Google and its parent company, Alphabet, announced an agreement to acquire Wiz, a top cloud security platform based in New York. The acquisition is worth $32 billion.
The all-cash transaction is Google’s largest purchase, according to reports.
Once the acquisition is completed, Wiz will join Google Cloud, the tech company said in a press release.
“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 (multicloud),” Google said, explaining that both cybersecurity and cloud computing are “rapidly growing industries with a vast range of solutions.”
“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,” the company stated.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a statement on the acquisition, “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.”
Google Cloud and Wiz are “fully committed to continue supporting and protecting customers across all major clouds, helping keep them safe and secure wherever they operate,” Wiz Co-Founder and CEO Assaf Rappaport said. “This is an exciting moment for our company, but an even more important one for customers and partners, as this acquisition will bolster our mission to improve security and prevent breaches by providing additional resources and deep AI expertise.”
Last year, Google reached an agreement with California’s Kairos Power, securing 500 megawatts (MW) of nuclear energy. The first reactors are expected to come online by 2030, with others coming online by 2035.
The nuclear reactors will generate energy for Google’s AI data center.
