10+ Years of Proven FedRAMP &
Cloud Security Success
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Founding Advisors


We are a team of FedRAMP and Mission-Critical SaaS Security experts with 10+ consecutive years of successfully running FedRAMP clouds. Our backgrounds span Dell, Palantir, Virtustream, Oracle, BCG, Avanade, and Palo Alto Networks, bringing deep expertise in building and securing mission-critical cloud solutions for government and enterprise.
Government SaaS by the Numbers
US Government annual spend on software.
US Government annual spend on SaaS.
50% Year over year growth of US Government spend on SaaS.
The number of NIST 800-53 controls needs to be achieved for FedRAMP Moderate.
The total number of FedRAMPed applications as of March 2025.
The number of applications in AWS Marketplace.
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Knox Blog
The FedStart Kubernetes infrastructure – which runs on top of AWS GovCloud and Azure Government – manages FIPS validated encryption, logging, authentication, vulnerability scanning, and more (so that you don’t have to).
Part 3: Toward Continuous Compliance: Open Telemetry, Control Coverage, and the Role of the 3PAO
Part 3: Toward Continuous Compliance: Open Telemetry, Control Coverage, and the Role of the 3PAO
By Casey Jones, Chief Architect of Knox Systems
In Part 1, we proposed the concept of a Security Ledger: a cryptographically verifiable system of record for compliance that updates continuously based on real-time evidence. In Part 2, we detailed how risk-adjusted confidence scores can be calculated using Bayes’ Theorem and recorded immutably in LedgerDB.
In this third and final part of the series, we focus on the next frontier: standardizing telemetry coverage across controls, open-sourcing the control-to-evidence map, and redefining the role of the 3PAO to ensure integrity in a continuous compliance world.
Building the Open Compliance Telemetry Layer
In order for the Security Ledger to be trustworthy, it must be fed with comprehensive, observable evidence across the full FedRAMP boundary. That means creating a control-to-telemetry map that:
- Defines what evidence types are relevant for each FedRAMP control
- Maps those to Prometheus-compatible metrics
- Defines evidence freshness, decay windows, and severity
- Supports automated generation of control coverage reports
At Knox, we’re working to open-source this telemetry model so that:
- Every stakeholder (CSPs, 3PAOs, agencies) understands the required observability footprint
- No one is guessing what counts as evidence
- The community can contribute new detectors and mappings
Just like OWASP standardized threat awareness, we need a COTM — Common Observability for Trust Model.
Coverage Is the Control: Incomplete Telemetry ≠ Compliance
In the current FedRAMP model, it's possible to "pass" controls without actually observing the whole system. But in a ledger-based model, telemetry gaps are violations.
Examples of common pitfalls:
- Only scanning certain subnets or environments (e.g., “we forgot our staging VPN”)
- Disabling or misconfiguring logging for noisy subsystems
- Letting vulnerability scan coverage drop below 100% of the boundary
- Using static evidence from prior scans without freshness guarantees
- Allowing Prometheus exporters to fail silently without alerting
In a real-time, risk-scored model, all of these create confidence decay—and should result in lowered scores or even automated POA&M creation.
The New Role of the 3PAO: Continuous Verifier of Scope, Integrity, and Fair Play
In a world where compliance is driven by real-time evidence, the Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) becomes more critical—not less.
But their role shifts from "point-in-time validator" to continuous integrity checker.
Here’s what the 3PAO’s job looks like in a Knox-style system:
1. Boundary Enforcement
- Validate that all components within the FedRAMP boundary are included in telemetry coverage
- Detect "convenient omissions" (e.g., shadow servers, unmonitored edge cases)
2. Signal Integrity
- Confirm that metrics flowing into the Security Ledger are accurate, unmodified, and traceable
- Review sampling intervals, evidence freshness, and exporter health
- Perform forensic verification of selected evidence streams
3. Anti-Fraud Auditing
- Detect signs of foul play or negligence, such as:
- Turning off scanning before high-risk deploys
- Creating “burner” environments that avoid monitoring
- Suppressing alert signals or log forwarders
- Replaying old data to simulate real-time telemetry
4. Ledger Auditing
- Verify the cryptographic chain of trust in the ledger system (e.g., via Amazon Aurora PostresSQL or blockchain)
- Ensure control scores are only adjusted by valid evidence with assigned LLRs
- Validate that manual overrides are documented and signed
In this model, the 3PAO becomes the trust anchor of the continuous compliance pipeline.
They’re not just checking boxes—they’re inspecting the wiring.
Transparency Through Community
All of this only works if the model is open:
- The LLRs for each control must be public
- The control-to-metrics map must be versioned and community-governed
- The Security Ledger’s core schema must be inspectable and verifiable
Just as large language models opened their weights to gain credibility, compliance models must open their logic. Closed-source compliance logic is a liability.
The Future of FedRAMP Is Verifiable, Transparent, and Alive
We’re not just building for ATOs—we’re building for continuous trust.
FedRAMP’s future lies in:
- Real-time metrics
- Probabilistic control scoring
- Immutable audit trails
- Open-source control logic
- 3PAOs as continuous validators, not just periodic checkers
At Knox, we’re committed to that shift—because trust shouldn’t expire every 12 months.
Part 2: Toward Continuous Compliance Quantifying Risk with Bayes and Capturing Evidence in a Security Ledger
Part 2: Toward Continuous Compliance Quantifying Risk with Bayes and Capturing Evidence in a Security Ledger
By Chris Johnson, CTO of Knox Systems
In Part 1, we introduced the Security Ledger—a real-time, tamper-proof system that reframes FedRAMP compliance as a probabilistic, continuously updated measure, not a static report. Now, in Part 2, we go under the hood.
We'll show how Bayesian inference, log-likelihood ratios (LLRs), and ledger-based transparency work together to produce a living risk engine—one that is inspectable, auditable, and mathematically defensible.
