Electronic signature

What is an electronic signature?

An electronic signature is data in electronic form attached to a document in order to sign it. It replaces the handwritten signature for digital documents and is governed in the EU by the eIDAS Regulation.

What types of electronic signature are there?

The eIDAS Regulation distinguishes three levels: the simple electronic signature (SES), the advanced electronic signature (AES) and the qualified electronic signature (QES). Security and legal weight increase with each level.

Is an electronic signature legally valid?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid in the EU. The qualified electronic signature (QES) is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature. For many business transactions a simple or advanced signature is already sufficient.

How SecureCloud enables electronic signatures

With SecureSign, documents can be signed electronically and in a legally compliant way directly in SecureCloud, hosted in Germany. SecureSign supports advanced (AES) and qualified (QES) electronic signatures under eIDAS; the QES is provided via a qualified trust service provider (QTSP), including remote identity verification and a qualified timestamp.

What is the difference between an electronic and a digital signature?

Electronic signature is the legal umbrella term. Digital signature refers to the cryptographic method that technically secures many electronic signatures.

Which signature is equivalent to a handwritten one?

The qualified electronic signature (QES) is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.

When is a simple electronic signature enough?

For many low-risk everyday agreements. For documents requiring a specific form or strong evidence, AES or QES is advisable.