Wiz’s decision to back out of a potential deal with Google could significantly affect Microsoft and the broader tech industry.
Wiz, an Israeli cybersecurity startup, was in talks with Google for a $23 billion acquisition, but the company ultimately chose to decline the offer. CEO Assaf Rappaport stated that this difficult decision was made to pursue Wiz’s goal of achieving $1 billion in annual revenue and preparing for an initial public offering.
This acquisition would have strengthened Google’s position in the cybersecurity landscape, especially following a major industry disruption caused by a significant outage from CrowdStrike last week. Analyst Dan Ives from Wedbush highlighted that concerns over investor sentiment and antitrust regulations contributed to the deal’s failure. Google has faced increasing scrutiny from antitrust authorities and recently concluded its trial related to a Department of Justice case.
Ives noted that the cancellation of the Wiz deal will likely have ripple effects throughout the sector. He anticipates that Google will continue its efforts to expand its presence in cybersecurity and that Microsoft may also seek to enhance its cybersecurity platform in the next 12 to 18 months.
Microsoft recently found itself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons due to a widespread IT outage linked to a flawed update of its cybersecurity software from CrowdStrike. This incident affected users globally, leading to disruptions in various sectors including business, travel, and government operations. Despite Ives still considering CrowdStrike the “gold standard” in cybersecurity, this outage suggests that Microsoft could benefit from bolstering its cybersecurity capabilities, an opportunity that the halting of the Wiz deal further accentuates.