Introducing Knox Systems: Unlocking the Government SaaS Market with FedRAMP-as-a-Service

2 min read

company / press

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.

Knox is now available on Google Cloud Marketplace

Chad Tetreault Joins Knox Systems Federal Advisory Board

Knox Systems today announced that Zscaler Public Sector CTO and a former Deputy Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer from within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Chad Tetreault, has joined the company’s Federal Advisory Board.

A proven technology leader and AI strategist, Tetreault has spent his career bridging the gap between emerging technology and mission impact. At DHS, he led the design and deployment of proprietary AI solutions that modernized Immigration services, streamlined data operations, and advanced the department’s role as a leader in responsible AI innovation. His appointment strengthens Knox’s mission to help agencies accelerate cloud and AI adoption with the compliance, speed, and resilience required of federal systems.

At Zscaler, Tetreault leads public sector AI strategy and governance, helping highly regulated environments adopt and defend next-generation AI capabilities. He also serves on the MIT Gen AI Global leadership team as Deputy Co-Lead of the Agent Dev Department, focused on democratizing AI innovation worldwide.

Tetreault continues to define unified technology strategies, integrate data and engineering across mission systems, and mentor high-performing technical teams that deliver. His work consistently emphasizes innovation with accountability - ensuring AI and analytics can drive measurable outcomes without compromising compliance or security.

The Knox Federal Advisory Board brings together senior leaders from defense, civilian, and technology sectors to advise on emerging policy, compliance, and modernization strategies aligned with FedRAMP, NIST, and DoW frameworks. Tetreault’s appointment follows recent additions including David Epperson, former Deputy CIO of the Executive Office of the President and former Deputy CIO and CISO of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Carrie Lee, Deputy CIO of the Department of Veterans Affairs - expanding Knox’s leadership bench across AI, cybersecurity, and federal IT transformation.

About Knox

Knox helps SaaS companies achieve FedRAMP in 90 days or less, at 90% of the traditional cost.

We run the largest FedRAMP Authorized managed cloud platform in the world, bringing a decade-long track record of secure and compliant operations.

Trusted by Adobe since 2014, Knox streamlines the path to FedRAMP authorization, enabling vendors to achieve FedRAMP in just 90 days across AWS, Azure, and GCP.

Learn more about Knox

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