And yes, we brought code and real data.
From Binary to Bayesian: Probabilistic Assurance of Control Effectiveness
FedRAMP controls aren’t simply "on" or "off." Their effectiveness shifts with context, evidence, and time. So we treat each control as a probabilistic hypothesis:
P(Control is Effective | Evidence)
This lets us reason continuously over real-world telemetry: IAM logs, patch scans, drift reports, vulnerability findings, and more. The system updates confidence scores in real time—no waiting for annual audits.
Step 1: Assigning Prior Probabilities
Every control begins with a prior belief—a starting point for how likely it is to be effective. These priors are informed by:
- Control category (e.g. access control vs. incident response)
- Historical failure rates
- Threat modeling and exploit severity
- Complexity and likelihood of drift
Example:
{
"AC-2": { "prior": 0.90 },
"SC-12": { "prior": 0.75 },
"SI-2": { "prior": 0.60 }
}
These priors are tunable and evolve with new deployments and observed outcomes.
Step 2: Defining Evidence and LLRs
We define discrete evidence events—findings that either increase or decrease confidence in a control. Each is assigned a log-likelihood ratio (LLR):
log(posterior odds) = log(prior odds) + Σ LLRs
This additive update makes real-time scoring efficient and interpretable.
Example for SI-2 (Flaw Remediation):
"SI-2": {
"evidence": [
{ "name": "high_cvss_unpatched", "llr": -2.5 },
{ "name": "monthly_patching_completed", "llr": 1.0 },
{ "name": "vuln_scanner_stale", "llr": -1.0 }
]
}
LLRs are computed based on empirical data and mapped to actual telemetry triggers.
Real-World Example: AC-2 (Account Management)
From our working model:
- Risk Scenario: A former employee's account is still active and exploited
- P(A): 0.3 (probability of compromise if ineffective)
- Evidence LLRs:
- Account review overdue: -1.2
- No MFA for privileged accounts: -1.5
- Active Directory logs confirm removal: +1.0
- Account review overdue: -1.2
This model is applied to all 323 FedRAMP Moderate controls using structured data and open analysis:
🔗 GitHub Repo: Knox-Gov/nist_bayes_risk_auto
Prioritizing What Matters: The High-Risk Controls
Using this model, we ranked all FedRAMP Moderate controls by severity and potential impact.
The Top 11 High-Risk Controls stood out due to:
- High exploitation risk
- Poor observability without targeted telemetry
- Broad system impact if compromised

These controls form the foundation of our telemetry blueprint—what every system should continuously monitor and score.
Step 3: Continuous Confidence Calculation
Every time Prometheus scrapes a new metric:
- Convert prior to log-odds
- Add up matching LLRs
- Convert back to a probability using the logistic function:
P = 1 / (1 + e^(-log odds))
This produces a dynamic confidence score for each control, updated in real time as evidence changes.
Step 4: Writing to the Security Ledger (Amazon Aurora PostresSQL)
Every update—control ID, evidence, LLRs, and confidence score—is appended as a new, immutable revision to Amazon Aurora PostresSQL, our Security Ledger backend.
Each record includes:
- Control ID
- Timestamps
- Prior and posterior probabilities
- Evidence names + timestamps
- LLR sum
- Operator ID (if manually overridden)
This creates a cryptographically verifiable audit trail. Auditors and agencies can trace any score, see what changed, and confirm whether evidence was valid and in-scope.
Why This Must Be Open
If machines are going to tell us when a control is “healthy,” then the logic behind it must be transparent.
That’s why we’re open-sourcing:
- The LLR control dictionary
- Control-to-evidence mappings
- Assumptions and source data
Just like LLMs disclose model weights and benchmarks, compliance logic must be explainable, auditable, and improvable by the community.
Compliance is too important to be a black box.
Recap: What We’ve Built
- Bayesian engine for dynamic scoring
- Prior and evidence probabilities for every FedRAMP Moderate control
- Identification of top 11 high-risk controls
- Immutable compliance ledger in Amazon Aurora PostresSQL
- Prometheus telemetry mapping in progress
- GitHub: Open LLR control spec
Coming in Part 3:
We’ll go deeper into instrumentation—mapping every FedRAMP Moderate control to Prometheus-compatible metrics and redefining the role of the 3PAO as a real-time verifier of system integrity.
The future of trust is continuous, explainable, and open. Let’s build it together.
Part 1: FedRAMP Needs a Security Ledger—Not Just a Checklist
FedRAMP Needs a Security Ledger—Not Just a Checklist, Part 1
By Irina Denisenko, CEO of Knox Systems
FedRAMP has long set the benchmark for cloud security compliance in the public sector. But its current structure—based on periodic assessments and voluminous documentation—struggles to reflect real-time risk and operational truth. What’s missing is not just a better checklist. What’s missing is a Security Ledger.
Just as blockchain introduced the concept of an immutable ledger to prove ownership in crypto, a Security Ledger would establish a tamper-proof, transparent record of an organization’s control posture: Are you compliant or not—and with what level of confidence?
But unlike public blockchains, this ledger isn’t visible to the world. Access is strictly limited to the parties who need to validate the system's security:
- The Cloud Service Provider (CSP)
- The consuming Agency(ies)
- The authorized Third-Party Assessors (3PAOs)
No one else. This is a permissioned ledger, designed for shared trust between verified participants, not public exposure.
But security controls aren't binary. In practice, compliance lives on a spectrum. Some controls are fully satisfied, others only partially. Evidence decays. Systems drift. Risk must be constantly re-evaluated. That’s where Bayesian reasoning comes in. By applying Bayes' Theorem to control assessment—drawing from the excellent work by Stephen Shaffer—we can quantify our belief in the effectiveness of each control and update it continuously based on new observations.
