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Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has struck a deal to purchase the cloud-security platform Wiz. With a price tag of $32 billion in cash, the purchase of Wiz makes it the biggest acquisition in the history of Google.
Google’s planned acquisition of Wiz for $32B dwarfs the price of its previous largest acquisition, as it cost the company nearly triple what it paid for Motorola Mobility in 2012 ($12.5 billion). Some of Alphabet’s other biggest acquisitions, by price tag, are Madiant for $5.4 billion in 2022, Nest Labs for $3.2 billion in 2014, DoubleClick for $3.1 billion in 2007, and Looker for $2.6 billion in 2019.
According to Google, who expect the deal to close next year, the purchase of Wiz was down with the intention of “improved cloud security and the ability to use multiple clouds.” The tech powerhouse describes Wiz as “an easy-to-use security platform that connects to all major clouds and code environments to help prevent cybersecurity incident.”
Google’s official statement about the purchase of Wiz largely paints it as added protection against growing artificial technology intelligences, and said users of Wiz will be able to better protect everything the have in the cloud by using Wiz.
“This acquisition represents an investment by Google Cloud to accelerate two large and growing trends in the AI era: improved cloud security and the ability to use multiple clouds. The increased role of AI, and adoption of cloud services, have dramatically changed the security landscape for customers, making cybersecurity increasingly important in defending against emergent risks and protecting national security.”
Wiz, founded in January 2020 by Assaf Rappaport, Yinon Costica, Roy Reznik, and Ami Luttwak, employed roughly 2,000 people as of November 2024. Google previously tried to acquire Wiz for $23 billion last year.
“From its earliest days, Google’s strong security focus has made us a leader in keeping people safe online. Today, businesses and governments that run in the cloud are looking for even stronger security solutions, and greater choice in cloud computing providers. Together, Google Cloud and Wiz will turbocharge improved cloud security and the ability to use multiple clouds,” Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and parent company Alphabet, said in a statement.
As for some of Google’s most notable acquisitions in terms of brand awareness, the company famously purchased YouTube for $1.6 billion in 2006. Other buzz-worthy Google purchases include Fitbit for $2.1 billion in 2021 and Waze for $1.3 billion in 2013.