The landscape of cloud security has been forever changed with Google’s landmark acquisition of Wiz, a deal valued at $30 billion. This move signals a clear shift in how cloud security is evolving, with a heavy focus on AI-powered solutions for a more resilient and efficient ecosystem. As Google integrates Wiz’s advanced capabilities in cloud security posture management (CSPM) and cloud-native application protection (CNAPP), industry leaders are weighing in on the implications for the broader cybersecurity field.

To provide a deeper understanding of how this acquisition will shape the future of cloud security, we reached out to a panel of experts in the field. Their insights offer a comprehensive view of the ways in which this strategic move will influence cloud security practices, the development of AI-powered security solutions, and the future of enterprise-level cloud environments.

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As organizations continue to move their infrastructure to the cloud, the importance of robust cloud security solutions has never been more apparent. This acquisition amplifies Google’s cloud security efforts, highlighting a broader trend in the industry toward AI-driven solutions. With an increasing reliance on AIOps (Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations), security solutions that integrate machine learning and automation are fast becoming the standard in the industry.

From cloud security posture management to vulnerability identification, Wiz’s platform is poised to revolutionize the way organizations manage their cloud environments. As a leader in agentless security, Wiz’s ability to provide real-time insights into vulnerabilities and threats makes it a vital asset in the fight to secure cloud infrastructures.

In this exclusive article, our panel of experts dives deep into what this acquisition means for businesses, developers, and the cybersecurity industry at large.

Stay tuned as we explore the new era of cloud security and what the future holds for cloud-native protections.

Google’s Acquisition of Wiz Highlights Commitment to AI-Driven Cloud Security and Multicloud Innovation

Rom Carmel, Co-Founder and CEO at Apono. Apono is a New York-based provider of privileged access for the cloud solutions.

Rom said, “Google’s acquisition of Wiz underscores the growing importance of cloud security in the AI-driven era. By bringing Wiz into Google Cloud’s portfolio alongside Mandiant and Siemplify, Google is reinforcing its commitment to helping enterprises secure their cloud environments—regardless of the provider. This move not only accelerates innovation in multicloud security, it also ensures that organizations continue to have access to best-in-class security solutions across AWS, Azure, and beyond.”

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Currently, Wiz’s agentless security platform provides deep visibility and proactive risk management across cloud environments, enabling enterprises to identify vulnerabilities without the need for manual intervention. The latest move not only reinforces Google’s ability to offer cutting-edge security solutions for multicloud environments—spanning AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud—but also accelerates the shift towards AI-powered security tools that are essential for safeguarding complex, evolving cloud infrastructures.

Agnidipta Sarkar, Vice President CISO Advisory at ColorTokens said, “The acquisition of Wiz by Google is poised to create numerous synergies between the two entities. This strategic acquisition is anticipated to enhance Google’s leadership in the realm of cloud security. For instance, the implementation of Wiz’s Cloud Security Platform is expected to fortify Google Security Operations by improving the security of cloud-native applications throughout their entire development lifecycle, as well as safeguarding code, CI/CD systems, and infrastructure.”

Sarkar added, “Overall, the collaboration between Wiz and Google Cloud is likely to result in more integrated security solutions for clients in the cloud sector. The industry is expected to witness a continuation of innovation in cloud security, thereby delivering increased value to clients. Additionally, this acquisition may provide significant advantages for Google’s enterprise cloud business.”

Eric Schwake, Director of Cybersecurity Strategy at Salt Security, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based provider of API security, highlighted the benefits of having Google-Wiz combo in the cloud security space. Eric mentioned that Google’s acquisition of Wiz brings multiple benefits, especially in terms of enhancing the security platform for Google Cloud users. He pointed out that the integration of new functionalities, along with continued multi-cloud support, could play a key role in driving further innovation within the platform.

“Conversely, drawbacks include diminished competition, concerns regarding vendor lock-in despite Google’s commitments, challenges in integration, the risk of hindering Wiz’s independent innovation, and heightened data privacy issues resulting from increased data consolidation,” said Eric.

