Multiple projects requiring a series of steps are carried out at the same time, making the production of a chronological record that is also a concise reference nearly impossible to achieve. More often, a separate looseleaf notebook is kept for each study where results and calculations to be used for presentations and publications are stored. The adoption of a standardized database system may fend off some of the more insidious aspects of this hypervigilance. Most basic research labs are notoriously insecure. A locked door only serves to keep out honest people or temporarily deter a determined thief.
Large labs have so much traffic that an intruder can easily pass through unnoticed.
One area of intense concern is data security, as highlighted by recent espionage cases. No medium appears to be safe, be it paper or electronic. The problem even plagued Leonardo DaVinci, who took to writing his notes backward, requiring a mirror to decipher. Voice and fingerprint technology allows data to be specifically tagged and accessed by the researcher or privileged individuals. ELNs also offer encryption and verification modules to prevent corruption and unauthorized access.