Google in Talks to Acquire Cybersecurity Firm Wiz for $23 Billion

Google is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire cybersecurity firm Wiz for a whopping $23 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. The deal would be Google's largest-ever acquisition and a significant bet on cybersecurity.

Wiz, founded in 2020, has grown rapidly under CEO Assaf Rappaport and had been considering an IPO as recently as May, with a valuation of $12 billion. The company's cloud security offering provides executives and cybersecurity professionals with insight into their company's full cloud presence, making it an attractive asset for large firms with significant computing resources.

Google has made significant cybersecurity acquisitions in the past, including the acquisition of Mandiant for $5.4 billion two years ago. However, the company faces unprecedented antitrust scrutiny, with the Justice Department suing Google twice on antitrust grounds.

Despite these challenges, Google's reported talks with Wiz suggest a fresh appetite for M&A. The deal would underline Google's continued bet on cybersecurity, a critical concern for governments and large organizations in the face of nation-state and criminal actors.