Synagex Welcomes PCA to the Family, Expanding Reach Across the Hudson Valley and Capital Region

Pittsfield, MA – July 6, 2025 – Synagex, a modern IT and cybersecurity provider based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is excited to announce the acquisition of Professional Computer Associates (PCA), an established IT services firm out of Red Hook, New York. This move marks an important milestone in Synagex’s ongoing effort to grow smart, stay personal, and expand its ability to serve organizations throughout the Northeast.

Pictured: Bob Shoemaker, President of PCA with John Sinopoli, CEO of Synagex

Founded in 1999, PCA has spent nearly four decades supporting businesses, local governments, and nonprofits across the Hudson Valley and Capital Region. Known for its strong client relationships and hands-on service approach, PCA brings a deep commitment to quality and a solid reputation as a trusted technology partner.

Synagex, launched in 2017, has built a people-first culture around delivering forward-thinking IT, cybersecurity, and compliance services—especially for clients in regulated spaces. Combining strategy, automation, and real connection, Synagex helps clients simplify IT, stay secure, and stay focused on what they do best.

“This partnership felt natural from day one,” said John Sinopoli, CEO of Synagex. “PCA shares our values—long-term relationships, technical reliability, and a real commitment to doing right by the client. We’re thrilled to welcome their team and clients.”

“This partnership felt natural from day one. PCA shares our values—long-term relationships, technical reliability, and a real commitment to doing right by the client. We’re thrilled to welcome their team and clients.” – John Sinopoli, CEO of Synagex

For PCA clients, the transition will feel familiar—because most things are staying that way. The same local team will continue to provide support, now backed by Synagex’s expanded cybersecurity capabilities, compliance expertise, and modernIT delivery model.

“Joining Synagex means our clients get the best of both worlds: the same personalized service they count on, plus a deeper bench and more future-ready tools,” said Bob Shoemaker, President of PCA. “It’s a move that sets everyone up for long-term success.”

“Joining Synagex means our clients get the best of both worlds: the same personalized service they count on, plus a deeper bench and more future-ready tools. It’s a move that sets everyone up for long-term success.” –Bob Shoemaker, President of PCA

This acquisition is part of Synagex’s thoughtful growth strategy: building strong regional roots, growing with integrity, and always putting relationships before transactions.

About Synagex

Synagex is a modernIT and cybersecurity firm based in Pittsfield, MA, serving clients across New England and beyond. With a focus on regulated industries, Synagex delivers secure, strategic technology services through a modern, people-first model.

About Professional Computer Associates (PCA)

PCA has been a staple in the Hudson Valley tech community since 1999, offering infrastructure, IT support, and managed services to local businesses and organizations. Their reputation for reliability and strong client partnerships has made them a trusted name for nearly 26 years.

📬 It’s Email Week! Let’s Talk About What’s Lurking in Your Inbox

We didn’t want to let #NationalEmailWeek go by without our two (CYBERSECURITY) cents. 😉

Folks, email isn’t just about inbox zero—it’s about staying safe, staying sharp, and staying ahead of the threats hiding in plain sight.

📈 The bad guys have leveled up.

A recent study found that AI-generated phishing emails are almost indistinguishable from real ones. In fact, human testers were no better than chance at telling the difference between phishing emails written by GPT-4 and legitimate messages. That’s a serious problem.

Even more concerning?

These AI-generated phishing messages bypass common security filters at rates up to 87%—compared to just 18% for older, human-written phishing attempts. In other words: your email filters are no longer enough.

🧠 What can you do?

Our CISO Pete is jumping in with a quick video covering what every user needs to know about spotting phishing attempts—and the simple habits that keep your inbox from becoming your biggest risk.

✔️ Trust your gut—but verify links, senders, and context.

✔️ Hover before you click.

✔️ Be extra cautious with urgent requests, changed payment info, or anything asking for credentials.

✔️ And most importantly: report suspicious emails, even if you're unsure.

Email remains one of the top attack vectors in every industry—and with AI in the mix, it’s only getting trickier. But with the right training, tools, and team, you can turn your inbox from a liability into a line of defense.

