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Google's £32 Billion Bet on Cloud Security: What Wiz Means for the Future of Alphabet

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NEW Birthday Cake Donut, Milkybar® Raspberry Ripple McFlurry®, and More Arrive at McDonalds Restaurants from 17th July.

Jul 15, 20242 min read

Joining these nostalgic sweet treats are the Double Big Mac®, Double Big Mac® with Bacon, and McCrispy® BBQ Smokehouse. Plus, welcoming the NEW showstopping side, Cheesy Garlic Bread Dippers.

20p from each Birthday Cake Donut sale will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, which celebrates its 35th birthday this year.

It’s time to celebrate McDonald’s style, as it celebrates its 50th birthday! Say hello to a limited-edition menu, featuring THREE brand new desserts and a new cheesy side. Plus, a selection of returning icons are back on the scene.

BIRTHDAY TREATS

What says ‘happy birthday’ better than a ring doughnut with a strawberry-flavoured filling, topped with buttercream-flavoured icing and sprinkles?! The Birthday Cake Donut joins the McCafe® menu and it’s sure to be every dessert fan’s dream.

Best of all, McDonald’s will donate 20p from each Birthday Cake Donut sale to Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, which also celebrates its 35th birthday this year! McDonald’s is a founding and forever partner of the Charity, which provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with children in hospital.

It's time for McFlurry fans to rejoice, as TWO brand-new flavours land on the birthday menu. Up first, it’s the Milkybar® Raspberry Ripple McFlurry®, featuring soft dairy ice cream swirled with mini Milkybar chocolate drops and topped with a sweet & sharp raspberry sauce…yum! And if that’s not enough, introduce Munchies® Cookie Dough McFlurry®, made up of soft dairy ice cream swirled with chocolate-coated Munchies biscuit pieces and topped with a caramel cookie dough sauce. Two perfect nostalgic flavours to truly get in the birthday mood.

AND FOR THE MAIN EVENT…

It wouldn’t be a McDonald’s line-up without our legendary burgers, and it is no different on the brand’s big birthday. Fan favourites Double Big Mac® and Double Big Mac® with Bacon. will be re-joining the menu, featuring four 100% beef patties, a slice of cheese, lettuce, onion, and pickles. And the sauce. That unbeatable, tasty Big Mac® sauce.

Making its first re-appearance since October 2023, it’s the McCrispy® BBQ Smokehouse! This burger is 100% chicken breast fillet in a crispy, crunchy coating with a smoky BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, red onion and lettuce, all in a delicious sourdough-style sesame-topped bun.

CELEBRATORY SIDES AND SHARE BOXES

Calling all garlic bread fans! Cheesy Garlic Bread Dippers will be making their grand debut in this extra-special birthday menu. Featuring four mozzarella dippers flavoured with garlic and chives in a ciabatta-style breadcrumb coating, served with rich tomato dip. Also available in a Sharebox. Say cheese!

Last but certainly not least, the McDonald’s Chicken Sharebox® will be staying on the menu, including six Chicken Selects®, twelve Chicken McNuggets®, plus two McNuggets® dips and two Selects® dips. Cluckin’ lovely.

But if Chicken Selects are your favourite, don’t worry, the 9 Chicken Selects Sharebox® with 3 Selects® Dips will also remain.

Google's £32 Billion Bet on Cloud Security: What Wiz Means for the Future of Alphabet

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19 March 2025

Connor Banks

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In a landmark move, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has announced its largest acquisition to date: a £32 billion all-cash deal to purchase Wiz, a fast-growing cloud security start-up. This strategic acquisition not only highlights the increasing importance of cybersecurity in the AI era but also signals Google’s ambition to challenge Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure in the multi-billion-pound cloud computing market.

A Strategic Play for Cybersecurity Dominance

Wiz, founded in 2020 by cybersecurity veterans, has rapidly ascended as a key player in cloud security. The company specialises in providing tools that help organisations detect and mitigate security risks across major cloud platforms—including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Wiz’s emphasis on a multi-cloud approach has made it particularly attractive in a world where enterprises often rely on multiple cloud providers.

By acquiring Wiz, Google is making a bold statement: Security is now a top priority in its cloud strategy. This comes at a time when cybersecurity threats are escalating and businesses demand more robust protection against breaches, ransomware, and AI-driven attacks.

Why Google Needs Wiz

Despite being a tech giant, Google Cloud remains the third-largest cloud provider, trailing behind AWS and Microsoft Azure. While Google has made significant strides in AI and data analytics, it has struggled to gain an edge in cloud security—a crucial factor for enterprise clients.

Enhanced Security Portfolio: Wiz’s platform will strengthen Google Cloud’s security offerings, making it more competitive against Microsoft, which has invested heavily in security solutions.
Multi-Cloud Expansion: Unlike some past Google acquisitions that were integrated exclusively into Google’s ecosystem, Wiz will continue to support AWS and Azure, helping Google maintain a presence in rival platforms.
AI-Driven Security Solutions: With Google at the forefront of AI, Wiz’s security capabilities can be enhanced using AI-powered threat detection and automation, setting a new industry standard.

Regulatory & Competitive Challenges

However, this deal is not without challenges. Given the £32 billion price tag, Alphabet will face scrutiny from regulators in the UK, the US, and Europe, who may investigate the acquisition for potential anti-competitive concerns. Additionally, the move is expected to intensify competition with Microsoft and Amazon, both of whom have also been ramping up their cybersecurity investments.

While Wiz’s commitment to multi-cloud compatibility is a selling point, there is always the risk that competitors could respond aggressively, either by developing competing technologies or challenging the acquisition on regulatory grounds.

What This Means for the Future of Google

Alphabet’s bet on Wiz highlights a broader shift in Google’s business strategy:

Cybersecurity is no longer an afterthought—it’s a centrepiece of cloud innovation.
Google Cloud is evolving into a true enterprise powerhouse, aiming to take market share from AWS and Microsoft.
AI and security will increasingly converge, with Google leading the charge in developing AI-driven security solutions.

With the deal expected to close in 2026, all eyes will be on how Google integrates Wiz’s platform and whether this move will finally tip the balance in the cloud computing wars.

Conclusion

Google’s acquisition of Wiz is more than just a big-ticket purchase—it’s a strategic shift that underscores the growing role of security, AI, and multi-cloud infrastructure in the future of cloud computing. Whether this gamble pays off will depend on how well Google can execute its vision and convince enterprise customers that it is the safest and smartest choice for their cloud needs.