As businesses process millions of electronic transactions daily, digital document signing has become standard. But what exactly is it, and why should you bother using it with your records? Is there a genuine advantage?

What is a digital signature?

The digital signature, a coded message, secures the connection between a signer and a document in archiving. Digital signatures work in the same way that digital "fingerprints" do. They are a type of electronic signature system (eSignature).

It's a mathematical arrangement for proving the genuineness of digital messages or documents. It's a digital fingerprint unique to a person and can be used to recognize signers and protect data in digital documents. It is a form of electronic signature that ensures a digital document's validity, authenticity, and the signer's identity to comply with legal regulations.

What information does a digital Signature contain?

Different countries have different requirements for the type of digital data signatures must-have. But in general, digital signatures are embedded with certain information that helps identify the signee. With ScannerGo eSign, for example, the certification includes the signee’s name and identity information and a Long Term Validity (LTV) timestamp that stores the date and time of the signature.

Why are digital signatures considered secure?

Digital signatures work using public-key cryptography. Public key cryptography is a cryptographic method that uses a key pair system, private and public. The private key encrypts the data and is available only to the signer.

Why Are Digital Signatures Important?

Digital signatures are the most secure and trusted electronic signatures, ideal for sensitive legal documents and contracts. The certification and authenticity information stored within a digital signature is difficult to manipulate or forge.

It is still essential to keep your country's specific requirements in mind regarding the legality of digital signatures. If you’d like to explore the legality topic in more detail, check out our article on the trustworthiness of digital signatures here.

If you’re curious about creating your digital signature or want to try a digital signing solution, then go for ScannerGo. You can even sign-up for a 7-day free trial to unlock premium features.