Whether signing contracts, approving internal documents or interacting with customers and public administrations, digital signatures enable secure, legally compliant and fully digital processes.
What is a digital signature?
A digital signature is a cryptographic mechanism used to prove the authenticity and integrity of an electronic document. It allows professionals and organisations to sign documents electronically with a high level of security and legal certainty.
Digital signatures can be used for many business activities, including:
- signing contracts
- participating in public tenders
- submitting tax declarations
- banking and insurance transactions
- electronic invoicing
- approving internal documentation
- sending legally binding communications
They have become a key component of digital business processes.
Digital signature vs electronic signature: what’s the difference?
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they are not exactly the same.
According to the European eIDAS Regulation, an electronic signature is data in electronic form that is attached to or logically associated with other electronic data and used by a person to sign.
A digital signature, on the other hand, is the cryptographic technology that makes certain electronic signatures secure by guaranteeing the authenticity of the signer and the integrity of the document.
In other words:
- Electronic signature is the legal concept.
- Digital signature is one of the technologies used to implement electronic signatures securely.
Not every electronic signature is a digital signature, but every digital signature is a form of electronic signature.
Which type of electronic signature should you choose?
One of the most important aspects when implementing digital processes is selecting the appropriate level of electronic signature.
The European eIDAS Regulation defines three different types.
Simple Electronic Signature (SES)
This is the simplest form of electronic signature.
Examples include:
- clicking an “I accept” button
- entering an OTP received by SMS
- signing on a touchscreen
- confirming acceptance electronically
It is suitable for low-risk processes where legal requirements are limited.
Advanced Electronic Signature (AES)
An Advanced Electronic Signature uniquely links the signature to the signer and makes it possible to detect any modification made to the signed document.
It provides a much higher level of assurance regarding:
- signer identification
- document integrity
- authentication of the signing process
It is widely used in business processes such as customer onboarding, contract signing and financial services.
Qualified Electronic Signature (QES)
The Qualified Electronic Signature offers the highest level of legal certainty.
Under the eIDAS Regulation, it is the only type of electronic signature that has the legal effect equivalent to a handwritten signature across the European Union.
A Qualified Electronic Signature is based on a qualified certificate issued by a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) and created using a qualified signature creation device.
Choosing between these signature types depends on the level of risk, applicable regulations and the legal requirements of each business process.
The benefits of digital signatures for professionals
1) Legal validity
Digitally signed documents have legal value.
Depending on the signature type used and the applicable legislation, electronically signed documents can provide the same evidential value as traditional paper documents.
For maximum legal assurance, organisations can combine digital signatures with trusted services such as qualified timestamps and long-term validation.
2) Authenticity and integrity
Unlike handwritten signatures, digital signatures rely on cryptographic technology.
This guarantees:
- the identity of the signer
- the integrity of the document
- the detection of any modification after signing
These guarantees help organisations build trusted digital processes while reducing fraud risks.
3) Non-repudiation
Because digital signatures are uniquely linked to the signer, they provide strong evidence that a document was signed by a specific individual.
This significantly reduces disputes and prevents signers from denying their participation in the transaction.
4) Reduced operational costs
Digital signatures eliminate many of the costs associated with paper-based processes.
Organisations can reduce expenses related to:
- printing
- shipping
- physical document storage
- manual processing
- in-person appointments
Digital workflows also accelerate business operations while improving customer experience.
5) Greater efficiency and flexibility
Digital signatures simplify document workflows.
Professionals can securely sign documents from virtually anywhere using computers, tablets or smartphones.
This enables faster approvals, remote collaboration and automated business processes, helping organisations improve productivity while reducing administrative effort.
Namirial Electronic Signature
Namirial provides electronic signature solutions designed to support organisations of all sizes with secure, compliant and easy-to-use digital signing processes.
As a Qualified Trust Service Provider, Namirial offers electronic signature solutions that comply with the European eIDAS framework and support different signature levels according to business and regulatory requirements.
Combined with identity verification, authentication, timestamps and workflow automation, Namirial helps organisations digitise agreements while maintaining the highest standards of security, compliance and user experience.
