Google Cloud-Wiz ‘Absolutely’ Puts Heat On Microsoft, AWS Security: Partners

Channel partners agree that Google Cloud’s blockbuster $32 billion acquisition of security star Wiz will put pressure on Microsoft. However, solution providers have mixed views as to how much new cloud security market share Google can capture.

Google’s historic $32 billion acquisition of security superstar Wiz will boost Google Cloud’s market competition against its cloud cybersecurity rivals Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, according to channel partners.

“This absolutely will increase their market competitiveness because most large enterprises already in some way, shape or form are involved or are working with Wiz—regardless of which cloud they sit on,” said Asif Hasan, CEO of Marlborough, Mass.-based Quantiphi, a leading Google Cloud and AI solution provider.

Wiz says 50 percent of the global Fortune 100 companies are its customers.

“Having Wiz within the same portfolio and more natively integrated into Google Cloud helps with competition. And the multi-cloud nature of Wiz also helps by just having an inventory of all the assets that are deployed in hybrid or multi cloud situations,” said Hasan (pictured above). “Then there’s just the competitive advantage of having best-in-class security offerings. The size of the acquisition itself speaks volumes about the importance of what this brings to the Google Cloud portfolio.”

Google’s $32 billion price tag for Wiz marks the tech giant’s largest acquisition in its history. The deal is still subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. No time frame was given on when the companies expect the deal to be finalized.

Once closed, Wiz will become part of $48 billion Google Cloud with plans to launch new cybersecurity solutions such as a next-generation unified security platform that combines Wiz’s Cloud Security Platform with Google Security Operation.

Microsoft, Google Cloud and AWS are the world’s three largest cloud computing providers that are also market leaders in cloud security and artificial intelligence.

Partners: Wiz Deal A ‘Direct Response’ To Microsoft

Michael Goldstein, president of LAN Infotech, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based solution provider, said he sees the blockbuster Google-Wiz deal as a “direct response to Microsoft’s security and AI market momentum” and AWS’ huge investment in security capabilities for its cloud platform.

“That is a crazy amount of money to spend to buy Wiz,” said Goldstein. “Google has been spending a ton of money to promote Gemini and the Google Workspace environment in an attempt to grab share from Microsoft. Microsoft and Google are the only two vendors that have fully integrated AI into their productivity suites.”

The proposed acquisition comes in the midst of massive Microsoft investments to protect customers with security software offerings in every segment of the market from small businesses to the Fortune 100, said Goldstein.

“In my opinion, Microsoft is ahead of Google as far as security protection for midmarket and enterprise customers,” he said. “Google controls Google Cloud and Google devices really well, but does not integrate well with Microsoft desktop and enterprise environments.”

As to how the Google-Wiz deal impacts AWS, Goldstein said he does not see the Wiz acquisition providing as big a threat to the public cloud market leader. “AWS is well-regarded as a cloud platform with robust security and is highly regarded by customers,” he said. “I see this deal going more aggressively after Microsoft.”

Microsoft’s channel strength and commitment is a big advantage over Google Cloud, said Goldstein. “Microsoft is doing a great job in the channel bringing improvements in both product and channel initiatives to move partners forward in AI and security,” he said.

“In the next three days across Microsoft and multiple distributors we have four potential online trainings,” he added. “We are seeing a lot of help from Microsoft and its distributors to educate us and help us be successful with Microsoft security and cloud.”

Michael Hadley, president and CEO of iCorps Technology, a Woburn, Mass.-based MSP, said he also sees the deal as a broadside to grab “security mind and market share” from Microsoft.

“I’m not surprised Google would pay such a high price for Wiz,” he said. “Microsoft has so much security and AI momentum that Google needed to do something to be more competitive. Even if this deal goes through, they have a big hill to climb to catch up with Microsoft.”

Hadley said his company’s Microsoft security and AI sales doubled in 2024 and he expects it to double again this year. “When you look at the whole picture with Microsoft’s security platform, tools, productivity suite and cloud—it makes more sense for customers than Google.”

One sign of Microsoft’s momentum: iCorps has migrated over the last two years 50 customers off Google Cloud to Microsoft Azure. “We have some customers that say they are a Google shop and they are going to stay that way. [But] then six months or a year later, we are migrating them to Microsoft, all managed under one platform,” he said. “What Microsoft has done so well is make each component of their platform, including AI and security, work so well together. Google Cloud doesn’t have the depth and integration that Microsoft does.”

Google Is ‘Trying To Chat Up with Microsoft’

David Stinner, founder and president of MSSP US itek, Buffalo, N.Y., said he also sees the Google acquisition of Wiz as a direct shot at Microsoft.

“The ridiculous price that Google paid for the cloud security capabilities that Wiz provides proves they are trying to catch up with Microsoft,” he said. “They are trying to compete with Microsoft, but Microsoft Security is the platinum standard. It is even higher than the platinum standard. Microsoft is leading in AI and now they have the new AI Defender platform actually using AI in their SOC (security operations centers). They have an amazing offering to protect customers with the same level of intensity with AI at its core that bad actors are using to launch attacks.”

Stinner said he is hopeful that Microsoft will in the near future bring all of its AI-powered Defender and SOC services into the small and medium enterprise market.

Microsoft is a “natural play” for partners versus Google because of Microsoft’s long-standing channel commitment, said Stinner.

“I have been in the channel for 30 years growing up as a Microsoft WinTel shop,” he said. “Microsoft has been a channel-friendly company for decades, providing lots of margin and opportunity to sell product and services. Google has never played as deep and wide as Microsoft does in the channel.”

Google Cloud Throws ‘Cold Water’ On Wiz-AWS Relationship

Wiz CEO and co-founder, Assaf Rappaport, said his company plans to still work closely with its other cloud partners Microsoft and AWS.

“We will still work closely with our great partners at AWS, Azure, Oracle, and across the entire industry,” said Rappaport in a blog post. “We both believe Wiz needs to remain a multicloud platform, so that across any cloud, we will continue to be a leading platform.”

Ethan Simmons, CEO of PTP, a top-notch AWS partner, said Google’s acquisition of Wiz will likely have some impact on AWS.

“From the AWS security events that I’ve been too, Wiz has been part of those. Obviously, there was a strong push within AWS to help Wiz be successful in their accounts. This is definitely going to throw some cold water on those relationships,” Simmons.

“You’ll see less Wiz in AWS accounts going forward. Just in the sales cycle, I doubt they’ll see the same support they were seeing before from AWS sales teams,” he said.

However, Simmons doesn’t believe customers are going to immediately leave AWS for Google Cloud just because of Wiz. “Are customers going to make a change just because Google owns it? I don’t think it’ll have that big of an impact,” he said.