So how do we build this?
The answer lies in Prometheus—the open-source monitoring system that already powers observability at scale across the cloud. Prometheus is built for high-volume, time-series data and excels at continuously scraping, storing, and querying metrics. It's an ideal foundation for a risk-adjusted compliance telemetry layer.
Imagine a system where every FedRAMP control has a corresponding set of observable metrics—scraped, labeled, and stored over time using Prometheus. These metrics feed into a Bayesian model that computes dynamic confidence scores for each control. When paired with a cryptographically verifiable ledger system, this becomes a living, breathing compliance profile: a Security Ledger that is transparent, provable, and grounded in operational reality.
At Knox, we’re building toward this future—one where compliance is not a static report, but a living signal. Powered by open standards like Prometheus and informed by probabilistic models, this is how we transform trust: from paperwork to math.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where our CTO will deep-dive into how Knox envisions the mechanics behind risk-adjusting control confidence using Bayesian inference—and how we ensure the immutability and auditability of that data using Amazon Aurora PostresSQL. We’ll walk through how likelihood ratios are assigned, how evidence is evaluated in real time, and why open-sourcing the control model is essential to building trust in the next era of FedRAMP.
FedRAMP 20x: The Future of Simplified Cloud Security Compliance
TL;DR
- FedRAMP 20x introduces a streamlined, developer-friendly approach to security compliance for cloud service providers (CSPs).
- It uses code-based JSON reporting to replace traditional manual documentation.
- Knox Systems’ CMX Platform adds the critical context and automation needed to make this approach work at scale.
What is FedRAMP 20x?
FedRAMP 20x is a transformative new government program announced on March 24, 2025, designed to modernize how cloud service providers (CSPs) demonstrate compliance with FedRAMP security standards.
Instead of relying on manual documents and static reports, FedRAMP 20x introduces a code-driven model for security validation. CSPs can use JSON objects with boolean expressions to represent their system’s current security state—for example: "encryption": true.
This approach aims to make FedRAMP compliance simpler, faster, and more transparent for both providers and agencies.
Why FedRAMP 20x Matters for Cloud Security
The traditional FedRAMP authorization process is known for being complex, outdated, and time-consuming. FedRAMP 20x changes that by:
- Reducing complexity in cloud security compliance
- Providing a clear, machine-readable security reporting model
- Helping agencies and auditors instantly assess security posture
But there's one big challenge: context.
Simplicity Needs Context
Even with automation, a simple flag like "encryption": true doesn’t tell the full story. CSPs still need to prove:
- Where encryption is applied (e.g., at rest, in transit, internal traffic)
- How it’s implemented (e.g., key management, algorithms, scope)
- Whether it complies with NIST 800-53, ZTA, and other frameworks
That’s where most compliance tools fall short.
How Knox Systems’ CMX Platform Complements FedRAMP 20x
The Knox CMX Platform fills the context gap by acting as a security automation platform that links together:
- GRC tools (Governance, Risk & Compliance)
- CNAPPs (Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms)
- GitOps and Infrastructure-as-Code pipelines
- Hyperscale cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and GCP
With Knox, CSPs can:
- Generate continuous, real-time assessments
- Track and remediate POA&Ms (Plans of Action & Milestones)
- Maintain audit-ready compliance documentation
- Get prescriptive guidance for meeting security standards
The result? Simplified, continuous, and contextual compliance—all integrated into your DevSecOps workflows.
Why This Is a Big Deal for the Industry
FedRAMP 20x is more than a policy change. It marks a paradigm shift in how public-sector cloud security is defined, measured, and verified.
Security teams and CSPs that embrace this model early—especially those using tools like Knox Systems’ CMX Platform—will have a competitive edge in the government cloud marketplace.
Final Takeaway
March 24, 2025, marks the start of a new era in cloud compliance. FedRAMP 20x will reshape how we:
- Build secure systems
- Prove compliance
- And respond to emerging threats
With the Knox CMX Platform, your team is equipped to automate security context, deliver faster FedRAMP readiness, and stay ahead of evolving compliance frameworks.
The Knox Approach
Knox has the most ATOs, the most flexible architecture, and the cheapest and fastest time-to-FedRAMP.
How does Knox Compare to the competition?
- Fastest and Cheapest Time-to-ATO
- Knox can secure an ATO in as fast as 90 days. How? Knox has invested in creating the largest boundary in the market across all AWS, Azure, GCP, and all major LLMS, allowing us to quickly map your architecture to our existing cloud.
- Most ATOs
- Knox has 13 ATOs, far surpassing competitors.
- With 9 years of FedRAMP approvals, Knox has more experience than competitors, ensuring a smoother, proven process.
- Most Flexible Architecture
- Infrastructure Agnostic Deploy: Deploy apps using Containerized, Microservice, Serverless or any other architecture. Knox does not require containerization.
In short, Knox offers the most ATOs, the fastest process, and the best cost-to-value ratio, making it the strongest choice in the market.
Introducing Knox Systems: Unlocking the Government SaaS Market with FedRAMP-as-a-Service
February 2025
The Stark Reality: Thriving Commercial SaaS vs. Sparse Government Options
The commercial SaaS ecosystem is booming. Major platforms like AWS Marketplace, Microsoft AppSource, Salesforce AppExchange, and SAP Store each host thousands of applications—10,000+, 7,000+, 7,000+, and 3,000+, respectively.
Meanwhile, the FedRAMP Marketplace, the U.S. government’s centralized repository for approved cloud software, lists just 370 apps. The contrast is stark: while enterprises and small businesses benefit from a vast array of software solutions, federal agencies are left with limited options, burdened by slow approval processes and high barriers to entry.
