ZealiD’s mission is to empower natural persons to leverage their first legally recognized digital identity in relation to digital service providers from all industries
The current digital transformation of many businesses, coupled with the growing environment of remote operations, has changed the way people work and interact with each other. As a result, electronic signatures are on the rise and expected to reach a market value of $5 billion in 2023.
However, the lack of awareness about legality, different kinds of signatures and when and how to use them is a major challenge for would-be users.
ZealiD’s mission is to empower natural persons to leverage their first legally recognized digital identity in relation to digital service providers from all industries. This means the freedom of entering into agreements, accessing accounts safely and registering for regulated services across the EU.
ZealiD has put together a guide for both users and service providers to help them navigate the benefits and intricacies of electronic signatures.
The European Union defines an Electronic Signature as the electronic equivalent of a handwritten signature. This means that just like its handwritten counterpart, an electronic signature is a proof of identity and intent in a digital environment and a legal way of acquiring consent or approval of electronic documents.
The regulation standardising electronic signatures in the EU is called eIDAS, which stands for electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services. Note that this is a regulation, much like GDPR, and is immediately transposed into national law in all member states. This legislation establishes a legal structure for electronic identification in Europe and outlines the EU standards and compliance required to electronically authenticate things like:
Electronic signatures offer many benefits. They allow remote signing of documents at any place and time and provide greater security and integrity because the signed document cannot be altered. They also reduce carbon footprints and operational costs!
CEO
Yes. According to eIDAS, there are three recognised types of electronic signatures, each offering different levels of assurance and security:
This type of signature features all of the security features of an advanced electronic signature, but additionally, it uses a qualified certificate and multifactor verification to identify the signatory. It is the only signature explicitly recognized as the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature across all EU member states. A QES has third party assurance, requiring auditing and standardised methods that requires the highest levels of security and trust protocols. ZealiD is a Qualified Electronic Signature!
Security Officer ZealiD
To help determine which electronic signature suits your needs, consider these four key elements:
If the answer is yes to all of the above, a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) is the solution. And even if it isn’t, a QES is still the most secure method and represents the highest level signature solution in a digital environment and can even be considered safer than a handwritten signature. The reverse burden of proof, the ability to validate the signature and the guaranteed verification of identity all offer added security advantages. The validation enables an individual to check when a document was signed and provides the cryptographic data to prove it. This is only possible with a QES, meaning it’s the safest form of signature available and the only one providing the legal effect of a handwritten signature.
A QES can only be issued by a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP), which is supervised by a member state supervisory authority (e.g. Bundesnetzagentur in Germany) and included in nationalTrusted Lists. QTSPs are highly regulated and must pass every test of eIDAS compliance. ZealiD is a QTSP and Sweden’s first and only issuer of qualified certificates and signatures.
In addition, Qualified Electronic Signatures can only be created using a qualified signature creation device (QSCD) with specific software and hardware which ensure that:
Currently, very few providers can provide qualified signing in smartphones and instead require the use of an additional smart card or device. Through its unique infrastructure, ZealiD offers a smartphone solution that utilises specific hardware, software and certifications to keep certificates and keypairs on the server-side.
A Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) can often be a legal requirement. In Europe, many situations require a QES by law and depending on the EU member state, it may also be the mandatory standard for electronic signatures.
Because a QES has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature, it can be used in any situation that would typically require a written signature, such as signing a contract.
In situations where a QES is not mandatory, using one is still a good idea. The high degree of security, ability to validate the signature, reverse burden of proof and peace of mind provided by a QES is irreplicable in any other electronic signature.
Electronic signatures in all forms are legally valid in EU courts, however, non-standardised Simple and Advanced qualified signatories may be required to prove the security of the technology if the signature is disputed in court. A Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) is the only signature that provides the signatory with a standardised, non-repudiative solution.
In practical terms, this means that a Simple or Advanced Signature may be liable to dispute in court - with all the associated costs and resources required to prove the validity. A QES on the other hand is based on the highest standards set by EU regulation and must be proven invalid by the disputing party rather than valid by the signatory. This means that if a QES is disputed, the burden of proof lies with the disputing party rather than the signatory. This makes using a QES a safer and more economical choice than relying on a less advanced electronic signature and risk having to prove its validity in an EU court.
All electronic signatures share some common advantages such as saving time, reducing paper and providing the ability to sign a document remotely. Below are some practical examples of when you might use a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES).
Validation is one of the greatest benefits of using a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES). Cryptographic evidence in combination with the guaranteed verification of identity are aspects that are highly desirable when it comes to checking and confirming an electronic signature.
There are two ways to validate a QES: