Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Araghchi: Iran is committed to diplomacy and expects the lifting of unjust and unilateral sanctions that directly target its people
Araghchi: We want a fair and balanced agreement reached within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty with full respect for Iran's nuclear rights
Araghchi: Iran has always sought to alleviate legitimate international concerns about its nuclear program through transparency
Araghchi: Iran is committed to the principle of not producing or deploying weapons of mass destruction
Araghchi: Iran is committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has never sought to possess nuclear weapons based on its principles
Araghchi: Iran has always emphasized that it does not seek nuclear weapons, and we call for a fair and just agreement that guarantees our national interests and lifts sanctions
Araghchi: We call for a referendum in Palestine so that the Palestinians can decide their fate
Araghchi: The Zionist entity is a threat to the countries of the region, and a real solution must be reached
Araghchi: Iran wishes nothing but good, progress, and development for its neighboring countries, and we must expand economic and structural projects with them
Araghchi: We must undertake a more effective path, and today, President Pezeshkian highlighted the need to respect emerging countries and mutual respect among countries

Google buys Israeli cyber firm Wiz for $32Bln amid military links

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Mar 2025 17:04
4 Min Read

The acquisition also brings renewed attention to Google's deepening involvement in Israeli military operations, particularly through its cloud computing contracts.

Listen
  • x
  • A sign is displayed on a Google building at their campus in Mountain View, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2019.  (AP)
    A sign is displayed on a Google building at their campus in Mountain View, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2019. (AP)

Alphabet, Google's parent company, has announced its largest-ever acquisition, purchasing Israeli cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32 billion. The deal expands Google Cloud's security capabilities as it competes with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, while also raising concerns about Google's growing entanglement with "Israel's" military-tech ecosystem.

About Wiz

Founded in 2020 by former Microsoft cloud security executives, Wiz specializes in vulnerability detection and mitigation for AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Kubernetes. Its clients include Morgan Stanley, BMW, and LVMH.

The company was valued at $12 billion in May 2024, with $500 million in annual recurring revenue. Google initially offered $23 billion in 2023, but Wiz rejected the bid before the two parties reached the final $32 billion agreement.

Wiz has faced legal and security challenges, including a 2023 patent infringement lawsuit from competitor Orca Security and a 2025 data exposure incident involving Chinese AI firm DeepSeek.

Google's Cloud Security Strategy

The acquisition follows increased demand for cloud security solutions, especially after the 2024 CrowdStrike outage disrupted global businesses.

Related News

Microsoft employees protest sales of AI, cloud services to 'Israel'

Microsoft faces UK lawsuit over cloud computing licences

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian has been pursuing Wiz to expand enterprise security offerings. D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria noted, "For Google to be able to compete with Microsoft Azure for enterprise customers, it needs to be able to offer a deeper suite of services, including security software."

Regulatory and Market Considerations

The acquisition will undergo antitrust scrutiny, as Donald Trump's administration continues to monitor Big Tech mergers. Google has stated that Wiz will remain available to AWS and Microsoft Azure, a move seen as an attempt to mitigate competition concerns.

Elise Phillips, policy counsel at Public Knowledge, commented, "Generally speaking, Google is not a leader in the cloud business, and Wiz will still be available on all other cloud services. Any type of exclusivity agreement between the two of them down the line would give me cause for concern."

Alphabet's stock fell nearly 3% following the announcement, adding to a 13% decline this year, largely due to AI investments and competition from China's DeepSeek. Investors have also expressed concerns about Alphabet's merger and acquisition (M&A) track record. Aptus Capital's Dave Wagner stated, "There will likely be a microscope on the deal by investors, given Google's lackluster historical track record with its capital allocation plan, specifically around M&A."

Google's Expanding Role in Israeli Military-Tech Infrastructure

The acquisition also brings renewed attention to Google's deepening involvement in Israeli military operations, particularly through its cloud computing contracts.

  • Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud and AI contract with Google and Amazon, enables the Israeli government, including the military, to use advanced AI and cloud services without restrictions.
  • Leaked documents obtained by TIME revealed that Google was negotiating to expand its AI services for "Israel's" Ministry of Security as its assault on Gaza continued.
  • The Israeli army actively uses cloud services from AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure for military targeting systems, mass surveillance, and drone operations in Gaza, according to a report by +972 Magazine and Local Call.

Despite Google's claims that Nimbus is for civilian government use, an audio recording of Col. Racheli Dembinsky, head of Israel's Center of Computing and Information Systems Unit, confirmed that Amazon, Google, and Microsoft's cloud services were used as part of Israel's military cloud-based targeting systems.

Read more: Israeli military using cloud services from tech giants in war on Gaza

Wiz's Ties to Israeli Military Cyber Programs

The deal also highlights "Israel's" cybersecurity sector, where many firms have benefitted from state-backed initiatives and military intelligence programs.

  • Wiz's founders previously served in "Israel's" cyber intelligence units, a common background for
  • Israeli tech entrepreneurs who develop technologies that later integrate into military and security applications.
  • Other Israeli cybersecurity firms acquired by US tech giants include Siemplify (Google, 2022) and Own (Salesforce, 2024).

Wiz's leadership previously sold Adallom to Microsoft in 2015, another company with roots in Israeli intelligence operations.

Read more: Leaked files reveal Microsoft's role in 'Israel's' military operations

With Google Cloud generating over $40 billion in revenue in 2024, this acquisition is expected to strengthen its enterprise security offerings. The deal is expected to close in 2026, pending regulatory approval.

  • Cloud services
  • Google
  • Cybersecurity
  • Wiz

Most Read

Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Palestinians pray over bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment who were brought from the Shifa hospital before burying them in a mass grave in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP )

Gaza casualty figures mask a much bigger horror, new study shows

  • Politics
  • 11 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025
Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
A Microsoft sign and logo are pictured at the company's headquarters, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Redmond, Wash. (AP)
Technology

Microsoft admits supplying AI to 'Israel' amid Gaza carnage

Israeli occupation’s tanks parked in a staging area near the border with Gaza, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' launches multi-axis assault in Gaza under 'Gideon’s Chariots'

People stand at the train ticket counter of NJ Transit at Penn Station, amid a strike by New Jersey Transit train engineers, in New York, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP)
Economy

Commuters stranded amid first New Jersey railway strike in 40 years

Trump's tax bill stalls as Republican opposition demands deeper cuts
US & Canada

Trump's tax bill stalls as Republican opposition demands deeper cuts

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS