With installations across the country, it was hard to find a time when the system was not in use. Since the data loss, the system has been modified so that it can be backed up while it is being used, he said. E-mail has become the communication form of choice for many government officials, and some of its features make it a valuable research tool, he said. By letting agencies save paper copies of e-mail messages and delete the electronic originals, much of that information is lost, he said. We could have fairly complete and searchable records, but they are not being maintained.
Cooper sees it another way.
You can't guarantee that electronic systems won't fail.