– Guest article, written by Vincent Lautier –

Google offers WIZ for $ 32 billion, its biggest acquisition to date. If you do not know WIZ, well this Israeli-American startup specializing in cybersecurity protects cloud infrastructure, including those of Amazon and Microsoft. A strategic blow for Google Cloud therefore, which wants to catch up with its competitors. The agreement remains under surveillance of the authorities.

Google is big on cybersecurity

$ 32 billion. This is the colossal sum that Google will pay to offer Wiz, a startup specializing in the protection of cloud services. An acquisition that above the previous record of the American giant: Motorola Mobility, bought for 12.5 billion in 2011. The objective of this takeover? Strengthen Google Cloud against Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, its two largest rivals, essential on the Cloud Computing market.

Founded in 2020 by former Microsoft executives and cybersecurity experts from the Israeli army, WIZ has imposed itself in record time as a reference in the sector. His secret? A solution capable of detecting and preventing threats to cloud infrastructure, whether hosted at Google, Amazon or Microsoft. A strategic and agile positioning, which has attracted many customers, half of the Fortune 100 (the 100 largest American companies therefore), just that …

Googleplex HQ CROPPED

Wiz, a nugget that was worth gold

Wiz was not at its first flirt with Google. In 2024, the Mountain View firm had already tried to buy it for 23 billion dollars, but the startup had preferred to decline, by betting rather on an IPO. Finally, Google returned to the charge with a more attractive offer (+9 billion added to the proposal, just that), this time succeeding in convincing the founders and investors.

In four years, WIZ has experienced a dazzling ascent. In 2022, it was valued at $ 12 billion. In 2024, she posted a turnover of 500 millionwith the ambition to reach 1 billion from 2025. No wonder Google put the package to get your hands on it.

A blow for competition?

With this acquisition, Google clearly muscles its game in cybersecurity. Wiz will complete the work started with Mandiant, another specialist in the field bought in 2022 for $ 5.4 billion. The stakes are high: Microsoft already generates more $ 20 billion per year With its cloud security services. Google therefore hopes to fill its delay and convince more companies to adopt its solutions.

Except that attentive, this acquisition of course does not appeal to everyone. Wiz was so far an independent company, compatible with all Cloud suppliers. Will her passage at Google ask: will she continue to protect Amazon and Microsoft infrastructure? Not sure.

A deal under close surveillance

The agreement must still be validated by the American authorities, who very closely scrutinize the movements of tech giants. Google is already facing several antitrust surveys, and this acquisition could well complicate its situation. If there Federal Trade Commission American believes that this redemption harms the competition, she could block or slow down the transaction.

It remains to be seen how Google will reassure. For the moment, the firm assures that WIZ will continue to work with all Cloud suppliers … But in fact, difficult to imagine that it will not favor its own platform. So a case to follow!

Article published by myself, Vincent Lautierinvited by friend Korben. You can also Follow me on Blueskyor read The unlikely little tests that I sometimes publish in the “Tech Gadgets” category !

Source : Le Figaro,, The Ny Times


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