Abstract: The invention includes, in various embodiments, a method for archiving an electronic message which includes the steps of scanning the electronic message to determine whether at least a portion of the message is encumbered, disencumbering the encumbered portion of the message if it is encumbered, storing a copy of the disencumbered electronic message, and transmitting the electronic message to a recipient. Once stored, the disencumbered message can be accessed and reviewed by a supervisor, for example, without having to request a password from the sender or recipient. Encumbered messages include messages, or portions of messages, which are password protected, encrypted, and/or otherwise structured to prohibit unauthorized access thereto.