Google has confirmed its largest acquisition to date, purchasing cloud security startup Wiz for $32 billion in an all-cash transaction.
Parent company Alphabet announced the deal, which is expected to strengthen Google Cloud’s cybersecurity capabilities and bolster its enterprise cloud business.
Industry insiders previously estimated the acquisition at $33 billion, including $1 billion in retention bonuses to secure Wiz employees post-acquisition. With 1,700 employees at Wiz, the bonuses amount to an average of over $588,000 per person, though actual amounts will vary.
Wiz, a leading cloud security firm with an annual recurring revenue of $700 million, will remain an independent platform, continuing to work across multiple cloud providers rather than integrating exclusively with Google Cloud. The company plans to expand its workforce and pursue additional acquisitions to fuel growth.
The acquisition, described as similar to Microsoft’s purchase of LinkedIn in terms of operational independence, is subject to regulatory approval. Finalization is expected in 2026. This surpasses Google’s previous record acquisition of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in 2011.
Discussions for the deal have been ongoing for nearly a year, with prior negotiations breaking down over autonomy and antitrust concerns. Last year, Google offered $23 billion for Wiz, but the startup walked away from the deal. Wiz was valued at $16 billion in a secondary sale shortly after.
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, has been instrumental in securing the acquisition. “Google Cloud and Wiz share a vision to simplify cybersecurity for businesses of all sizes,” he said in a statement.
Google’s acquisition of Wiz is expected to enhance its standing in the competitive cloud market, particularly against AWS and Microsoft Azure, while reinforcing its position in cybersecurity amid rising AI and cloud adoption.
