In a candid discussion, Vishal Prakash Shah, the founder and CEO of Synersoft Technologies, sheds light on the journey behind establishing Synersoft as a trailblazer in cybersecurity and data protection solutions tailored for Indian MSMEs. With a mission to bridge the gap between affordability and advanced IT infrastructure, Synersoft’s flagship product, BLACKbox, has revolutionized how MSMEs address data protection, compliance, and operational challenges. Shah’s vision is deeply rooted in understanding and solving the unique constraints faced by small and medium enterprises, empowering them to thrive in a competitive digital economy.
1. What inspired Synersoft to focus on developing innovative solutions for data protection and information security, particularly for Indian MSMEs?
Sixteen years ago, we noticed an unignorable gap in the market: Indian MSMEs were rapidly adopting digital technologies but lacked access to affordable and effective cybersecurity solutions. While large enterprises had the resources to invest in sophisticated tools, MSMEs were left exposed, struggling to protect their data from threats such as loss and theft. This put them at a significant disadvantage in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.
To compound the issue, many Indian MSMEs face stringent data security compliance requirements, often mandated by larger or international clients. These compliance standards are critical for sustaining business relationships and accessing lucrative markets. However, the available solutions were either too expensive or overly complicated. Skilled IT professionals are needed to deploy and maintain such complex solutions, but MSMEs struggle to recruit and retain qualified IT professionals, as they often prefer to work with larger enterprises.
Recognizing this unmet need, we developed BLACKbox—a solution specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced by MSMEs, such as affordability, compliance, scalability, and limited IT expertise. BLACKbox integrates multiple functionalities—File Server, Firewall, Storage Device, Domain Controller, Endpoint Controller, Mail Vigilance/Distribution System, VPN Server, and Productivity Monitoring—into a single, easy-to-use system. This approach simplifies cybersecurity for MSMEs, enabling them to focus on their core business operations.
What truly sets BLACKbox apart is its cost-effectiveness. It delivers enterprise-level data protection at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions, making advanced cybersecurity accessible and manageable for MSMEs.
2. How does Synersoft’s flagship product, BLACKbox, address the specific IT challenges faced by MSMEs in India?
Indian MSMEs face unique IT challenges that significantly impact their growth and long-term sustainability. These challenges fall into three primary areas:
- Data Security Compliance: Many MSMEs act as suppliers to large corporations or engage in global trade. To secure these opportunities, they must comply with strict data security standards mandated by their clients. These requirements are often non-negotiable for vendor approvals. Failure to meet these standards can lead to lost business relationships and reduced access to profitable markets.
- Cost and Scalability: Data protection solutions available in the market are typically designed for large enterprises with extensive resources. Such solutions are not only costly but also packed with features that go beyond the scope of MSMEs’ operational needs. This creates a dilemma for MSMEs—either invest in overpriced solutions that strain their budgets or risk inadequate data security, which can hurt their credibility and competitiveness.
- Shortage of IT Expertise: Deploying and managing data security solutions requires skilled IT professionals. However, MSMEs often struggle to attract and retain such talent, as IT professionals tend to favor larger organizations offering higher salaries and better career prospects. This talent gap leaves MSMEs more exposed to cyber risks, even if they are willing to invest in security measures.
Addressing these critical issues requires a tailored solution that balances affordability, simplicity, and effectiveness—exactly what BLACKbox delivers.
BLACKbox is designed specifically for MSMEs, offering a practical and affordable alternative to the complex and high-cost solutions meant for larger enterprises. Its streamlined functionality focuses on the core needs of MSMEs, such as protecting data from loss, theft, and leakage while ensuring compliance with stringent security requirements set by larger clients.
One of BLACKbox’s standout features is its availability as a managed service. This eliminates the need for MSMEs to hire or retain specialized IT staff, addressing the talent shortage challenge head on. By simplifying both implementation and ongoing management, BLACKbox makes advanced data security accessible even to organizations with minimal technical expertise.
Functioning as a plug-and-play solution, BLACKbox allows MSMEs to meet compliance mandates effortlessly, enabling them to qualify as trusted vendors for large corporations. By bridging the gap between MSMEs’ specific challenges and market offerings, BLACKbox empowers these enterprises to protect their data effectively, maintain their competitive edge, and build stronger relationships with their business partners.
3. Can you elaborate on the role of Synersoft’s R&D Center in continuously enhancing the value and capabilities of BLACKbox?
