Google launches Fairwind cyber defense program for trusted partners
Google’s limited-access Fairwind Program combines Gemini 3.8 Flash Cyber with CodeMender to find, verify and fix software vulnerabilities.
Quick answer
What did Google announce with the Fairwind Program?
Google launched the Fairwind Program, a limited-access initiative for governments, Google Cloud customers and cybersecurity partners. The program combines Gemini 3.8 Flash Cyber with Google’s CodeMender harness to autonomously find, verify and fix vulnerabilities. Google says more than 650 partners participate globally under operational security requirements.
Key takeaways
- Google launched the Fairwind Program to provide selected governments, Google Cloud customers and cybersecurity partners with advanced cyber defense capabilities.
- The initial offering combines Gemini 3.8 Flash Cyber with the CodeMender harness to find, verify and fix vulnerabilities.
- Google says CodeMender can generate verified, deployment-ready patches within an organization’s secure cloud environment.
- Participating organizations must restrict access to designated security personnel and deploy protections such as multi-factor authentication.
- Google says more than 650 partners participate in the program globally.
Google launched the Fairwind Program, a limited-access initiative that gives selected government agencies, Google Cloud customers and cybersecurity partners access to its advanced cyber defense capabilities.
The company said the program will initially provide advanced Gemini models intended to help defenders autonomously find and fix software vulnerabilities. Google identified critical infrastructure, public services and national security systems as areas the program is designed to protect.
Gemini and CodeMender
The initial Fairwind offering combines Gemini 3.8 Flash Cyber, which Google describes as its most advanced cyber model, with the company’s CodeMender harness. Google said the combination can find, verify and fix vulnerabilities at what it calls agentic scale.
According to Google, Gemini 3.8 Flash Cyber supplies specialized reasoning used to write and validate code fixes. The company said CodeMender can generate verified, deployment-ready patches in minutes inside an organization’s secure cloud environment, rather than requiring weeks of manual remediation. Google also said the system operates at a fraction of the cost of traditional frontier models.
Google is prioritizing access to Gemini 3.8 Flash Cyber for Fairwind participants. The company said other Google Cloud customers can use CodeMender with publicly available models hosted on the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, together with solutions offered through AI Threat Defense.
Initial participants and access rules
Google said it is staging the program’s initial access for organizations that support societal resilience. Those participants include governments and national cyber authorities responsible for public-sector networks and citizen services, as well as operators in healthcare, telecommunications, energy and financial services. Core technology platforms that maintain widely used software foundations are also included.
More than 650 partners participate globally, according to Google. The company said participating organizations must agree to operational standards governing use of the cyber capabilities. Access must be limited to employees working on internal cybersecurity, incident response or penetration-testing teams. Participants must also deploy protections including multi-factor authentication.
Google said early access is intended to give trusted defenders time to strengthen their systems before malicious actors can exploit new capabilities.
Planned development
The company said Fairwind’s product offerings and partner access will change as the needs of participating organizations and users develop. Google plans to work with industry, governments and leaders in the open-weight community as it adjusts the program’s balance between access and security.
The announcement also connected Fairwind with Google.org’s cybersecurity work. Google said its latest commitment brings total Google.org cybersecurity funding worldwide to more than $100 million. Its 2026 U.S. Cybersecurity Impact Report accounts for $36 million in funding for 35 cyber clinics, which have provided free security support to more than 1,250 hospitals, public school districts and municipal utilities in the United States.
Source: Google’s Fairwind Program announcement, published September 2, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Google’s Fairwind Program?
- It is a limited-access program that gives selected governments, Google Cloud customers and cybersecurity partners access to Google’s advanced cyber defense capabilities.
- Which tools does the program provide?
- Google says the program’s initial offering combines Gemini 3.8 Flash Cyber with its CodeMender harness to find, verify and fix vulnerabilities.
- Who can use Fairwind capabilities?
- Google is staging initial access for governments and national cyber authorities, critical infrastructure operators, core technology platforms and other trusted partners. The company says more than 650 partners participate globally.
- What security requirements apply to participants?
- Participating organizations must follow operational standards, including limiting access to employees on internal cybersecurity, incident response or penetration-testing teams and deploying protections such as multi-factor authentication.