Even in a digitized world, signatures will continue to play an important role. However, relying on pen and paper seems obsolete. When you sign a document with low transaction value, digitally storing the signature on the screen should be enough to enforce legal validity.
If the document to be signed involves larger values, privacy-first eSignatures ensure the immutability of the document and identify the person signing it.
Are eSignatures secure?
In many cases, eSignatures are more secure than traditional signatures because electronic signatures must meet certain security standards through cryptography and other measures. Using these methods it is ensured that signatures are authentic and therefore legally valid. With this in mind, the short answer is: yes, eSignatures are secure. Mainly because of the digital safeguards in place to ensure the authenticity of eSignatures.
Officially there are four signature standards suitable for different documents based on the transaction value.
The four eSignature types
- Simple Electronic Signature (SES): These are suitable for internal documents and are the simplest form of eSignature with the least legal weight. Identification takes place via e-mail.
- Advanced Electronic Signature (AES): One step further up is the electronic signature for advanced users. Low barriers to entry and suitability for legally valid B2B contracts are two features that distinguish this type. Identification takes place via cell phone and e-mail.
- Professional Electronic Signature (PES): If you want to remove all doubt about the identity of a signatory, you can use PES. Forgery-proof identification is required using the ID card. The process involves taking a photo of the front and back with a smartphone, as well as a selfie for facial recognition.
- Qualified Electronic Signature (QES): This security standard is the highest and with the most legal weight. Identification is done via video call, in person, or via ID and security software.
Learn more about eSignature standards and how to use them.
Why switch to electronic signatures?
Efficient: Electronic signatures make it faster to complete repetitive administrative tasks. No more printing, signing, scanning, and filing documents. Thus you save a lot of time, which you can use for more important tasks.
Improved customer experience: With eSignature capability, you positively impact your clientele’s user experience because they can access and effortlessly sign the document, even from afar. With PES, even on documents with high transactional value.
Legal certainty: eSignatures ensure authenticity and provide secure verification of the signer’s identity. Therefore privacy-first eSignatures stand up in court.
General security: Thanks to various security mechanisms, eSignatures are as secure as conventional signatures. Encryption and other measures ensure that the authenticity and immutability of the signature are guaranteed.
A remote signature, tamper protection, and a simplification of the digital workflow – eSignatures save you a lot of time and money.
eSignatures are secure, convenient, and sustainable
The bottom line is that eSignatures offer many benefits and give you a secure and reliable way to sign important documents. Privacy-first eSignatures, for example, offer added security and legal validity, because electronic signatures stand up in court.
With the help of this technology, you can speed up your internal processes and make them more efficient, while saving a lot of costs. You also improve user-friendliness when documents and contracts can be signed easily and from anywhere. After all, using eSignatures means that no paper is consumed and documents do not have to be signed laboriously and time-consumingly by hand.
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