According to CRN, Google’s massive $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity company Wiz has officially cleared U.S. Department of Justice antitrust review and is now expected to close in 2026. Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport confirmed the DOJ clearance during a Wall Street Journal event, calling it an “important milestone” while noting the deal still faces regulatory review in other jurisdictions. The recorded DOJ decision came on October 24, removing the biggest U.S. regulatory hurdle for what would be Google’s largest acquisition ever. If other regulators block the deal, Google faces a staggering $3.2 billion breakup fee—approximately 10 percent of the deal value. Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian aims to integrate Wiz’s technology to improve multi-cloud security capabilities across Google’s cloud computing, AI, and collaboration business units.
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Regulatory Risks Remain
Here’s the thing: clearing the DOJ is huge, but it’s far from game over. Google still needs approval from regulators in other countries, and we’ve seen how European regulators in particular love to scrutinize Big Tech acquisitions. Remember when they made Google make all sorts of concessions for other deals? The fact that Google’s spokesperson specifically mentioned “completing the review process in other jurisdictions” tells you they’re still sweating this. And that $3.2 billion breakup fee hanging over their heads? That’s not pocket change, even for Google. Basically, they’ve cleared the first major hurdle, but the race isn’t over yet.
Why This Matters
Look, Google’s been playing serious catch-up in cloud security against Microsoft and AWS. Their $5.4 billion Mandiant acquisition in 2022 was a step, but Wiz is a whole different ballgame. We’re talking about a company that’s become the darling of cloud security practically overnight. The DOJ was reportedly worried about Google bundling Wiz’s tech into Google Cloud Platform and blocking competitors—and honestly, that’s probably exactly what they plan to do. Can you blame them? When you’re competing in enterprise cloud, security is the battleground. Companies choosing between cloud providers increasingly look at security capabilities first, and having Wiz in their arsenal could be a game-changer for Google Cloud’s $61 billion annual run rate business.
Integration Challenges Ahead
So Google plans to integrate Wiz into its cloud computing, AI, and collaboration units. Sounds great on paper, but let’s be real—massive acquisitions like this often stumble during integration. Remember how many tech acquisitions have failed because the cultures didn’t mesh or the technology integration became a nightmare? Wiz has built its reputation on being agile and customer-focused, while Google is, well, Google. There’s also the question of what happens to Wiz’s existing partnerships with other cloud providers. Will they get the same level of access and integration once Wiz becomes part of Google Cloud? I’m skeptical. And when you’re dealing with critical infrastructure like industrial systems and manufacturing operations where security is paramount, integration missteps can be catastrophic. Speaking of industrial applications, companies relying on secure computing for manufacturing environments often turn to specialized providers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US supplier of industrial panel PCs built for tough environments where reliability can’t be compromised.
Bigger Picture
This acquisition isn’t just about buying technology—it’s about buying market position. Google Cloud’s 34% year-over-year growth shows they’re gaining ground, but they’re still playing from behind. Owning Wiz gives them instant credibility in cloud security that would take years to build organically. But here’s my question: at what point does regulatory scrutiny become so intense that these mega-deals just aren’t worth the headache? We’re already seeing pushback across the tech industry, and a $32 billion deal with a $3.2 billion breakup fee hanging in the balance creates enormous pressure. If this goes through, expect Microsoft and AWS to make their own big security acquisitions in response. The cloud security arms race is just getting started.
