Learn about the various types of signatures used for e-signing a document.
e-signatures
An electronic signature (e-signature) is a basic form of signature that often includes low or no additional signer identification beyond an email address. It may also appear in graphical formats, such as an image of a handwritten signature. Simple e-signatures include signatures vetted by email, password, phone authentication (SMS), and one-time passcodes.
e-signatures with identification
These involve more robust identification processes, such as knowledge-based authentication or government document identification, to verify the signer's identity.
Digital signatures (certificate-based)
A digital signature is generated using a digital certificate issued by a Trusted Service Provider (TSP) or Certificate Authority (CA). Digital certificates and signatures are unique to the individual and highly secure.
Qualified Electronic Signature (QES)
Defined by EU law, a QES is a digital signature backed by a digital certificate issued by an accredited Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP). It's considered legally equivalent to a handwritten signature. Depending on the country's law, a qualified, reliable, valid, secure, or certified e-signature is generally considered legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.
Certification signature (Acrobat)
A certification signature is the first signature in a document, allowing control over how the document can be updated by subsequent signers.
Approval signature (Acrobat)
An approval signature is a digital signature that does not certify the document or limit further actions by subsequent signers.
Digital seals
A digital seal certifies the integrity of a digital asset, such as software code, servers, or documents from an organization. It uses a digital certificate with a field for the subject name identifying the legal entity.
Both digital signatures and digital seals use a digital certificate. Each certificate has a field for the subject name, identifying either an individual (for a digital signature) or an organization (for a digital seal).
In Adobe Acrobat Sign, a digital seal ensures the origin and integrity of every signed document or audit report exported as a PDF, marked by a blue bar. Different digital certificates are used to create the seal based on the account's shard:
- NA1 and other shards use DigiCert
- EU1 uses Intesi Group
- IN1 uses Emudhra
Cloud signature
A cloud signature stores the signer's digital certificate securely in the cloud, allowing highly secure, trusted digital signatures from mobile or browser. Each cloud signature uses the protocols outlined in ETSI Technical Specification 119 432 to generate a remote e-signature using digital certificates provided as a service in the cloud.
