Knightscope awarded authority to operate by U.S. federal government

Knightscope receives fed approval after 3-year push to land on FedRAMP marketplace

Knightscope

Knightscope received it's Authority to Operate from the U.S. Federal Government on the FedRAMP Marketplace.

Knightscope received authority from the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs to operate on the FedRAMP Marketplace as an approved provider for federal agencies.

By Tim Culverhouse

· January 4, 2024

Knightscope, Inc. a developer of autonomous security robots and blue light emergency communication systems, recently announced that it has received its Authority to Operate (ATO) from the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

FedRAMP is a government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services.

This ATO means that Knightscope will eventually be listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace as an approved provider for federal agencies as a next step and can also begin its deployment processes to perform on the contract awarded by the VA for its first K5 ASR.

Knightscope's three-year effort pays off

“We believe going through this intense and rigorous process has improved our security posture, which also will positively impact commercial and civilian applications,” said Mercedes Soria, Knightscope EVP and Chief Intelligence Officer, who led the charge in reaching this milestone. “Knightscope’s ATO achievement proves our organizational focus on cyber security and our unwavering commitment to our mission of better securing our country.”

“The multi-year effort to acquire the ATO showcases the relentless nature of the Knightscope team and significantly increases the TAM (Total Addressable Market) that the company can serve. Now it is time tobuild on that momentum as we continue to execute our multi-phase Roadmap,” said William Santana Li, Knightscope Chairman and CEO.

Automated gunshot detection, K5 robot partnership with NYPD

To coincide with Knightscope's authority to operate in FedRAMP, the California-based company also made two announcements in the public safety field in 2023.

Knightscope signed a pilot contract with NYPD in April 2023 for the force to use its K5 robot to help patrols in Manhattan. The program debuted in Summer 2023 and was initially deployed in the Times Square area to assist patrols in one of the country's busiest tourist destinations.

In July, the company announced its automated gunshot detection system for mobile security robots. The feature was added after consultation with schools, corporations, airpots and other industries as part of their active threat and emergency response plans. The automated gunshot detection system was integrated as part of new K1 Blue Light Towers, or offered as an upgrade to the over 7,000 Knightscope devices already in use across the country.

About the Author

Tim Culverhouse

Tim is the Editorial Director of Robotics247.com. His mission is to provide valuable information and insights to robotics professionals and decision-makers, and to help them solve business challenges. He is a creative, deadline-driven, and detail-oriented storyteller. In addition, he is a sports broadcaster and public address announcer.

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