Synersoft’s R&D Center plays a pivotal role in enhancing the capabilities and value of BLACKbox, driven by a journey of learning, adaptation, and innovation. In the early stages, our team faced a unique challenge—our target market, the MSME sector, had limited awareness of the importance of cybersecurity and data protection. Developing a product for a segment that was not yet fully aware of its needs required perseverance and multiple iterations to align our solutions with their requirements.
Over time, as BLACKbox gained traction and earned the trust of thousands of MSME customers, the dynamic shifted. Today, our customers actively shape our R&D efforts by sharing their evolving challenges and expectations. Their insights are instrumental in driving innovation, enabling us to refine our product and address emerging needs effectively.
This collaborative approach has led to the creation of several innovative solutions tailored to the unique demands of MSMEs:
- BLACKbox Duo: A solution designed to facilitate secure BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) practices. It allows employees to work on enterprise data using personal devices without compromising security, catering to the growing demand for remote work capabilities.
- Hybrid Email System: Developed in response to customer feedback, this system provides significant savings—up to 70%—on email subscriptions by offering a customized solution that eliminates unnecessary features common in other email platforms.
- Automatic Data Isolation (Happy Hours or Magic Browser): This feature balances the need for Internet accessibility with strict data security controls, preventing data leakage while empowering users to utilize online resources effectively.
At Synersoft, the relationship between our R&D team and our customers is a continuous dialogue. By listening to their concerns, understanding their goals, and innovating based on real-world insights, we ensure that BLACKbox remains a relevant and powerful solution for MSMEs. Our commitment to this process drives us to continually enhance the value of our offerings, ensuring that we not only meet but exceed customer expectations.
4. What measures has Synersoft implemented to ensure excellence in customer service and experience, particularly through its call centers and CRM systems?
At Synersoft, ensuring excellence in customer service and experience is central to our operations. Recognizing that MSMEs often lack the technical expertise and resources to manage complex IT systems, we have designed our support infrastructure to make data security and IT management accessible, efficient, and user-friendly.
BLACKbox is offered as a managed service, eliminating the need for MSMEs to hire or retain specialized IT professionals. This approach simplifies the implementation and maintenance of data security solutions, allowing even those with minimal technical expertise to benefit from enterprise level protection. Our comprehensive support system further enhances this accessibility.
One of the cornerstones of our customer service is the robust Ticket Management System. This system ensures that all configuration settings for each customer’s BLACKbox are meticulously documented. When a customer encounters an issue or requires assistance, they can raise a ticket through our dedicated support portal. The process is designed to be seamless and efficient:
- Prompt Response: Once a ticket is raised, a trained agent from our call center promptly contacts the customer to address their concern.
- Remote Support: The agent establishes a secure remote connection to the customer’s BLACKbox, diagnosing and resolving the issue directly. This eliminates the need for on-site visits, saving time and reducing disruptions to the customer’s operations.
- Comprehensive Documentation: Every interaction is logged in the system, creating a detailed record of the issue and its resolution. This documentation enables continuity in support and ensures a consistent customer experience.
Additionally, our call center operations are staffed by IT professionals well-versed in MSME-specific challenges. They are trained not only to provide technical support but also to empathize with customers, understanding their unique needs and constraints.
Our approach to customer service is underpinned by our commitment to proactive support and continuous improvement. We regularly seek feedback from our customers to refine our processes, ensuring that their experience with BLACKbox is seamless, reliable, and supportive. By combining advanced technology with a customer-first philosophy, we aim to empower MSMEs to focus on their core business while we take care of their IT and data security needs.
5. How does Synersoft’s affordable cloud computing infrastructure align with international standards for reliability and security?
To meet the rising demand for cloud computing among Indian SMEs, Synersoft has developed an innovative solution—’BLACKbox OneCloud.’ This groundbreaking product is designed to simplify and accelerate SMEs’ transition to cloud technology while ensuring affordability and adherence to international standards for reliability and security.
BLACKbox OneCloud addresses a critical challenge faced by SMEs: the fragmented and complex approach to cloud adoption. Traditionally, businesses have had to deploy multiple agents on devices and subscribe to a range of cloud services to manage various IT functions, including:
- Cloud backup
- Device hardening
- Endpoint control
- Cloud storage
- VPN services
- Email vigilance and data leakage prevention
This fragmented setup not only escalates costs but also creates operational inefficiencies, making cloud management cumbersome for resource-constrained SMEs.
