EFFECTIVE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OF TAMPER-INDICATING SEALS

Security seals are widely used to detect tampering or unauthorized ent ry. In the author's view, existing standards for vulnerability assessm ent of security seals are incomplete. This paper discusses the critica l attributes of effective vulnerability assessment. These include: a c lear understanding of what seal vulnerability assessment is and why it is undertaken; use of appropriate assessment personnel; assessment at the earliest possible stage of seal development; analysis conducted w ith the proper emphasis and context; rejection of findings of zero vul nerabilities; avoidance of the term ''tamper-proof''; characterization of the degree of defeat; and thorough reporting of findings.