Google Close to Acquiring Cyber Startup Wiz for $23 Billion, Setting Record Deal Size

Money | July 14, 2024, 2:54 p.m.

At Stanford's 2024 Business, Government, and Society forum, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc., discussed Google's potential acquisition of cybersecurity firm Wiz for $23 billion. Wiz, founded in 2020 and led by CEO Assaf Rappaport, has seen rapid growth and attracted interest from large firms due to its cloud security offerings. If completed, this deal would be Google's largest acquisition, signaling a strong commitment to cybersecurity amidst increasing threats from nation-state and criminal actors. Despite facing antitrust scrutiny, Google's reported talks with Wiz suggest a renewed focus on M&A activity. The tech giant has previously acquired cybersecurity firm Mandiant for $5.4 billion. This potential acquisition highlights Google's strategic vision and willingness to invest in innovative solutions to protect against cybersecurity threats.