In a significant move to strengthen its position in the enterprise information security market, Google is set to unveil its new unified security platform, Google Unified Security (GUS), during the Cloud Next event taking place today. Industry analysts believe this initiative could be pivotal as Google seeks to challenge Microsoft for a larger market share in the rapidly expanding field of cybersecurity.

The Google Unified Security platform is designed to integrate several existing security services offered by Google, including threat intelligence, security operations, and cloud security solutions, along with Chrome Enterprise. Notably, the platform will also leverage advanced agentic AI technology, a trend that has gained traction in recent years.

Googles approach to cybersecurity is reminiscent of Microsofts recent strategy, which was highlighted last month with the introduction of task-specific AI agents. These agents are designed to interact seamlessly with various security products, providing valuable insights and reports that help security analysts prioritize alerts that require immediate attention.

One of the notable features of GUS is the Google Security Operations agent, which can triage security alerts by analyzing the context of each incident. This sophisticated system then advises security personnel on which issues need prompt resolution. Another innovative agent utilizes AI to assess malware threats, helping organizations understand the potential risks they face.

During the second quarter of this year, select customers will have the opportunity to test these new security agents as part of Googles broader push into enterprise security. The launch of this platform aligns perfectly with Googles Cloud Next event, marking a strategic moment for the tech giant.

A spokesperson for Google remarked, "Google as a company looks at the competitive landscape and asks: Why cant we also be a major player in enterprise security?" This ambition is underscored by the recent acquisitions of Wiz and Mandiant, which have significantly bolstered Googles cybersecurity capabilitiesWiz being a cloud security startup purchased for a staggering $32 billion, marking Google's largest acquisition to date.

Googles acquisition of Mandiant for $5.4 billion in 2022 further demonstrates its commitment to becoming a formidable player in the information security sector. However, despite these substantial investments, industry experts note that Google still lags behind Microsoft, which has established itself as the worlds largest security vendor.

Neil MacDonald, a Vice President at Gartner Research, stated, "Microsoft has reported annual security business revenues exceeding $20 billion, whereas Googles security sales are believed to be a small fraction of that amount."

So, how does Wiz enhance Googles capabilities? Wiz offers a state-of-the-art Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP), which is crucial for securing cloud-native applications from their inception through to their runtime. This continuous monitoring ensures that threats are identified and mitigated while maintaining compliance with security policies.

Wizs technology is adaptable across multiple cloud environments, which allows Google to market it not only to its Cloud customers but also to users of other public cloud services. A memo from Forresters VP and principal analyst, Andras Cser, emphasized that "multi-cloud CNAPP is indispensable for cloud infrastructure security," suggesting that this capability will significantly accelerate Google Clouds penetration into numerous enterprise sectors.

Cser also remarked on the staggering acquisition price of Wiz, which surpasses Cisco's previous record purchase of Splunk for $28 billion. He explained that this investment reflects Googles urgency to establish a competitive edge and rapidly acquire customers in a market that demands immediate solutions.

With Googles aggressive strategy to bolster its security offerings, it aims to create a cloud platform that not only rivals its competitors but sets new standards in security excellence. The GUS platform combines various elements, such as browser telemetry and asset context from Chrome Enterprise, integrated with Google Security Operations to enhance threat detection and remediation measures.

Additionally, Google Threat Intelligence will be integrated with security validation functions to proactively identify potential vulnerabilities while testing security controls against the latest threat actor activities. This comprehensive approach signifies Googles intent to deliver a multifaceted security platform that encompasses a wide range of functions and controls.

MacDonald pointed out that Microsoft has effectively leveraged such a strategy, combining identity management, data protections, and a robust Security Information and Event Management platform (SIEM) to create a compelling offering for enterprise customers. He noted, "Google is attempting to encourage businesses to consider more of their services, including Chronicle SecOps, Chrome Enterprise, Wiz's core technology, and the Security Command Center."

While it appears that Google may not aim to directly replicate Microsofts model, it certainly seeks to adopt similar strategies to enhance its enterprise security revenue. MacDonald believes Google possesses the potential to evolve into a multi-billion-dollar security software business independent of its cloud services. "I believe they want that to happen, and I also believe they can achieve it," he concluded.