Wiz’s integration into Google Cloud represents a major consolidation in the cybersecurity sector, further strengthening the security services offered by Google Cloud.

Eric added, “With Wiz and Mandiant now part of its portfolio, Google strengthens its role as a leading security provider, particularly in cloud security. This development highlights the rising significance of cloud security and the growing need for multi-cloud solutions. For Google Cloud clients, it offers a more powerful and unified security platform, improving their security operations.”

How Google’s acquisition of Wiz accelerates the cloud security innovations?

Eric pointed out that the acquisition has the potential to accelerate the development of cutting-edge cloud security features by utilizing Google’s AI and infrastructure. He said, “A major advantage is Google’s dedication to preserving Wiz’s multi-cloud compatibility, which guarantees flexibility for customers and helps avoid vendor lock-in. However, consolidation may occasionally hinder innovation; yet, Google’s expressed commitment to partner solutions indicates an intention to address this concern. Additionally, this move might result in reduced competition within the cloud security sector.

In terms of future acquisitions, firms focused on AI-driven security, cloud-native application protection platforms (CNAPPs), and data security posture management (DSPM) continue to be appealing prospects for larger tech companies aiming to enhance their security solutions. Importantly, vendors specializing in API security are also highly probable candidates. The growing dependence on APIs as the backbone of contemporary applications, along with the rising frequency of API-related security breaches, renders API security a critical necessity. Incorporating strong API security features, such as discovery, posture governance, and behavioral threat protection, into broader security frameworks notably improves their overall efficacy. As APIs play an increasingly pivotal role in cloud infrastructure and data interchange, securing specialized API security expertise will be vital for thorough cloud security strategies.”

Parth Shah, Senior Director Product Management at Deepwatch, a San Francisco, Calif.-based AI+Human Cyber Resilience Platform, highlighted the competition dynamics involving AWS-Google-Azure.

Parth said, “Google has been playing catch up on security against AWS and Azure. There’s no way to justify the valuation purely by revenue numbers, it is likely the intangibles and strategies at play. Google has now spent close to $40B trying to become a security player. This is a serious vertical for them – likely changing the shape of the company forever. Wiz nailed usability and had a maniacal focus on sales – $100M in 18 months, $350M in 2024, and an estimated $700M at acquisition.”

Trey Ford, Chief Information Security Officer at Bugcrowd, a San Francisco, Calif.-based leader in crowdsourced cybersecurity, took a visionary approach to explain the changing dynamics of cloud security and AIOps marketplace, as Google takes a giant leap with Wiz in 2025.

 Trey expressed his hope that one of the major platforms would acquire Wiz, and he found the news of Wiz joining Google Cloud to be an exciting development for the industry. He explained that with Wiz now integrated into Google Cloud, it would gain significantly more visibility and access to training data for its models, ultimately enhancing the service. He highlighted that having Wiz’s offerings built directly into Google Cloud Platform (GCP) would be a major advantage for all users on the platform.

He also pointed out that this acquisition creates a powerful competitive advantage for both Wiz and Google, given the vast amount of workloads and diverse attack surfaces they now have the opportunity to monitor and defend. Trey emphasized that Wiz’s ability to manage and protect a larger range of workloads would enhance its data models, ultimately boosting security for all those relying on the platform.

Heath Renfrow, CISO and Co-founder at Fenix24 a Chattanooga, Tennessee-based cyber disaster recovery firm, took to the hyperscalers and ongoing investments in the cloud security research and development. Heath said, “Google’s $32 billion acquisition of Wiz is a significant move in the cloud security space, underscoring the growing demand for consolidated security platforms and multicloud protection. This deal reinforces the broader industry trend where hyperscalers are integrating leading security technologies to enhance their native capabilities, much like Microsoft’s approach with its security stack and AWS’s ongoing investments in cybersecurity.”

