Electronic Signature and Its Types

Posted On 04-Oct-2021

Life has become faster than ever, especially after the acceleration of many international companies in creating new and different industries. With the development of technology and the emergence of social media, the world has gathered in one place: mobile devices. Many companies were able to market themselves, which increased the opportunity to empower them in the global market. It also allowed companies and institutions to establish cooperative relations and establish contracts with others.

In the beginning, the process of creating contracts was complicated and expensive, as it required printing a lot of papers and sometimes traveling to countries to be partnered with, and bearing the hardship of travel, changing weather conditions, and adapting to new environments.

The electronic signature facilitated all these difficulties and hardships, as it saves costs and reduces all the steps of signing various contracts. The electronic signature made it possible to sign documents with no effort or fatigue.

We will tell you what an electronic signature is and the most important things you need to know.

What is an electronic signature?

The term electronic signature is one of the most common terms in technology. It expresses the person's will and agreement to the text inside the document or the papers that need to be signed. It is also equivalent to a handwritten signature. The electronic signature is legally and internationally recognized.

Electronic signatures are also used to refer to any signature that is applied electronically rather than using pens and papers.

The electronic signature is based on different techniques to complete the signing process, starting from verifying the identity of the signatory, making sure that he wants to sign with no pressure, ending with the process of saving and recording the signature, and then encrypting the data.

Types of electronic signature:

Let's look at the types of electronic signatures that are categorized in the Electronic Identification, Authentication, and Trust Services Regulation (eIDAS), created in 2016. This regulation is responsible for defining the legal structure of both electronic identity and document signature in the European Union.

Simple electronic signatures (SES):

This type of signature took a large share of its name, as it is considered the most widespread type, and it is easy to create.

The process of creating it is as follows: The document to be signed is sent via email then the recipient adds a symbol, text, or image to sign and send the file. It is worth mentioning that this process is carried out in complete secrecy and with ultra-safety. After signing the files, they are encrypted to ensure the protection of the user.

Advanced Electronic Signatures (AdES):

This type of electronic signature has the advantage that it provides greater protection and security to the user than the previous type. The user needs to associate a certificate or identification card to ensure the identity of the signer is away from hacking and impersonation.

Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES):

Qualified electronic signatures are among the signatures that provide the highest level of security and privacy. At the same time, it is much more complex than the previous types, and it is just as recognized in legal courts and international institutions as manual signatures.

When to use the electronic signature?

Being legally recognized enables it to be used in many different situations in practical life. They are available with you on any electronic device connected to the Internet, and it can be used to complete various deals and contracts such as:

  • Contracts: sales, employment, or rental contracts and others.

  • Online transactions, especially banking services.
  • Administrative procedures: taxes, birth certificates, and other documents that require certified attestation.

In conclusion, we would like to express the importance of the electronic signature and that we cannot make it without it, whether we are individuals or companies. Especially in light of the Covid pandemic. The electronic signature will shorten the distances created by the pandemic.

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