The FedRAMP Bottleneck: A $3M Price Tag and Years of Waiting
For SaaS companies looking to enter the government market, the FedRAMP certification process is a major roadblock. Compliance can cost upwards of $3 million and take up to 3 years to complete. The complexity, expense, and long timelines have made government sales inaccessible to all but the largest players, leaving agencies starved of modern software solutions.
This is the problem Knox Systems set out to solve.
Solving FedRAMP for Ourselves—Then for Others
Years ago, we faced this exact challenge. Our SaaS business was thriving in the commercial sector when a major federal agency expressed interest. But there was a catch: we needed FedRAMP certification. With a price tag exceeding $3 million and an uncertain timeline, it seemed out of reach.
Instead of going the traditional route, we found a faster, more cost-effective solution. By leveraging an existing FedRAMP cloud and optimizing the compliance process, we achieved certification in just six months at a fraction of the cost. This breakthrough unlocked contracts with key federal agencies and financial institutions, doubling our revenue.
Seeing the demand from other SaaS companies struggling with the same barriers, we knew we had to take this solution beyond our own company. Knox Systems was born.
Introducing Knox Systems: FedRAMP in Months, Not Years
Knox Systems provides FedRAMP-as-a-Service, enabling SaaS companies to enter the government market at 90% of the cost and in a fraction of the time compared to traditional certification paths.
Our approach removes the complexity, accelerates approval, and allows software providers to focus on what they do best—building and selling great products. With Knox, companies can bypass the multi-year compliance nightmare and start selling to federal agencies in as little as 90 days.
Why This Matters
The government urgently needs access to the same cutting-edge technology that powers the private sector. Yet, with only 370 approved apps compared to the tens of thousands available commercially, federal agencies are left with outdated tools and limited choices.
By breaking down the barriers to FedRAMP certification, Knox Systems is opening the floodgates for innovation in the public sector. SaaS companies no longer have to sit on the sidelines—Knox empowers them to serve the government quickly, affordably, and compliantly.
If your SaaS company is looking to unlock the $100B+ federal market, Knox Systems is your fastest path forward. The time for government SaaS is now—let’s build it together.
What Federal Agency CIOs Want to See in Your Security Posture
Thank you to the Agency CIO's who met with us and helped us compile this analysis.
Here's a cheat sheet for SaaS vendors who want to sell to the federal government—and stay on the shortlist.
You’ve got product-market fit.
You’re eyeing your first federal contract.
You’re working on FedRAMP readiness.
But there’s one question that still trips up even the most promising SaaS companies:
“What exactly do federal CIOs care about when they evaluate security?”
Hint: it’s not just whether you say you’re secure.
At Knox Systems, we work with SaaS vendors who are ready to sell to the government—but need help showing up like a trusted partner. That starts with understanding what buyers, especially CIOs and CISO teams, are looking for.
1. Real-Time Visibility, Not Point-in-Time Reports
Static PDFs don’t cut it anymore.
CIOs want:
Live dashboards of control status
Evidence that maps directly to NIST 800-53
Continuous monitoring—automated and verifiable
Change logs and drift alerts (bonus if tied to your CI/CD)
With CMX, SaaS vendors show up with real-time compliance telemetry, not just a folder full of attachments.
2. Clear Boundaries and Shared Responsibility
CIOs want to know:
- Where your system boundary ends
- What parts of your stack are FedRAMP inherited
- What controls you fully own
- How you've documented those relationships
Knox’s pre-authorized boundary makes this crystal clear and CMX auto-maps it to control coverage.
3. Structured, Machine-Readable Documentation (OSCAL)
The government is moving fast toward automation, and OSCAL is the new standard.
CIOs and AO teams want:
SSPs, POA&Ms, and inventories in OSCAL
Auto-validated packages that reduce review cycles
Documentation that can plug into agency review systems
CMX is OSCAL-native—meaning your docs are machine-readable and ready for reuse.
4. Evidence of Zero Trust Alignment
Since Executive Order 14028, Zero Trust is non-negotiable.
Federal CIOs want to see:
- Identity-based access
- Microsegmentation
- Continuous authentication
- Audit-ready access logs
- API-level monitoring
Knox’s shared infrastructure already meets many ZTA requirements—so your app layers plug right into a secure foundation.
5. Automation, Not Manual Compliance
Manual spreadsheets scream “immature posture.”
What wins confidence?
Automated compliance monitoring
Policy-as-code enforcement
Real-time alerts and auto-remediation
No consultants required to understand your stack
CMX reduces audit prep from weeks to minutes—and your buyers can see it live.
6. Operational Readiness
The CIO’s office doesn’t just ask “Are you secure?”
They ask: “Are you ready to operate in our environment?”
That means:
- Role-based access controls
- Dedicated Fed support tiers
- FedRAMP packages they can evaluate
- Incident response playbooks
- Multi-agency reuse potential
With Knox, vendors are operationally aligned from Day 1—so onboarding is measured in weeks, not quarters.
TL;DR
Federal CIOs are done taking vendors at their word.
They want posture, visibility, and automation.
Real-time dashboards
OSCAL-native documentation
Shared boundaries and mapped controls
Zero Trust alignment
Continuous, verifiable compliance
Assumed security is out.
Operational trust is in.
Let’s help you speak the language of the CIO—and win the room before your demo even starts.
Spacelift Selects Knox to Accelerate FedRAMP Authorization and Serve U.S. Government Customers
29 April, 2025 — Spacelift, the platform for infrastructure as code (IaC) management and automation, has selected Knox Systems, the fastest path to FedRAMP, to achieve FedRAMP authorization and expand access to U.S. Government customers.