Heath added, “From an industry perspective, this acquisition raises important questions: Will Wiz maintain its platform-agnostic approach under Google, or will it become more tightly integrated into Google Cloud’s ecosystem? Additionally, how will this impact organizations that rely on Wiz’s solutions for securing non-Google environments? It’s also worth considering how this affects other cloud security players—especially startups that positioned themselves as alternatives to hyperscaler-native security solutions.

For security teams and enterprises, this acquisition further emphasizes the importance of vendor diversification, ensuring that security strategies remain resilient even as market consolidations continue.”

Get Ready for the Next-gen Cloud Security Industry

Danny Brickman, CEO and Co-Founder at Oasis Security, a New York City-based provider of Non-Human Identity Management (NIM) solutions, thinks that the Wiz and Google deal is a landmark acquisition. Danny said, “Google’s $32 billion investment in Wiz is a resounding affirmation of the vital role next-generation security companies play in today’s cloud-driven, AI-powered world. This move not only validates the immense value of innovative cybersecurity solutions but also signals a bright future for the industry as a whole. As we look ahead, the next frontier is clear: securing identities. In an era where identities are the keys to the kingdom—across clouds, applications, and data—protecting them will be the cornerstone of enterprise security. This acquisition sets the stage for accelerated innovation, and we’re excited to be part of this transformative moment, driving the future of identity security forward.”

Google’s acquisition of Wiz for $32 billion underscores the increasing significance of strong cloud security in the age of AI. Our Cybertech Top Voice, J Stephen Kowski, Field CTO at SlashNext Email Security+, explained the need to embrace a multi-channel approach to cloud-based communications and team collaboration.

Kowski said, “This move (Wiz’s acquisition by Google) signals a major shift in the market as big tech companies invest heavily in security platforms that can protect across multiple cloud environments. Modern security solutions need to go beyond traditional approaches, combining generative AI, computer vision, and natural language processing to detect and stop zero-hour threats before they cause damage. The most effective protection today requires a multi-channel approach that secures not just email but all communication apps including Teams, Slack, and mobile messaging where sophisticated social engineering attacks are increasingly targeting users.”

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While Microsoft and Amazon have been reaping the rewards of the AI cloud boom, Google has found itself playing catch-up in the cloud market. Despite generating $43 billion in cloud revenue during fiscal year 2024, it lags behind its competitors, with Amazon and Microsoft far outpacing it at $107.6 billion and $105.4 billion, respectively. However, Google’s recent acquisition of Wiz signals a shift in its strategy to not only close the revenue gap but also to redefine the landscape of cloud security with the power of AI.

Google’s approach to cloud security is taking a new direction, particularly with the integration of Wiz’s cutting-edge security platform. As Google Cloud ramps up its AI-driven security offerings, this strategic acquisition has the potential to reshape its cloud security landscape and elevate its standing within the industry. Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, highlighted the growing importance of security as both a priority and a challenge for organizations globally, noting that the acceleration of breaches presents both new risks and new opportunities. With AI at the helm, Google is positioning itself to leverage these opportunities to enhance its security measures and offer more robust solutions for enterprises navigating increasingly complex cloud environments.

The collaboration between Google and Wiz is poised to create synergies that will further cement Google’s role in the multicloud ecosystem. By reinforcing its AI and security capabilities, Google can now deliver more integrated, advanced cloud security solutions that span across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, ultimately benefiting businesses with heightened protection across their cloud-native applications, CI/CD systems, and infrastructure.

Conclusion: We Will Hear More About Google and Its Cloud Security Play

The Wiz acquisition marks a new era of Cloud Security innovation

The acquisition of Wiz by Google represents a pivotal moment for the cloud security industry. It’s not just about narrowing the competitive gap with Microsoft and Amazon; it’s about positioning Google Cloud as a leader in the next wave of AI-powered security innovation. As cloud security continues to evolve, Google’s enhanced offerings will deliver tangible value to enterprises, providing them with smarter, more efficient solutions to tackle an increasingly dangerous cybersecurity landscape. With AI leading the charge, the future of cloud security is set for groundbreaking transformation, and Google is now in the driver’s seat.

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