From now on it is possible for professionals to have different documents signed in electronic form. Although this procedure may seem simple, the signature in question must first be valid. In which case can a digital signature be defined as valid?
The principle of the digital signature
The digital signature or electronic signature is a technical process used by individuals to give their approval and consent through their signature on various digital documents. Although an electronic signature is often perceived as an image, it is an important digital tool that must comply with standards set by European authorities. Having documents signed in digital form can be very advantageous for professionals. It is a time-saver that allows approval to be given in the form of an electronic signature, whatever its field and use. Secondly, there is no longer any need to make copies of documents for verification, as the documents in question will be available on different types of media. Various criteria must be met for a digital signature to be valid. Firstly, the person signing must be identified, then the integrity of the document must be guaranteed and proof of the signatory's consent must be provided.
How digital signature software works
An electronic signature must first and foremost go through processing software that will be used to put the contacts and documents on which the professionals will give their consent in order. The software will make it possible to guarantee the integrity of the document and will provide evidence that will stipulate the date of its creation as well as the date of the signature. Obtaining the services of a software program is also a guarantee of document protection and compliance with security standards. It should be noted that digital signature software will host data on signatories, documents and their contacts and provide secure access to users.
When is a digital signature valid?
Agreements signed on paper and the associated signatures often lead to back and forth and some processing delays and can generate a considerable amount of paperwork. The secure digital signature makes it possible to harmonise and simplify all of these flows. It is used to validate agreements online using frequently used digital formats such as PDF documents. A digital signature is valid if it complies with the security standards defined by the European authorities.