What is a Digital Signature?
A digital signature guarantees that an electronic document is authentic. It is an encrypted digital code appended to an electronic document to verify that it was created by a known source and has not been altered.
A digital signature is a technology that proves the authenticity of a document. Digital signatures require a digital certificate from a certificate authority to vet a user's identity. The certificate is bound by cryptography to the signed document, creating a unique digital fingerprint.
Digital signatures also embed a public key infrastructure (PKI) into the signing process. PKIs generate two keys— one public and one private — to identify the signer and the entity requesting the signature. Both the digital certificate and PKI provide stringent identification and security for sensitive legal documents.
What Is The Difference Between Digital Signature and Electronic Signature?
Electronic signatures are digital symbols that a signer applies to a contract while digital signatures use encryption methods to authenticate digital documents. While both signatures are legally binding, electronic signatures replace traditional signatures.
Digital Signatures:
Use sophisticated certificate-based identification methods
Secure document integrity
Are not equivalent to a handwritten signature
Use encryption to verify the validity of signed documents
Require third-party verification
Electronic Signatures:
Use standard methods (employee ID, email, or multi-factor authentication) to authenticate a signer’s identity
Verify document authenticity
Are equivalent to a handwritten signature
Use audit trails to validate signed documents
Are easy to apply via electronic signature apps
How do you create an electronic signature?
Our Sign electric signature solution allows you to complete contracts, agreements, and documents fast and secure without unnecessary printing and scanning.