Tamper-Evident Seal Program
Data Destruction Inc. protects media between pickup and destruction with numbered, tamper-evident seals and containers, so any interference is visible and every seal is reconciled on the record. This keeps the chain of custody provably intact. Call (866) 850-7977 to set up a program across all 50 states.
The most vulnerable moment for retired media is the gap between collection and destruction. A drive sitting in an unsealed bin or an untracked box is a drive nobody can vouch for. Numbered tamper-evident seals close that gap by making any access visible and by tying each container to a written record.
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Related Options
Chain of Custody
An unbroken, serialized record that tracks every asset from intake through pickup, transport, and the destruction event, with each handoff signed and timestamped under tamper-evident seal. Provides 100% per-asset accountability behind the certificate.
Witnessed Destruction
An observed, attested destruction event where your employee, auditor, or regulator watches every asset destroyed, in person or by live video. A named witness, serial-number reconciliation, and timestamped attestation are bound to the record.
Hard Drive Shredding
Industrial shredding that reduces drives to a 6 mm particle size, or 2 mm for classified media, meeting the NIST 800-88 r2 Destroy standard. Available on-site or at a secured facility, with fragments routed to certified recycling.
Hard Drive Destruction
Physical and cryptographic destruction of data-bearing drives across every NIST 800-88 r2 method, including shredding, crushing, degaussing, and cryptographic erase. Performed on-site or at a secured facility under sealed chain of custody.
What is the tamper-evident seal program?
The tamper-evident seal program is a controlled system of numbered seals and secure containers that protect media from the point of collection until destruction. Each seal carries a unique number recorded at application and verified at destruction.
If a seal is broken or replaced, the number will not match, and the discrepancy is caught during reconciliation. The program turns physical custody into documented custody, so the chain of custody is not just claimed, it is evidenced.
| Element | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Numbered seal | Uniquely identifies a sealed container |
| Secure container | Holds media through transport and storage |
| Application record | Logs the seal number at collection |
| Verification check | Confirms the seal number at destruction |
| Discrepancy handling | Flags any mismatch for investigation |
How does the seal program work?
The seal program works by applying a numbered seal at collection and verifying it at destruction, with a record at both ends. Data Destruction Inc. follows this sequence.
- Load media into a secure container at the point of collection.
- Apply a numbered tamper-evident seal and record its number.
- Transport the sealed container under tracked chain of custody.
- Verify the seal number at destruction before opening.
- Record the verified seal in the project documentation.
The program is the transport safeguard within
Why tamper-evident seals matter
Tamper-evident seals matter because they make the invisible visible: without them, you cannot prove a container was undisturbed in transit. This is what makes custody defensible.
- Visible interference. A broken or mismatched seal reveals access immediately, so tampering cannot pass unnoticed.
- Accountability. Each seal number ties a specific container to a specific custody record.
- Reconciliation. Matching applied seals against verified seals confirms nothing was opened or swapped.
Because the seal number is recorded at both ends, the container's integrity is provable, which is the standard auditors expect for media in transit. The seal is small, but it carries the weight of the entire custody claim.
How does the seal program support compliance?
The seal program supports compliance because chain-of-custody integrity is a documented control in media-protection frameworks. The table below ties the program to obligations.
| Standard or rule | Requirement | How the seal program helps |
|---|---|---|
| NIST SP 800-88 r2 | Maintain and document custody through disposal | Sealed, recorded transport and verification |
| NIST SP 800-53 media protection | Protect and control media in transit | Numbered seals and secure containers |
| HIPAA 45 CFR 164.310(d)(2)(i) | Safeguard ePHI media until destruction | Sealed custody from pickup to destruction |
| PCI DSS Requirement 9.4 | Secure media pending destruction | Tamper-evident containment and reconciliation |
Read the standard on our blank” rel=”noopener”>NIST SP 800-88 r2 guidelines and the NIST SP 800-53 security and privacy controls.
What you receive
Every engagement produces an audit-ready package.
- Serialized Certificate of Destruction, provided within 24 hours after the destruction event is complete.
- Seal record listing applied and verified seal numbers.
- Chain-of-custody log from collection through destruction.
- Asset inventory listing serials, counts, and media types.
- Downstream recovery record confirming responsible recycling.
See the blank” rel=”noopener”>Certificate of Destruction and blank” rel=”noopener”>Chain of Custody pages for details.
Related pages
Chain of Custody
The chain-of-custody record tracks every hand-off, and the seal program supplies the physical evidence that custody was unbroken.
Our Destruction Process
Our destruction process places the seal program at the secure-transport stage, before method selection and destruction.
Audit Trail
The audit trail incorporates recorded seal numbers as part of the documentation that proves a defensible outcome.
Witnessed On-Site Paper Shredding
Witnessed on-site shredding adds direct observation for teams that want to see destruction happen in person.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tamper-evident seal?
A numbered seal applied to a secure container so that any attempt to open it is visible. The number is recorded at collection and verified at destruction.
How do I know a seal was not swapped?
Each seal has a unique number recorded at application. If the number at destruction does not match the record, the discrepancy is flagged and investigated.
Does the seal program replace chain of custody?
No. It strengthens it. The seal supplies physical evidence that supports the written chain-of-custody record.
What containers do you use?
Secure containers suited to the media and volume, sealed with numbered tamper-evident seals for transport and storage.
Is the seal number in our documentation?
Yes. Applied and verified seal numbers are recorded and included in your audit trail.
Can we witness the seal verification?
Yes. On-site and witnessed options let your team observe seal verification and destruction. Call (866) 850-7977.
Get Started
Protect media from pickup to destruction with sealed, provable custody. Set up a program at contact us or call (866) 850-7977.
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DATA DESTRUCTION LOCATIONS
SHREDDING SERVICES DALLAS
1717 Mckinney Ave. Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75202-1236
(469) 949-2840
SHREDDING SERVICES NEW YORK CITY
100 Church Street. 8Th Floor
New York City, NY 10007-2630
(516)-990-4096
SHREDDING SERVICES SAN JOSE
2033 Gateway Place. 5Th Floor
San Jose, CA 95110
(408) 459-4418
SHREDDING SERVICES SAN DIEGO
350 10Th Avenue. Suite 1000
San Diego, CA 92101-7496
(619) 916-4696
SHREDDING SERVICES LOS ANGELES
633 West Fifth Street. 26Th And 28Th Floors
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 205-3688
SHREDDING SERVICES IRVINE
7545 Irvine Center Drive. Irvine Business Center, Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 793-7178
SHREDDING SERVICES WASHINGTON
601 Pennsylvania Ave. Nw, South Building, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20004
(240) 266-3056