Seals are used for many different applications:

1. Access Control
2. Records Integrity
3. Inventory
4. Ballot Integrity
5. Cargo Security
6. Theft Detection
7. Hazardous Materials Accountability
8. Nuclear Safeguards
9. National Defense
10. Treaty Monitoring
11. Law Enforcement
12. Counter-Terrorism
13. Counter-Espionage
14. Protecting Instrument Calibration and Surveillance Equipment
15. Safeguarding Consumer Products
16. Utility Meters
17. Carrier Bags
18. Banking

Advantages of Seals vs. Locks

• Locks don’t stand up to determined adversaries.
• Knowing that unauthorized access took place is often more practical than trying to stop it.
• lighter, cheaper, smaller
• no keys or combinations to manage
• often disposable, so don’t need to be returned to sender
• can be removed instantly by anyone in an emergency
• encourage an intruder to enter through the safest & least destructive route

Advantages of Seals vs. Intrusion Detectors

• simpler, easier to use & install
• (often) no need for electrical power
• lighter, cheaper, smaller
• more practical for individual containers & for moving containers
• fewer false alarms
• It’s often unnecessary to know immediately that unauthorized access has taken place.