Wiz, the Israeli-born cloud security startup, has secured a record-breaking $32B acquisition deal with Google. Discover how Wiz works, what it does, and how it compares with competitors like Orca Security and Lacework in the evolving cloud security landscape.
Introduction
Wiz, a rising force in cloud cybersecurity, has made global headlines by securing a $32 billion acquisition deal from Google—marking Alphabet's largest deal to date. Founded in 2020, Wiz has quickly redefined what cloud-native security means through rapid product development, customer-focused innovation, and support for multi-cloud environments.
But the buzz around Wiz goes beyond valuation. As organisations ask "how does Wiz work?", "what does Wiz actually do?" and "which Wiz app should I use?", the answers lie in its architectural focus and operational agility. This article answers those questions with clarity, data, and competitive insight.
What Does Wiz Do?
Wiz provides agentless, API-driven cloud security that enables enterprises to scan their infrastructure across AWS, Azure, GCP, and Kubernetes environments. Rather than relying on traditional endpoint detection or firewalls, Wiz delivers complete visibility into cloud configurations, vulnerabilities, identities, and secrets — all in one platform.
Core Capabilities
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Agentless Scanning | No installation required; scans infrastructure via APIs |
| Security Graph | Unified graph correlating workload, identity, network & secrets |
| Vulnerability Management | CVE prioritisation with context-aware threat mapping |
| CSPM + CNAPP | Combines Cloud Security Posture Management with cloud-native protection |
| Multi-Cloud Visibility | Supports AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes |
How Does Wiz Work?
Wiz connects to a customer’s cloud environment through read-only API access, enabling near-instant scanning of the entire environment without deploying agents. Its proprietary “Security Graph” correlates different security layers — workload, data, permissions — into a single view that enables prioritised remediation.
Unlike tools that provide alert fatigue with thousands of unprioritised issues, Wiz focuses on what matters most — helping engineers fix the right issues, fast.
"What other companies take months to understand, Wiz resolved in weeks," said Shardul Shah, Index Ventures.
Which Wiz App Should You Use?
If you're a:
- CISO or security lead: Full Wiz CNAPP (Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform)
- DevOps/Platform Engineer: API integrations with CI/CD for shift-left security
- Compliance team: CSPM dashboard with audit-ready reporting
There’s no fragmented product line — just one unified, scalable platform that adapts to multiple roles.
Wiz vs Competitors: A Comparative Snapshot
| Vendor | Founded | Core Strength | Cloud Coverage | Unique Differentiator |
| Wiz | 2020 | Unified CNAPP + agentless | AWS, Azure, GCP | Security Graph + rapid scalability |
| Orca Security | 2019 | Side-scanning for cloud | AWS, Azure, GCP | Deep workload visibility |
| Lacework | 2015 | Behavioural anomaly detection | AWS, Azure, GCP | ML-powered threat detection |
| SentinelOne | 2013 | Endpoint & XDR | Limited cloud focus | AI-powered endpoint protection |
| Qualys | 1999 | Vulnerability scanning | Hybrid/Cloud | Long-standing reputation, broad featureset |
| Illumio | 2013 | Zero Trust segmentation | Hybrid | Real-time microsegmentation |
| Netskope | 2012 | SASE + cloud threat protection | SaaS + Web | Real-time data protection & cloud firewall |
| Tenable | 2002 | Vulnerability management | Hybrid | Nessus integration |
| Aqua Security | 2015 | Container & Kubernetes security | Kubernetes-native | Deep integration into CI/CD pipelines |
| Cyera | 2021 | Data-centric security | Multi-cloud | DSPM (Data Security Posture Mgmt) focus |
| Cloudflare | 2009 | CDN + Zero Trust tools | Edge/cloud hybrid | Web application firewall at scale |
Why Google Paid $32 Billion for Wiz
- $700M ARR, en route to $1B in 2025
- Rapid deployment & cross-cloud coverage
- Adoption by Fortune 100 and global banks
- Vendor-agnostic security graph model
- Co-founders from Israel's elite Unit 8200 with a proven exit track record
In essence, Wiz is not just a security product—it’s an operational philosophy that streamlines cloud risk management across all layers.
Final Thoughts
Wiz is now not only a unicorn but a market maker in the cloud security space. With Google’s backing, it’s poised to expand beyond cloud configuration into data-centric security, compliance automation, and proactive threat defence.
If you're evaluating next-gen cloud security tools, Wiz should be top of mind. For most modern cloud-first teams, the question isn't whether to use Wiz — it's when.
Discussion