3 Types of Digital Signatures Explained
Digital marks keep files safe, real, and by the law. There are three main kinds, each with its own way to keep things safe and legal:
- Simple Electronic Signatures (SES): These are easy, like hitting "I Agree" or writing your name. They work well for small things, like saying yes to site rules or filling out team papers.
- Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES): These check who you are (like with a code or face check). They are best for bigger deals, like work papers, bank stuff, or buying homes where safety is key.
- Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES): These are the most safe and officially noted, often needing special gear. They are great for government papers, money work, and big deals.
Quick Comparison
| Part | SES | AES | QES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Level | Low | Good | Best |
| Easy to Use | Very Easy | Easy | Okay |
| Who You Are Check | Little (email or name) | Strong (ID, biometrics) | Best (certified tools) |
| Law Power (U.S.) | Basic | Strong | Strongest |
| Best Used For | Low-risk jobs | Business deals | High-safe deals |
Main Point
Pick SES if you want easy use, AES for good safety, and QES when you need the best legal and safety surety. Each one fits varied needs about risk, law needs, and how simple they are to use.
1. Basic Digital Signs (SES)
What Are They?
Basic Digital Signs (SES) are the easy type of e-sign. They use simple ways like ticking an "I Agree" box, putting in a name, or drawing on a touch screen. In short, an SES is seen as "data in e-form, tied to or linked with other data in e-form, used by the signer to sign" [4]. Their ease makes SES good for safe, easy needs.
Main Points
SES work well in safe settings. They offer a fast and easy way to sign. They don’t ask for tough checks on who you are or safe codes. This makes them simple to use but also simple to fight. If there are no records like time marks, IP info, or check paths, denying them could happen more. As Margus Pala, who helped start eID Easy, says clearly: "If you want to get out of a deal, use SES. If you want to make sure another can't leave, ask them to use AdES or QES" [4].
Legal OK
SES are seen as legal by the ESIGN Act and UETA for many deals, not counting things like wills, court stuff, and some money deals [5]. In the same way, the European eIDAS rules say that digital signs can't be thrown out in legal fights just for being e-based or not very secure. But, given their simple form, you often need more proof to show what the signer meant if there's a fight.
Best For
SES are best for usual, low-risk things where ease is key. Usual uses are:
- Saying yes to web rules
- Signing forms for school trips
- Saying that you got a package on sign pads
- Saying yes to secrets not told
- OK-ing papers at work
These signs are also used a lot by companies for simple tasks like bringing in new workers or deals like Work Statements. Places like Collier.Simon use SES to make things run smoother, raising how well they work and making clients happier [6].
For deals that need more legal sureness, Advanced or Very Good Digital Signs are better. Using trusted sign platforms can also help check who is signing, giving a layer of safety when needed.
2. Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES)
What It Is
Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES) offer a much safer way to sign things online than simple digital signs. They mix top-notch coding ways with tools like face checks or one-time codes (OTP), making sure the signer is who they say they are [7] [8]. These extra safe parts make AES much more reliable as shown below.
Main Parts
AES works with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), involving digital papers and safe code methods like SHA-256. This setup ties a signer to a paper while keeping it safe [9] [10]. Trusted Certificate Authorities give out these digital papers to prove who the signer is, and the PKI plan uses public and private keys to lock and unlock the sign [9] [10].
One big thing about AES is tamper detection. If anyone tries to change a signed paper, AES can spot those changes [10]. Time stamping adds more safety by marking the exact time the sign was put down, giving a clear time line of when it was signed [9].
Another key bit is non-repudiation, meaning that:
the signer cannot deny their involvement in the signing process.
This gets done by strong ways to check who someone is. They use things like ID checks from the government, tools that can see your face or read your finger, and having more than one way to check it's really you [7].
Legal Sureness
AES is seen as more real by law than just Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) [3]. The fact that it has better safety parts and tough ways to check identity make it hard to fight against the truth of an AES in court cases.
Studies show that electronic signatures can improve document processing efficiency by up to 60%,
[11] AES does this and still keeps a high level of legal trust. Still, the signature's supporting certificate must be from a trusted source and valid when the signing happens to make sure it is legally strong [7].
Best Times to Use
Since AES comes with strong legal trust, it is great for times when you need to be sure of who someone is [7]. Cases like big money deals, buying or selling property, and deals in banks and money places fit well [7].
AES is also key when you have to follow strict rules, like when sending tax forms to the government, giving yearly reports to authorities, or when doctors send digital notes for medicine [7]. Its way of making sure no one can say "it wasn't me" is vital for signing NDAs, giving safe access through digital passes, or making official business deals where it's key to track who agreed to what [7].
Lots of groups use AES to make their work smoother. For example, Vermouth Beauty uses it to handle money papers, legal stuff, NDAs, and hiring papers [3]. Often, people use it to agree on jobs that last a long time or to say yes to buying deals that don't need a specific form [11]. When making sure who someone is and keeping things legally safe are top needs, AES gives the trust and safety businesses count on.
3. Top Grade E-Signs (QES)
What it Is
Top Grade Electronic Signatures (QES) are the best kind of e-signs, offering top safety and accepted by the law like a written sign in a lot of places, like in the EU [12]. QES builds on Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES). What makes QES special is its use of key tools, like a Safe Signature tool (QSCD), and a checked certificate. These parts link the signer and the paper well [1].
Main Parts
QES uses a QSCD, a part that can be hardware or software, made to be very safe [14]. It joins with a checked certificate from a Safe Trust Provider [12][14]. These steps cover three big things:
- Who Signs: Makes sure of the signer's true self.
