Google has announced its biggest acquisition to date, agreeing to buy cybersecurity company Wiz for $32 billion in an all-cash deal. This move underscores Google’s commitment to cloud security at a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly expanding.
The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval, surpasses Google’s previous record-breaking deal—the $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility in 2012, which was later sold at a loss.
Wiz, a fast-growing cybersecurity firm specializing in cloud computing security, had previously been in talks with Google last year for a $23 billion sale. However, those negotiations fell through, and Wiz instead planned for an initial public offering.
Founded just five years ago in New York, Wiz was created by Assaf Rappaport, Ami Luttwak, Yinon Costica, and Roy Reznik, all of whom previously served in Unit 8200, the cyber intelligence division of the Israel Defense Forces.
“Wiz has achieved a lot in a short time, but cybersecurity moves fast, and we must keep pace. The time is now,” Rappaport said in a blog post.
At $32 billion, the Wiz acquisition is the seventh-largest takeover of a private U.S. company, according to Dealogic. The deal has also fueled optimism on Wall Street, where dealmaking has slowed due to market uncertainty and declining CEO confidence.
This transaction comes after the departure of Biden administration antitrust regulators, including former FTC chair Lina Khan, who had aggressively challenged major mergers. Some analysts, including Wedbush Securities’ Dan Ives, see this as a sign that Big Tech mergers may gain momentum again.
While Khan faced criticism from some business leaders, she also received support from figures like Vice President JD Vance, who previously praised her efforts to curb monopolistic practices.
