone else. Companies want security from specialists.”
What Wiz Brings to Google’s Security Arsenal
Industry analysts view this acquisition as a game-changing move for Google’s cloud security ambitions.
Charlie Winckless, VP analyst at Gartner, pointed out that Google has been expanding its security footprint for years, including its investments in Mandiant, Google Security Command Center, and its security monitoring tools. But Wiz brings a significant advantage.
- Wiz has the largest market share in the CNAPP space, according to Gartner estimates.
- It offers broader support for Azure than Google’s existing security products.
- It enhances Google’s standing in the multicloud security arena, a crucial factor as businesses diversify their cloud providers.
“This is not just about acquiring more users. This extends Google’s presence in the broader cloud security space, strengthens its technical capabilities, and secures a leading product all at once,” Winckless said.
Ketaki Borade, senior analyst of infrastructure security at Omdia, highlighted Wiz’s rapid growth and ability to serve enterprises of all sizes. She believes Google’s security position has lagged behind AWS and Azure, but this acquisition will help close the gap.
“Multicloud focus is one of the key competing criteria for the top public cloud providers,” Borade noted. “Google Cloud Platform (GCP) has been lagging behind, but that is about to change with Wiz.”
The Road Ahead: What This Means for Cloud Security
The Wiz acquisition is part of a larger trend where major cloud providers are doubling down on security to attract enterprise customers. Google’s move follows similar acquisitions in recent years, such as its $5.4 billion purchase of Mandiant.
Melinda Marks, practice director of cybersecurity at Enterprise Strategy Group, sees the deal as a step toward making cloud security more efficient for organizations struggling to keep up with evolving threats.
“Security teams need platforms that pull in data, provide insights, and optimize remediation,” Marks said. “This acquisition helps Google streamline security management while improving its multicloud support.”
While regulatory approvals and final details still need to be ironed out, the deal is expected to close next year. Once completed, Google’s presence in the security market will be bigger than ever.