This partnership enables Spacelift to deliver its secure and scalable IaC platform to federal agencies by leveraging Knox’s purpose-built, FedRAMP-ready cloud environment—reducing time-to-authorization from years to months, and eliminating the need for traditional agency sponsorship.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Knox to bring Spacelift’s automation and control capabilities to the U.S. Government,” said Pawel Hytry, CEO of Spacelift. “Their purpose-built boundary and streamlined FedRAMP approach make it possible for fast-moving companies like ours to meet the government’s high bar for security—without slowing down our roadmap.”
“Spacelift is exactly the kind of modern, developer-first platform we want to bring to government buyers,” said Irina Denisenko, CEO of Knox. “We’re excited to help them unlock a massive new market while empowering agencies to manage infrastructure more securely and efficiently.”
Spacelift is now on track to achieve FedRAMP authorization in record time, bringing flexible, policy-driven infrastructure automation to federal developers and DevSecOps teams.
About Knox Systems
Knox is the fastest way for SaaS vendors to get FedRAMP-ready and sell to the U.S. Government. Learn more at knoxsystems.com.
About Spacelift
Spacelift is the most flexible management platform for IaC frameworks like Terraform, Pulumi, and CloudFormation. Learn more at spacelift.io.
Knox Joins OpenPolicy to Accelerate Government Access to Cutting-Edge Software and AI
We’re proud to announce that Knox Systems has joined the OpenPolicy ecosystem, a coalition of forward-thinking companies including Wiz, Kiteworks, Armis, and others working to drive innovative cybersecurity, AI and government acquisition policies
As the AI revolution accelerates, the federal government faces a pivotal moment: adopt faster, smarter technologies or risk falling behind.Modernization is no longer a long-term goal. It’s an urgent priority. Agencies need secure, compliant pathways to adopt commercial innovation, especiallyAI-driven solutions, without years of red tape. Innovators and policy makers need to work closely together.
“AI is reshaping every industry, and the public sector is no exception,” said Irina Denisenko, CEO of Knox. “Knox exists to make it easy for innovative SaaS and AI vendors to serve government missions securely and at speed. JoiningOpenPolicy allows us to align our development and GTM to emerging policy and advance that mission alongside other leaders committed to driving thoughtful cybersecurity policies and getting cutting-edge tech into the hands of agencies who need it most.”
“The government can’t afford to get left behind in the AI era,” said Amit Elazari, CEO of OpenPolicy. “Knox brings deep FedRAMP and infrastructure expertise to the network, helping commercial companies overcome the compliance and procurement hurdles that have long slowed public sector innovation.”
Together, Knox and OpenPolicy are:
● Unlocking access to secure, compliant cloud infrastructure for AI and SaaS
● Helping federal buyers adopt commercial innovation faster
● Enabling a more efficient, mission-driven government powered by modern tools
This partnership is a leap forward for government IT, and a step closer to making AI and advanced software truly accessible across the public sector.
How Much Can You Save on FedRAMP? More Than You Think
For SaaS companies eyeing the federal market, FedRAMP isn’t just a compliance hurdle. It’s a cost center. The traditional path to authorization can run well into seven figures, with timelines that stretch 24 months or longer. Between consultants, infrastructure, documentation, and audit prep, many startups end up spending more on the process than they’ll make from their first federal deal.
At Knox, we built our platform to flip that model on its head. Instead of burning budget on one-off builds, you can plug into Knox’s pre-authorized infrastructure, inherit hundreds of security controls, and get to market faster, without sacrificing trust or audit readiness. The result? Massive savings in time, capital, and engineering effort.
Let’s look at the numbers:
Traditional FedRAMP Costs:
- $500K–$2M+ in advisory, documentation, and security tooling
- 12–18 months of internal engineering and product delay
- Wait an additional 12-18 months for that ATO, which you may or may not obtain
- Redundant investment in infrastructure and monitoring
With Knox:
- Shared, FedRAMP-authorized boundary
- Managed compliance, CMX-powered monitoring
- Pre-built documentation and control inheritance
- Timeline: as little as 90 days
- Cost: $350K
So... What’s It Worth ToYou?
Every SaaS company is different. That’s why we built a tool to help you model your own FedRAMP savings based on your infrastructure, staffing, and compliance stage.
Use the Knox SavingsCalculator: https://www.knoxsystems.com/pricing
Whether you're just starting or already deep in the FedRAMP journey, the calculator will show you how much you can save, and how fast you can move, with Knox as your FedRAMP compliance infrastructure partner.
Ready to move faster and spend smarter?
The federal market is full of opportunity, but only if you can get there without burning out your roadmap and your bank account. At Knox, we’re helping SaaS companies cut costs, accelerate ATOs, and win trust without compromise.
Let’s open the gate.
#FedRAMP20X #CloudSecurity #GovTech #CMX #ComplianceAutomation #StartupGrowth
From SOC 2 to FedRAMP: What Actually Changes (and What You Can Reuse)
Thinking about going federal? Your SOC 2 might get you halfway there—but only if you know what translates.
For many SaaS vendors, a SOC 2 Type II report is the first real milestone on the journey to trust. It signals to customers—especially in enterprise and regulated sectors—that you take security and controls seriously.
But when it’s time to move into the federal market, the question becomes:
“How far does SOC 2 get us toward FedRAMP?”
Spoiler: It helps. A lot. But it’s not a shortcut. You still have to fill in some critical gaps.
At Knox Systems, we help high-growth SaaS vendors bridge the gap from SOC 2 to FedRAMP every day. Here’s what actually translates—and what you’ll need to level up.
What You Can Reuse from SOC 2
SOC 2 and FedRAMP are built on different frameworks, but they share common DNA. If you’ve already completed a SOC 2 Type II, you’re likely to reuse:
Policies & Procedures
- Access control
- Change management
- Encryption standards
- Incident response
- Vendor management
Pro Tip: Make sure they’re mapped to specific NIST 800-53 controls. CMX can automate that.
