Introduction
The increase in global trade and commerce as well as advancements in modern technology have made the use of security seals all but necessary in order to provide public safety, to ensure the integrity of intellectual property, and to protect the rights of copyright holders. The advent of fast modes of transportation has allowed the global shipping industry to boom in recent years as goods can be easily transported from one location to anywhere else in the world in a matter of hours. It has also made it easier than ever to smuggle goods, commit theft, and even to transport dangerous materials and weapons that could be used in terrorism. By using security seals, companies and governments can gain some measure of safety to protect their products and citizens from criminal activity and terrorism. Also advancements in technology have developed more rapidly than anyone could have anticipated. Security seals allow holders of intellectual property to safeguard their rights, without having to fear that someone will steal their work. Security seals are also necessary to protect copyright holders to guard against piracy and copyright infringement that have become common place as the internet has grown.
What Are Security Seals?
Security seals are defence mechanisms that can be put into place to deter theft or tampering and have a wide variety of applications that are used in a wide range of industries. Security seals generally come in one of two types -- single use security seals and reusable security seals. Single use security seals are usually constructed from plastic, metal, or even paper and are designed for one use operation. These are commonly used in protecting consumer goods like software and multimedia from being opened and then sold. The can also be used to protect electronics and to detect whether a warranty should be voided upon breaking the seal. Some plastic, single use security seals use grooved cables that can be secured using a locking mechanism.
Reusable security seals are either mechanical or electronic, depending on the level of security required by the user. They are usually made of metal and plastic and can be customized specifically for individual clients. Reusable security seals are used primarily in the shipping and transportation industries for sealing containers and truck doors. Reusable security seals are given security ratings based on the International Standard Organization's Publicly Available Specifications 17712 (ISO PAS 11712). Under these guidelines, security seals must be constructed out of certain materials and have specific features in order to meet specifications for a particular grade. These security ratings are in compliance with most world customs and counter-terrorism agencies.
- Single use seals
- Reusable seals
- Software and Mukltimedia protection
- Shipping and Transportation use