Google’s massive $32 billion acquisition of cloud security firm Wiz has reached a critical milestone after successfully clearing an antitrust review by the U.S. Department of Justice. Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport confirmed the regulatory progress during a Wall Street Journal event this Tuesday, marking a significant step forward for one of the tech industry’s largest cloud-focused mergers.
Regulatory Clearance and Next Steps
While the DOJ’s approval signals that the deal has moved past a major federal barrier, Rappaport emphasized that the acquisition remains a work in progress. Despite clearing this hurdle, the transaction requires additional formalities before it can officially close. Industry analysts and reports from Reuters suggest the finalization of the deal is currently slated for early 2026.
From $23 Billion Rejection to $32 Billion Deal
The path to this acquisition has been marked by strategic patience from Wiz. Google initially attempted to acquire the startup in 2024 with a $23 billion bid. However, Wiz leadership rejected the offer, with Rappaport expressing confidence that the company’s valuation would climb significantly as it scaled its operations.
That bet proved accurate. Following the rejection, the companies resumed negotiations in early 2025, culminating in a formal announcement in March that Google would acquire Wiz for $32 billion. This figure reflects the rapid growth and increasing market relevance of Wiz within the competitive cloud security landscape.
Antitrust Scrutiny
The deal first drew federal attention earlier this year, with Bloomberg reporting in June that the acquisition was under formal antitrust review. With the DOJ now satisfied, Google moves closer to integrating Wiz’s specialized security infrastructure into its broader cloud services portfolio, a move intended to bolster its defense capabilities against sophisticated cyber threats.