Risk Assessments & Audit Evidence
SOC 2 requires documented risk management and control testing. FedRAMP will want to see this too—just in more granular, structured form (ideally in OSCAL).
Security Mindset & Culture
If your teams are already used to managing security controls, conducting reviews, and maintaining audit trails, you're well-prepared to handle the rigor of FedRAMP.
What Changes When You Go FedRAMP
Here’s where the shift gets real—and where most SaaS vendors need help.
Control Depth and Granularity
FedRAMP (based on NIST 800-53) goes much deeper than SOC 2:
- 325+ controls for Moderate
- Multiple enhancements per control
- Explicit requirements for logging, access provisioning, key management, continuous monitoring, and more
SOC 2 might ask "do you encrypt?" FedRAMP asks: "How, when, where, and is it logged and monitored continuously?"
Documentation Requirements
SOC 2 deliverables = audit report
FedRAMP deliverables = full-blown System Security Plan (SSP), POA&M, Inventory Lists, Control Implementation Summaries, and more.
Knox’s CMX engine generates all of this automatically—no 400-page Word doc writing marathons.
Assessment Rigor
SOC 2 is a point-in-time audit by a CPA firm.
FedRAMP involves:
- A third-party assessment organization (3PAO)
- Ongoing review by the Joint Authorization Board or an agency
- Continuous monitoring expectations
This is where CMX’s real-time compliance monitoring pays off—you’re always audit-ready.
Sponsorship and Boundary Scoping
SOC 2 doesn’t care how your infrastructure is set up.
FedRAMP cares a lot—including how your boundary is defined, what’s inherited, and how you segment workloads.
With Knox’s pre-authorized boundary, you inherit 80%+ of what’s required—so you focus on your app, not your architecture.
The Big Picture: SOC 2 Is a Foundation, Not a Passport
If you’ve achieved SOC 2 compliance, you're not starting from scratch.
But FedRAMP is a different animal—one designed for higher assurance, deeper transparency, and greater scrutiny.
The good news? With the right platform (hello, Knox), you can reuse your work, fill the gaps intelligently, and get to “In Process” status in 90–180 days—not years.
TL;DR
SOC 2 = Solid foundation
FedRAMP = Higher bar, deeper controls, more structure
Reuse your policies, procedures, and audit readiness
Automate your control mapping and evidence with CMX
Inherit the hard parts via Knox’s FedRAMP-authorized boundary
Manual remapping is out.
Smart reuse + automation is in.
Let’s build on what you’ve already
How Knox CMX Is Redefining Continuous Monitoring for SaaS Vendors
In legacy FedRAMP programs, continuous monitoring was a checkbox, a quarterly task, and a static report that told you what went wrong weeks after it happened.
Not anymore.
Knox CMX is redefining Continuous Monitoring for SaaS companies that move fast.
What Is Knox CMX? CMX is the AI-native compliance engine built by KnoxSystems to power real-time, always-on compliance.
It’s not just a reporting tool.It’s not just a dashboard. It’s a full-stack intelligence layer that monitors, remediates, and predicts risk across your infrastructure.
Here’s a 3 minute demo to show you exactly how it works: https://www.knoxsystems.com/product
Real-Time RiskIntelligence
CMX ingests your infrastructure data, such as Git repos, IaC, runtime configs and continuously maps it to FedRAMP (NIST 800-53), SOC 2, and other control frameworks.
If something drifts? If a change violates policy? CMX flags it instantly and proposes a fix.
Automated Remediation
CMX doesn’t just diagnose.
It suggests code-based remediation, and in many cases, auto-generates the code to fix drift or misconfiguration.
CMX goes further, and:
· Analyzes control drift and root causes
· Recommends policy changes or infra updates
· DraftsPOA&Ms, SSP updates, and evidence logs using generative AI
· Flags risks before they trigger findings
The result? A continuously learning system that evolves with your infrastructure and your threat model.
Imagine this:
CMX detects an unencryptedS3 bucket.
Suggests Terraform remediation script.
Issues a PR to your repo.
You approve the fix in seconds.
No tickets. No bottlenecks. No lag time.
Tied Directly to YourCI/CD Pipeline. Developer-First. Always On.
CMX is built to run with your dev cycle, not beside it.
It integrates with GitHubActions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, and more to:
· Enforce policy pre-merge
· Scan infra pre-deploy
· Auto-document every control change for your audit trail
You don’t have to chase compliance anymore. Compliance moves with you.
FedRAMP ConMon, Reimagined
With CMX, your FedRAMPContinuous Monitoring isn’t a quarterly fire drill.
It’s a living system that:
- Auto-generates POA&Ms
- Tracks inherited and hybrid controls
- Updates SSPs in real time
- Flags and fixes misalignments before they become findings
TL;DR
Continuous Monitoring used to mean reactive audits and stale spreadsheets.
With CMX, it now means:
Real-time mapping to FedRAMP, DISA, NIST, and SOC 2
Auto-remediation of compliance drift
Dev pipeline integration
Always-on audit readiness
If your SaaS company is serious about scaling securely, CMX is how you do it at velocity.
Static quarterly reviews are out.
Intelligent, real-time compliance and remediation with Knox CMX is in.
Knox and RapidFort Partner to Unlock Access to Cutting-Edge Softare for the U.S. Government
SAN FRANCISCO and NEW YORK — April 24, 2025
Knox Systems and RapidFort are excited to announce a strategic partnership, bringing together two mission-driven teams committed to transforming how secure software reaches the U.S. Government.
By combining Knox’s FedRAMP-ready cloud platform—purpose-built for SaaS vendors—with RapidFort’s runtime attack surface reduction technology, we’re helping modern software companies meet the government's security and compliance requirements faster, more efficiently, and without compromise.
Together, we’re advancing our shared mission: unlocking access to cutting-edge commercial software for government agencies by streamlining compliance and strengthening application security.
