The present invention provides a system for monitoring access to a transport container. The system includes a monitoring unit secured to the transport container and at least one sensor in operable communication with the monitoring unit. The sensor is structured to detect incidents of access to the transport container and to communicate data corresponding to the incidents to the monitoring unit. The system includes at data key configured to communicate with the monitoring unit. The data key is capable of being configured as an activation key and/or a deactivation key. The activation key is configured to activate the monitoring unit so that the monitoring unit begins to monitor access to the transport container. The deactivation key is configured to deactivate the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit is configured to communicate data corresponding to the access incidents to the deactivation key.