Digital Signature
DIGITAL SIGNATURE
A digital signature is an electronic signature that can be used to authenticate the identity of the sender of a message or the signer of a document, and possibly to ensure that the original content of the message or document that has been sent is unchanged.
Why use certificate signatures?
Many business transactions, including financial, legal, and other regulated transactions, require high assurance when signing documents. When documents are distributed electronically, it is important that recipients can: * Verify document authenticity – confirming the identity of each person who signed the document * Verify document integrity – confirming that the document has not been altered in transit
Certificate-based signatures provide both of these security services. Many businesses and governments have chosen to set up a certificate-based digital signature infrastructure within their organization – using third party certificate authorities to provide independent identity validation. Examples include: * Pharmaceutical companies who need to use signatures that comply with the SAFE (Signatures & Authentication For Everyone) BioPharma industry standard * Companies in the European Union who need to comply with the ETSI PAdES standard (PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures)
Other reasons why more and more organizations choose to use this type of digital signatures include: 1. Saving money. The electronic signing method eliminates the cost of paper, printing, and courier services. 2. Document integrity. Organizations that publish/release any kind of PDF material on the internet can now be assured that the PDF documents will not be modified in any way to alter the organization’s brand or credibility. 3. Work efficiency. Handling a document electronically (clicking a button or entering a password) is way faster than circulating it through interoffice mail or courier.
A digital signature scheme typically consists of
A digital signature is an electronic signature that can be used to authenticate the identity of the sender of a message or the signer of a document, and possibly to ensure that the original content of the message or document that has been sent is unchanged.
Why use certificate signatures?
Many business transactions, including financial, legal, and other regulated transactions, require high assurance when signing documents. When documents are distributed electronically, it is important that recipients can: * Verify document authenticity – confirming the identity of each person who signed the document * Verify document integrity – confirming that the document has not been altered in transit
Certificate-based signatures provide both of these security services. Many businesses and governments have chosen to set up a certificate-based digital signature infrastructure within their organization – using third party certificate authorities to provide independent identity validation. Examples include: * Pharmaceutical companies who need to use signatures that comply with the SAFE (Signatures & Authentication For Everyone) BioPharma industry standard * Companies in the European Union who need to comply with the ETSI PAdES standard (PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures)
Other reasons why more and more organizations choose to use this type of digital signatures include: 1. Saving money. The electronic signing method eliminates the cost of paper, printing, and courier services. 2. Document integrity. Organizations that publish/release any kind of PDF material on the internet can now be assured that the PDF documents will not be modified in any way to alter the organization’s brand or credibility. 3. Work efficiency. Handling a document electronically (clicking a button or entering a password) is way faster than circulating it through interoffice mail or courier.
A digital signature scheme typically consists of