“RapidFort’s ability to automatically harden workloads is a game changer for any company targeting FedRAMP,” said Irina Denisenko, CEO of Knox. “They help vendors ship secure software with confidence—faster and with less overhead. We're proud to partner with a team that shares our vision of accelerating access to innovation in government.”
“Knox has reimagined the path to FedRAMP in a way that makes it truly achievable for today’s SaaS vendors,” said Mehran Farimani, CEO of RapidFort. “We’re thrilled to partner with them to make software more secure and more accessible to the agencies that need it most.”
This partnership empowers SaaS vendors to:
- Achieve FedRAMP authorization in record time with Knox
- Secure their workloads and reduce software attack surfaces with RapidFort
- Deliver modern, compliant solutions that meet mission-critical needs
The future of government software is faster, safer, and more open—and we’re proud to be building it together.
Learn more at knoxsystems.com and rapidfort.com.
Should Startups Care About FedRAMP?
(Spoiler: Yes, If They Want Federal $$)
When early-stage companies talk about product-market fit, they’re usually thinking about commercial buyers—not the U.S. federal government. And that’s a mistake.
Because if your startup is building a SaaS product with security, scale, and potential for critical infrastructure use—there’s a $100B+ federal IT market waiting for you. But there’s a catch, and its name is FedRAMP.
The Compliance Roadblock That Scares Startups Off
FedRAMP (the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is the mandatory security framework for any cloud provider selling to the federal government. It’s notoriously complex, expensive, and slow—think 3–5 years and $3M+ slow.
So most startups—understandably—assume it’s something to “worry about later.”
But here’s the twist: by the time you're ready, it's often too late.
If you wait until a federal opportunity lands in your inbox, and you're not FedRAMP-compliant, the deal is already slipping away.
Flip the Script: Compliance as a Go-to-Market Advantage
This is exactly where Knox Systems comes in.
We built the first FedRAMP-compliant cloud platform purpose-built for SaaS vendors. With Knox, startups can become FedRAMP-ready in just 90 days, at 90% lower cost, and without needing your own agency sponsor.
That means you don’t have to delay your roadmap, hire a team of compliance specialists, or containerize your architecture just to access federal buyers. We meet you where you are—whether you’re running monoliths or microservices.
Why Startups Should Absolutely Care
Let’s get specific. Here’s why your startup should prioritize FedRAMP early:
- Revenue Diversification: Government contracts are stable, high-value, and long-term.
- Faster Sales Cycles: Pre-authorized platforms like Knox let you say yes to buyers with short timelines.
- Increased Valuation: Investors love startups with public sector traction and regulatory readiness.
- Market Differentiation and Competitive Advantage: Most startups aren’t FedRAMP-compliant. You’ll stand out immediately.
- Security Maturity: Even beyond federal sales, FedRAMP alignment improves your trust posture with all enterprise buyers.
TL;DR
Startups shouldn’t wait until they’re “ready” to think about FedRAMP. If federal contracts are even remotely in your vision—Knox can get you there faster, cheaper, and smarter than you ever thought possible.
Let your competitors ignore FedRAMP. You’ll be winning contracts while they’re Googling “ATO meaning.”
Why There Are Only 400 FedRAMP Authorized Services—and How Knox Is Opening the Gate for 1,000s More
Let’s talk about the number that defines a broken system:
How many cloud service providers currently hold an active FedRAMP authorization in the United States?
About 400.
Out of tens of thousands of innovative SaaS vendors in the U.S., only a sliver are cleared to serve the federal government.
Why?
Because the system wasn’t built to scale.
But at Knox Systems, we’re here to fix that.
Why FedRAMP Has Been So Hard to Access
It’s not that vendors aren’t secure.
It’s that the path to proving it is wildly inefficient.
Here’s what the traditional FedRAMP journey looks like:
- Secure a government sponsor (takes 6–18 months—if you’re lucky)
- Hire a consultant to interpret NIST 800-53 line by line
- Re-architect your infrastructure to fit FedRAMP templates
- Spend $2–4M+ before you’re even eligible for a contract
- Wait another 12–24 months for ATO
That’s 2–3 years of sunk time and millions of dollars—just to get to the starting line.
And worse: the vendors who can afford this process aren’t always the most innovative or secure.
How Knox Is Opening the Gate for Many, Many More
At Knox, we believe FedRAMP should be accessible, scalable, and developer-friendly.
So we built a new model—one designed to make security infrastructure as composable as cloud compute.
Here’s how we’re unlocking the market:
1. Pre-Authorized FedRAMP Boundary
SaaS vendors inherit our fully compliant infrastructure, eliminating the need to build FedRAMP from scratch.
You get 80%+ of the Moderate baseline covered on Day 1.
2. CMX: AI-Native Compliance Engine
CMX maps your infrastructure to FedRAMP (and other frameworks) in real time.
- No spreadsheets
- No consultants
- No lag
- Just real-time posture, evidence, and auto-generated SSPs
3. 90-Day Go-to-Market Timeline
We replace years of red tape with weeks of alignment.
CMX + shared infrastructure = “FedRAMP In Process” in as little as 90 days—no agency sponsor required.
4. Built for Scale, Not Scarcity
Everything we’ve built—from inheritance models to continuous monitoring—is designed to support thousands of SaaS vendors, not a select few.
That’s the difference between a certification path and a compliance platform.
This Is About More Than FedRAMP
It’s about equity in federal innovation.
If only the well-funded, well-connected vendors can get through the gate, the government loses access to:
- Startup innovation
- Niche expertise
- Sector-specific tools (EdTech, HealthTech, AI, CivicTech)
- Next-gen security platforms
The public sector deserves access to the full spectrum of cloud innovation—not just the ones who can afford 36 months of consultants.
Knox is here to make that possible.
