AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A massive crash in a state computer system that destroyed thousands of the attorney general's confidential documents reportedly didn't come without warning.
Records show that more than 10 agencies complained about network breakdowns and server backup problems with the newly expanded outsourcing of computer services.
A review by The Dallas Morning News of a year's worth of state agency report cards for IBM shows several agencies' documents have been endangered.
Two dozen agencies complained about the contractor. Among the complaints were unexpected server and e-mail outages, corrupted files and a hacking incident revealing security breaches that weren't addressed for months.
They also point to severe staffing problems, poor response time for problems and billing and invoice inaccuracies.
The state's chief technology officer in charge of the IBM contract released a letter in which he said the company "is not meeting expectations." Brian Rawson says IBM's been fined $900,000 for not completing timely backups as required by its seven-year, $863 million contract.
An IBM spokesman said the company is racing to correct the data-backup problems.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
