A system (10) for generating an incrementally completed security mark (20′″) includes a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program. The computer program includes computer readable code for selecting a carrier object (20, 20′, 20″, 20′″); computer readable code for selecting a number of steps in a workflow associated with the carrier object (20, 20′, 20″, 20′″) and a security level for each step in the workflow; computer readable code for determining available carrier object candidate areas (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) to which to write information at each step in the workflow; and computer readable code for determining a number of bits to be input at each step in the workflow based upon the respective security levels and the available candidate areas (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5). The system further includes memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory and to the computer-readable medium.