BLACKbox OneCloud eliminates these complexities by consolidating multiple functionalities into a single, unified solution. With just one agent and one service, SMEs can access an array of essential IT capabilities, such as:
- Acting as a secure file-sharing server
- Enforcing device hardening policies
- Implementing endpoint controls
- Managing email vigilance to prevent data breaches
- Providing VPN access for secure remote work
- Enabling seamless cloud backups
By integrating these features into a single platform, BLACKbox OneCloud simplifies cloud adoption for SMEs, significantly reducing both costs and administrative overhead. This streamlined approach empowers SMEs to enhance their IT infrastructure, ensuring they remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Moreover, BLACKbox OneCloud is designed to align with international standards for reliability and security. It ensures that SMEs can confidently transition to the cloud without compromising on data protection or operational integrity. By removing barriers to cloud adoption, Synersoft is making
enterprise-grade cloud computing accessible to Indian SMEs, helping them unlock new opportunities for growth and efficiency.
6. What aspects of Synersoft’s company culture contribute to its exponential growth and success in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among employees?
At Synersoft, we believe that fostering innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among our employees is key to driving exponential growth and success. Our company culture is built on the foundation of empowering individuals to act as entrepreneurs within the organization while providing them with a structured and process-driven environment to thrive.
To achieve this, we have established a robust framework centered around well-defined Key Result Areas (KRAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These metrics clearly outline each employee’s roles, responsibilities, and expectations, ensuring alignment with the company’s strategic goals. By providing this clarity, we enable our teams to focus their efforts on impactful contributions that advance both individual and organizational objectives.
A standout aspect of our culture is the integration of a performance-linked remuneration structure. A significant portion of employees’ compensation is variable and directly tied to their achievement of key objectives, such as:
- Acquiring new skills to enhance their capabilities
- Contributing to the company’s bottom line
- Executing tasks with efficiency and precision
- Demonstrating a commitment to process excellence
This performance-driven approach creates a tangible financial incentive for employees to excel, motivating them to go beyond their standard duties and take ownership of their roles. By aligning individual success with organizational success, we cultivate a sense of ownership, accountability, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Our culture not only rewards high performers but also encourages continuous growth and innovation. Employees are empowered to explore creative solutions, take calculated risks, and bring fresh ideas to the table, knowing that their contributions are recognized and rewarded. This nurturing environment ensures that Synersoft remains a hub of innovation, adaptability, and sustained growth.
In essence, our focus on process-driven operations, clear performance metrics, and a rewarding compensation structure creates a culture where employees feel empowered to innovate, grow, and succeed alongside the company. It is this unique blend of structure and entrepreneurial freedom that drives Synersoft’s ongoing success.
7. What do the numerous accolades, such as the India Innovates Growth Program Gold Medal and Aegis Graham Bell Award, mean to Synersoft as a company?
The numerous accolades Synersoft has received, such as the India Innovates Growth Program Gold Medal and the Aegis Graham Bell Award, TechXchange Cohort, Forbes DGlobalist 100, and many
business excellence awards hold immense significance for us as a company. These honors serve as powerful validations of our ideas and innovations, reinforcing our belief in the transformative solutions we are developing for Indian MSMEs.
For our team, these awards are a profound source of motivation and a well-deserved recognition of their relentless efforts and dedication. Each accolade is a testament to their creativity, perseverance, and commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by MSMEs with technology designed in India, for India. This sense of appreciation fuels our drive to continue innovating and striving for excellence.
Beyond our organization, these recognitions play a vital role in inspiring others within the ecosystem. They spotlight the potential of homegrown technologies and encourage Indian innovators to dream big, take bold steps, and contribute to the country’s technological growth. Knowing that our work sets an example for others to follow fills us with pride and a renewed sense of responsibility.
Ultimately, these accolades are more than just milestones; they are reminders of why we do what we do. They reaffirm our mission to empower MSMEs with affordable, reliable, and innovative solutions while building a culture of innovation and excellence. Each recognition strengthens our resolve to push boundaries, validate our vision, and stay committed to creating meaningful impact.
About the respondent
Vishal Prakash Shah is the founder and CEO of Synersoft. He is known as a seasoned technology stalwart, an inventor of specific patented technologies, a writer, a serial entrepreneur, an investor, and, importantly, a “Go to Guy” for MSMEs.