TL;DR
There are only about 400 FedRAMP authorized vendors today because the system wasn’t designed to scale.
Knox changes that—with AI-native compliance, shared security infrastructure, and 90-day readiness
We’re building for 1,000s of vendors to go federal—faster, cheaper, smarter
The gate is open. The future is distributed. Let’s build it together.
Exclusivity is out.
Access is in.
Security by Inheritance: How Knox Shrinks the FedRAMP Surface Area for SaaS Vendors
Ask any SaaS founder who’s gone through FedRAMP:
“What was the hardest part?”
And they’ll likely say:
Building infrastructure that satisfies NIST 800-53 controls
Tracking down evidence
Burning budget on security tooling for controls they barely understood
Here’s the problem: most SaaS companies don’t need to own their entire compliance stack.
They just need a smart way to inherit security that already exists.
At Knox Systems, we make that possible—by offering a FedRAMP-authorized shared boundary that takes care of over 80% of the Moderate baseline out of the box.
It’s called Security by Inheritance, and it’s how we’re unlocking FedRAMP for the 1,000s of SaaS vendors stuck on the sidelines.
What’s the Knox FedRAMP Boundary?
It’s a fully operational, compliant, continuously monitored infrastructure environment that:
Meets FedRAMP Moderate control requirements
Has already been assessed and authorized
Can be inherited by SaaS vendors deploying their apps inside it
Think of it as your prebuilt foundation.
You still own your application logic—but the heavy lifting of security is already done.
What Knox Covers for You
When you deploy on the Knox boundary, we handle:
- Physical + network security (PE, SC, AC control families)
- Continuous monitoring (AU, SI, IR controls)
- Encryption, identity, access logging, audit policies
- Control documentation, evidence collection, OSCAL formatting
- POA&M generation + compliance dashboards
- Automated drift detection and remediation via CMX
That’s over 80% of FedRAMP Moderate controls handled before you write a single policy.
What You Focus On Instead
With Knox, you only need to manage:
- Your application’s data flow + handling (e.g., PIIs, APIs)
- Identity management inside your product
- App-level access controls
- Your own feature-level logs, alerts, and testing
In other words: you secure what you build—we secure everything else.
The Results
Smaller compliance surface area
Less scope = fewer controls to document
Lower risk = faster “In Process” status
Reduced cost = no need to build and secure your own FedRAMP infra
Higher confidence = your app runs on a platform that’s already trusted by federal buyers
Bonus: This Isn’t Just Faster. It’s Smarter.
Inheriting controls doesn’t just speed things up—it increases control fidelity.
Because Knox’s controls are standardized, audited, and continuously monitored, you benefit from:
- Less duplication of controls
- More consistent evidence
- Higher trust from 3PAOs and agency partners
- Better alignment with FedRAMP reuse strategies
TL;DR
You don’t need to rebuild your SaaS for FedRAMP.
You just need the right foundation.
Knox’s FedRAMP boundary covers 80%+ of required controls
You inherit infrastructure-level security, evidence, and documentation
You focus only on your app-layer risks
You get to market faster—with less overhead
Building everything from scratch is out.
Smart, inherited security is in.
At KNOX we make FedRAMP accessible—for everyone.
The End of the Security Checkbox: What Federal Buyers Really Want from SaaS Vendors in 2025
For years, security in federal procurement was all about one thing:
“Do you have a FedRAMP ATO?”
But in 2025, that checkbox doesn’t carry the weight it used to.
Why? Because FedRAMP alone isn’t enough anymore.
Agencies are under pressure to move faster, reduce risk sooner, and prove continuous security—not just point-in-time compliance.
At Knox Systems, we’re seeing a new standard emerge:
Evidence-first trust
Real-time posture transparency
Security by design, not by checklist
What Federal Buyers Really Want Now
Procurement teams are no longer satisfied with "ATO or not."
They’re asking smarter questions:
Can you show real-time compliance status?
Is your infrastructure monitored continuously?
How fast can you remediate security drift?
Can we see your SSP in OSCAL?
Are your controls automated or manual?
They want signals of maturity, not marketing slides.
New Trust Signals Replacing the Checkbox
Here’s what matters more than a framed ATO certificate:
1. Evidence Readiness
Buyers want instant access to validated artifacts:
- Log trails
- Access records
- Config snapshots
- Control implementation detail
- Auto-generated POA&Ms and SSPs in OSCAL
With CMX, all of this is live, exportable, and tied to the right control in real time.
2. Posture Dashboards
Can you show your compliance health right now, not last quarter?
CMX gives vendors a living dashboard that:
- Maps controls to evidence
- Tracks inherited vs. owned responsibility
- Flags drift and unresolved risks
- Is always 3PAO- and agency-ready
This is what buyers use to triage and trust.
3. Security by Design
It’s no longer enough to bolt on a FedRAMP package after launch.
SaaS vendors are now evaluated on:
- Infrastructure segmentation
- Access governance
- How compliance integrates into CI/CD
- Whether remediation is manual or automated
This is why Knox’s shared boundary and Knox CMX are so powerful:
You don’t just meet requirements—you’re built for trust.
This Shift Is Good News
If you’re a fast-moving SaaS company that:
Automates control coverage
Inherits hardened infrastructure
Has real-time evidence and dashboards
Builds with GRC in the pipeline
Then you’re already more trustworthy than legacy players who took 3 years to pass a FedRAMP checklist.
This is your competitive edge.
TL;DR
FedRAMP is still important—but it’s no longer the whole story.
Federal buyers are prioritizing real-time posture, automated controls, and actionable visibility
Evidence readiness and trust telemetry win more than slow-moving ATOs
Knox and CMX give you all of that—out of the box
Checkbox compliance is out.
Intelligent, transparent security is in.
Let’s show the government what modern SaaS really looks like.