Google has just made its largest acquisition ever, agreeing to buy Wiz, a fast-growing cloud security startup, for a staggering $32 billion in cash. The deal, expected to close in 2026 pending regulatory approval, is a game-changer for both Google Cloud and the broader cybersecurity industry.
What is Wiz, and Why is it Worth $32 Billion?
Wiz is a cloud security company that helps businesses detect and prevent cyber threats across Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft Azure. Founded in 2020 by former Israeli intelligence officers from Unit 8200, the company quickly became one of the most trusted names in cybersecurity, securing high-profile clients from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies.
What makes Wiz special is its agentless security scanning—it can scan cloud environments without installing software on every server, making it faster and more efficient than traditional security solutions. The company also uses AI-powered threat analysis, which helps businesses predict and prevent cyberattacks before they happen.
Why Did Google Acquire Wiz?
Google Cloud has always been third in market share, behind Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. But as cybersecurity becomes the defining factor in cloud computing, Google needed a major move to strengthen its security offerings.
This acquisition signals that Google is betting on security as the key to winning more cloud customers. With AI-driven cyber threats on the rise, businesses are looking for the most secure cloud provider, and Google wants to be that leader.
What Happens Next?
Wiz will continue to operate independently, meaning it will still support AWS and Microsoft Azure customers. This ensures that businesses using multiple cloud services won’t have to change their security providers.
However, Google now gains inside access to the security needs of AWS and Azure customers, potentially giving it a competitive edge in the long run.
The deal still needs to pass regulatory approval, which could take until 2026. Given the size of the acquisition, antitrust regulators will closely scrutinize whether Google gaining such a powerful cybersecurity company gives it an unfair advantage.
What This Means for the Industry
This isn’t just about Google—it’s about the future of cloud security and AI-driven cybersecurity.
For Google Cloud, it’s a huge boost in security credibility and a way to attract more enterprise customers. For Microsoft and AWS, it’s a wake-up call—they may soon respond with their own major cybersecurity acquisitions. And for businesses and consumers, it means that cloud security is evolving fast, with AI playing a bigger role than ever before.
As cyber threats grow more advanced, companies like Google are making huge bets on security to protect their customers. This $32 billion move just raised the stakes in the cloud wars—and it’s only the beginning.