26 Apr 2024

Are eSignatures safe? Of course, they are safer than the traditional ones on paper while being more productive. Electronic signatures are not easy to get stolen but are that it? Anyone can access it easily. What if someone hacks and tampers with it? That is a threat to document transparency. How is it safe then? 

In this blog, VeriDoc Sign covers how eSignature solutions are more secure and productive than wet ones and how they work. We will also talk about the features that keep the esigns safe.

How Is An eSignature More Secure Than A Wet Signature?

One of the most common questions we all have is whether an electronic signature can be copied, forged, or misused, or not. Let us get real. While you can easily steal, tamper or forge a wet signature, an electronic signature has layers of security built into them. An eSignature also has court-admissible proof of your transaction. But what else?

• Completion Certificates

You get a certificate for completion. It includes details of the signer and the consumer disclosure that indicates the signer has accepted the eSignature. It also has the approved signature image, timestamps of the critical events, signers' IP addresses, etc.

• The Seal Is Tamper-Proof

When you complete a signing process, you seal all the documents using a public critical infrastructure or PKI. PKI is industry-standard technology. When you add the seal, it ensures the validity of the e-signature. The document can not be tampered with or altered once it is signed.

• It Comes With An Electronic Record

Wet signatures need witnesses. eSignatures come with an electronic record. This record provides you with a trail of audits and proof of your transaction. It also includes the history of actions carried on with the document. For example, if someone viewed it, opened it, or signed it before. This feature ensures document transparency.

How Do You Use An eSignature Solution?

The signing process varies. It depends on the service provider and the purpose. However, the workflow can be undoubtedly similar. Here is a step-by-step process that illustrates how an e-signature solution works.

Let us see how you can send an e-signature. 

• Get the documents you need to sign for and upload them in a pdf or word document.


• Some sections need initials, signatures, etc. Tag them.


• There are several ways to get the signer's authentication. Select them. Then send the file via service to your recipient's email id.

If you are the recipient, how would you sign?

• As a recipient, you will receive a document. Your job is to review and sign it.


• As soon as you receive the documents, check and verify your identity before you sign.


• Read the documents before agreeing to use the electronic solution. Continue reviewing and completing the necessary fields. If you have any extra documents attached, read them too.


• Sign the document after selecting the style you want to go ahead with now.
   

When you sign the document, it gets stored electronically. You can now send it over.

eSignatures Have A Security-First Approach. 

The level of eSignature security varies. Again, it depends on the service provider too. So, you need to take some time before choosing your electronic signature service provider. But those security measures must include:

• Physical Security: Physical Security protects the overall systems where it resides. It also has data centres that have logically separated networks. Physical security takes care of real-time data duplication.


• Platform security: Platform Security safeguards the data. They also process the data stored in the systems. The service provider ensures platform security through multiple authentication options for the signers.


• Security Certification: The security processes ensure that the service provider's partners follow the best security practices. These providers assure this by complying with the applicable laws and industry standards.

Electronic signature solutions are always more secure and productive than a wet signature. The security checkpoints are different for different service providers. And thus, you should always check before committing to one eSignature solution. It always makes sense to choose safer over just "safe."