💡 Need help strengthening your email security? We’re here if you need IT!

Podcast Recap: Same CMMC Certification Process, New Insights

As featured on MassMEP’s Manufacturing Podcast — Episode 109

If you’ve ever wondered how cybersecurity, government contracts, and strawberry ice cream intersect—you’re in luck. Our own John and Pete were recently welcomed back by Hayley and Kevin at MassMEP to talk all things CMMC, cybersecurity, smishing scams, and how to build a better risk posture for 2025 (with a few laughs along the way).

You can listen to the full episode here:🎧 Ep. 109 – New Episode, Same Certification Process

🍦 Cyber Ice Cream Flavors of the Day

The crew kicked off the episode with a fun question— What ice cream flavor sums up your day?

Here's how the team answered:

Pete—Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz ☕, acknowledging his well-caffeinated state.

John—Strawberry 🍓 because it was simply all he could think about (and yes, he went to get some right after the call)...

Kevin—Rocky Road, it was looking like a tough day.

Hayley—Tutti Frutti—because you just never know what you're going to get.

📱 Smishing, Phishing, and "USPS" Texts That Steal Your Life

A big topic in the first half of the episode: Smishing, or phishing attacks via text message.

John shared a real story from the holidays, where a friend-of-a-friend fell for a fake USPS text. Her phone number was hijacked, her MFA codes were intercepted, and 15+ accounts were compromised.

“You really do have to stay vigilant. These phishing emails look more real than ever—always double check where it’s coming from.” –Pete

The takeaway? Slow down. Be skeptical. And no, the Post Office didn’t magically get your cell number.

🔐 CMMC in 2025: What’s New?

The second half of the episode dove into CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) and what’s changing:

• CMMC is back to three levels instead of five.

• Level 1 covers Federal Contract Info (self-assessed).

• Level 2 covers Controlled Unclassified Info (CUI) and requires a third-party audit.

• Level 3 is the highest tier—reserved for prime contractors and R&D—audited by the DoD directly.

And while your MSP doesn’t need to be certified under CMMC, John made the case for why they should:

“You can buy 150 different security tools, but only a few meet the right compliance requirements. It’s hard for manufacturers to know who to trust if the MSPs aren’t fluent in this.”

🛠️ Compliance ≠ Plug-and-Play

One of the biggest myths in cybersecurity? That you can just buy a tool and be compliant.

“You can’t just plug something in because the white paper says it’s good... You need a trusted partnership—someone who doesn’t just throw a menu of tools at you, but guides you through what actually meets compliance.”

Pete added a solid tip: When in doubt, look for FedRAMP-certified tools. The FedRAMP Marketplace is a great place to start when evaluating providers or platforms.

As threats grow more complex—especially with the rise of AI—the mindset around cybersecurity must shift too. For businesses, this means budgeting for cybersecurity like any other strategic priority—measuring ROI not just in tools, but in resilience and readiness.

“There’s no ‘fence in a box.’ You’re never done. It’s about ongoing investment and growing smarter each year.” – John

💸 How Synagex + MassMEP Can Help

CMMC compliance isn’t easy, and manufacturers shouldn’t go it alone.

That’s why Synagex and MassMEP partner to deliver value-packed gap assessments—not just to check a box, but to clarify the path forward, cost it out, and help you get started. And in Massachusetts, state funds and assistance programs make this more attainable than ever.

“We’ve done this work in other states, and we can confidently say Massachusetts is one of the best. When you combine our cybersecurity focus with MassMEP’s deep manufacturing network, it’s powerful stuff.” –John

🧠 Final Thoughts: Be Paranoid. Ask Questions.

The group closed with a reminder: You don’t need a ton of sensitive data to be a target. Even basic information—names, birthdays, email access—can be leveraged by attackers.

“Any business collecting data, in any industry, needs to take security seriously. You might think you’re small or simple, but you’re still a risk if the wrong person gets in.” –Hayley

Ready to understand your risk—and do something about it?

Let’s talk. Synagex and MassMEP are here to help guide you through the chaos and toward calm, compliant, modern IT.

🔗 Listen to the full episode

📩 Reach out to Synagex