- Unchanged Data: Keeps the paper the same after signing.
- Can't Deny: Stops the signer from saying they did not sign [15].
If the paper is changed after signing, the sign is seen as not good, hinting at messing with it [14].
Legal Weight
Under the eIDAS rules, QES counts the same as a written sign and all EU nations accept it [16]. This means QES can be used in court as it shows a strong link to the signer's self [13]. In court fights, proving the sign is not real falls on the one who says it's fake [1]. This strong legal setup makes QES a trusted choice for high-safety needs.
Best Uses
QES is key in places where sure safety and legal hold are musts. It fits well in areas like:
- Financial Services
- Healthcare
- Real Estate
- Insurance
It also helps in government tasks like asking for permits, licenses, public help, e-tax papers, and deals across EU borders [12].
As Margus Pala [17] points out, QES is vital for groups moving from paper to digital. For big deals and when legal force is key, QES offers strong safety and peace of mind in the digital sign process.
Electronic and digital signatures explained: Types, differences, uses #AscertiaOn
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Pros and Cons
Each kind of digital signature comes with its own set of ups and downs. Knowing all this helps you pick what suits your needs and how much risk you can take.
Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) are easy to use but not very safe. You can make them quickly by typing a name, scanning a signature, or clicking an "I Agree" box. This ease can speed up signing papers and reduce paper use. Yet, they don't offer much security, which makes them less good for key documents.
Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES) find a middle ground. They mix easy use with better safety, adding steps like checking who you are and asking for more than one proof of ID. These features make AES safer than SES but still easy to handle. They fit well for mid-level risk tasks and a lot of transactions. However, if there's a legal issue, businesses must show they are right, which can be tough. For the most safety, QES is a better pick.
Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) give the top safety and legal back-up but are hard to set up. They rely on special tools like smart cards or USB sticks and stand strong in law. If there's a fight, it's up to the signer to show they are right, which means more safety for firms. But, needing tech tools can make QES a hassle for daily needs.
More and more people are using electronic signatures, with the market growing from $1.2 billion in 2018 to an expected $5.5 billion by 2023. Also, 85% of users say better safety is a big plus of using this tech.
| Feature | Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) | Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES) | Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety Level | Low | Good | Best |
| Easy to Use | Very | Very | Okay |
| Who You Are? | Just need an email | Need an ID, might need your thumbprint | Must meet and show ID |
| Law OK (U.S.)? | Depends on the job | Fits with the law | Best law backing |
| Who must show it was OK? | Changes | The business | The person who signs |
| Best For | Stuff inside the company, easy deals | Work deals, big company deals | Big deals that must follow the rules, government stuff |
| Set Up Hard? | Small | Middle | Big |
In the US, the ESIGN Act and UETA say that digital signs are as strong in law as written signs on paper. The US doesn't have a setup like Europe's eIDAS to check these, but providers that hit high standards give good proof in law fights.
When you pick a type of digital sign, you should think about how safe it needs to be, what the law says, and how easy it is to use. For everyday papers, SES could work well. For big deals or deals that must follow strict rules, AES or QES are safer and more sure in law.
Conclusion
Picking the right digital signature is all about the right mix of safety and easy use. Simple Electronic Signatures work well for day-to-day needs, Advanced Electronic Signatures give more safety for business deals, and Qualified Electronic Signatures offer top safety for very important legal papers and big deals. These kinds help make sure your pick fits the needs of your papers, from normal forms to big contracts.
More and more people need safe and lawful signing options. The digital signature market may grow to over $118.88 billion by 2032, with 95% of groups now using or planning to use electronic signatures [2]. This rise shows how key it is to choose a way that fits your security and legal needs.
Sites like Legally.io make this easy by mixing making documents with safe e-sign features. With more than 300 lawyer-okayed templates and great 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 4,000 Trustpilot reviews [18], Legally.io helps users work through complex forms while staying true to local laws. As James, a small business boss, said in June 2024, the site has been "a big help, offering a full set of tools that make document work and handling simple", and its e-sign feature helps him "finish deals fast" [18].
FAQs
What makes Simple, Advanced, and Qualified Electronic Signatures different, and when should you use each?
In the world of e-signatures, you'll find three key types, each with its own level of safety and legal weight:
- Simple Electronic Signatures (SES): These are the most basic form. They offer low security. They are often used for easy, low-risk deals where deep checks aren't needed.
- Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES): AES steps up the security by making sure the signer is who they say they are and that the document hasn't been changed. They are great for deals with a bit more risk and that need more trust.
- Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES): QES are top-notch in terms of safety and legal trust. They need a special certificate from a trusted source and are best for very important or highly controlled deals.
To break it down, use SES for simple, low-risk jobs, AES for jobs with some risk, and QES when you need the highest trust for vital deals.
Why are Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES) safe and sure for checking who you are and stopping changes?
Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES)
Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES) offer top safety by using ways to check who you are such as digital papers and two-step checks. These steps make sure the signature is set to the signer, proving who they are and building trust.
To keep the document whole, AES makes a one of a kind digital mark on the file. If there's any small change to the text after it is signed, the signature won't work right, showing clear signs of change. More so, AES locks the signed text making it really hard for changes to go unseen.
When should I use a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) over other kinds of digital signatures?
A Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) is the top pick when you need top-level safety and legal standing. It's best for critical paperwork like job contracts, loan deals, or any paper that must hold up in law. This kind of signature is key in fields like finance, health, and law, where following the rules strictly is a must.
QES is also great for dealing with private personal data or money records. It gives stronger trust and legal strength than other digital signature types. For big deals or when you need the most trust, QES is the safest way to go.
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