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I began my professional life as a computer engineer. Before I ever thought about running a business, I spent years at CMC Limited — a Government of India enterprise — learning what it truly means to keep technology working under pressure. Those years gave me a foundation in technology, problem-solving, and customer service that I still draw on today.
Why I Left a Secure Job to Start CNC
Engineering alone was not enough for me. I come from a business family, and I always believed I could create more value by combining technical depth with entrepreneurship. At CMC, I had a strong reputation and a respected position. I was doing well. Leaving was not an easy decision.
What I kept returning to was a simple question: could I shape something of my own? Could I build something that reflected my values — not just my technical skills? The belief that I could gave me the courage to leave a secure, well-paid, well-regarded position and start from scratch.
In April 1996, I decided to find out.
Starting From Zero in West Patel Nagar
I founded Classic Network and Computers in West Patel Nagar, New Delhi, with everything I had — and almost nothing left over. I invested all my savings into the office infrastructure. That left virtually no working capital to execute the very first business order.
What I had was different: technical expertise built over years at CMC, strong relationships in the industry, a clear sense of what good service looks like, and the confidence that if I stayed honest and committed, the business would sustain itself. That belief proved correct — not immediately, and not easily, but durably.
The Client Who Stayed 27 Years
In those early days, one experience defined everything that followed.
A director of a Delhi-based company approached us with a serious operational problem. His company had branch offices across several major Indian cities, but stock inventory updates were not reaching the head office accurately or on time. The result was poor resource utilisation, weak accounting control, and pilferage. The problem was real, costly, and getting worse.
At the time, internet connectivity was not common and networking infrastructure was minimal. We proposed a solution that many might have considered too complex for the era: a star network using dial-up modems over telephone lines, enabling real-time stock movement updates and current inventory visibility across all branches.
We implemented it. It worked. Within six months, the savings generated through better inventory management had recovered the full cost of the equipment and our services. The client recognised the honesty and transparency with which we had approached the entire implementation. He remained a major CNC client for 27 years.
Three Decades of Change — One Constant
Over thirty years, I have watched the technology industry transform completely. We moved from DOS-based computing to Windows, then to browser-based everything. Internet connectivity went from dial-up to broadband to fibre. Laptops began replacing desktops. Analogue CCTV evolved into IP cameras with AI-powered detection. On-premise servers gave way to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and cloud-first infrastructure.
Through every one of these transitions, CNC's role remained the same: help customers choose the right solution for their actual situation, implement it practically, support it honestly, and be there when something goes wrong.
What never changed — not once in thirty years — is what customers actually want. They want honesty. They want a quick response. They want someone who takes ownership of the problem and resolves it properly the first time. That is why CNC has always been built on long-term relationships rather than one-time transactions. The majority of our business still comes through word-of-mouth referrals. I consider that the most honest measure of whether we are doing the job right.
The Standard We Hold Ourselves To
One principle has guided CNC for years, and I mean it as a standard rather than a slogan:
Quality, to me, has a specific definition. It means delivering the right solution without unnecessary delay, confusion, or repetition. It means the engineer who arrives knows what they are doing. It means the quote given before the work is the number on the invoice. It means if something is not right, we fix it — without argument.
Whether we are repairing a laptop, recovering critical business data, designing a network, installing a CCTV system, or managing an enterprise IT deployment under an AMC contract, the standard is the same: do the job correctly the first time. This is not a complicated philosophy. But it is a disciplined one, and discipline is what distinguishes a business that lasts from one that does not.
Where CNC Stands Today
Today, CNC serves 100+ enterprise clients across Delhi NCR — international NGOs including USAID and UNDP, Fortune 500 corporations including TCS and Siemens, premier healthcare institutions including AIIMS, financial services firms, research bodies, and government organisations. We have serviced 1,50,000+ devices and hold a 4.9-star Google rating across 960+ verified reviews.
Our services span IT hardware, laptop and desktop repair, data recovery, networking and structured cabling, CCTV and security systems, annual maintenance contracts, onsite and remote support, cloud deployments, cyber security, and software and hardware implementation.
What This Has Actually Been About
My journey has never been only about building an IT company. It has been about taking a calculated risk with limited resources. About solving problems that matter to real businesses. About building relationships that last — not because of contracts, but because of consistently delivered value.
The next chapter is also clear. We intend to double revenue, expand beyond Delhi NCR, implement stronger CRM and automation systems, and build the kind of self-motivated team that can deliver consistently without depending on any single individual. We are also exploring new verticals — smart home automation and solar power solutions — because technology should keep moving forward with the needs of the market.
Technology will continue to change. Our commitment to the people who trust us with their technology will not.
Computer engineer and entrepreneur. Former Field Engineer at CMC Limited, a Government of India enterprise. Founded CNC in April 1996 in West Patel Nagar, New Delhi. Author of Silicon, Security & the Future: The Complete IT Insider's Guide.
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