Digital signatures and certificates | Adobe Acrobat for business (original) (raw)
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Adobe Acrobat for business
Digital signature: doc signing at scale
A digital signature is an e-signature that is backed by a digital certificate. This type of signatures comply with regulations around the world and provide the highest level of identity assurance when dealing with digital documents.
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Digital signature benefits
Trusted and compliant.
Signatures backed by digital certificates issued by third-party providers help you comply with regulations around the world.
Protected.
Your digital signature and the signed PDF electronic document are cryptographically bound and secured with a tamper-evident seal.
Unique to you.
Use your unique digital identity to easily validate your credentials and authorize your signature when you digitally sign.
Easy to validate.
Digital signature validation requires renewal — both the document and the signature are designed to be revalidated for at least 10 years.
Digital signature security
A digital signature is secure because it's backed by a specific certificate which provides proof of your identity. It is recognized as being a more secure type of e-signature because it's cryptographically bound to the signed document and can be verified. When you use a digital certificate obtained from a trusted third party to e-sign, the resulting signature is virtually impossible to spoof. It also provides powerful evidence of signer identity, that the signed document was not altered, and that the signatures are valid.
What is a digital identity?
A digital identity (or digital ID) is like an electronic passport. It provides strong evidence that you are who you say you are when e-signing a document. Each digital ID is issued by a trusted third party, such as a bank or government, after thoroughly verifying your identity.
Using a digital ID to authenticate your identity when e-signing a document strongly affirms that you have agreed to the terms and have authorized your e-signature on a specific document.
Learn more about digital identity providers
Try Adobe Acrobat and grow your business with digital signatures.
See how easy it is for you, your customers, and co-workers to send and sign documents electronically — from any device or browser, from within just about any popular application. With Acrobat, you can get important documents signed and delivered in minutes, not days.
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Acrobat Sign Solutions: The global digital signature solution for worldwide business
Digital signature FAQs
Is there a difference between digital and electronic signatures?
Yes. An electronic signature is a broad term for any electronic process that indicates acceptance of an agreement or a record. A digital signature refers to a more secure electronic signature that is generated using a digital certificate and cryptographically bound to the document using public key infrastructure (PKI).
What is a cloud signature?
A cloud signature is a digital signature where the signer’s digital certificate is managed by a trust service provider (TSP) in the cloud. Cloud signatures rely on the global open standard created by the Cloud Signature Consortium (CSC). Compared to a traditional digital signature applied using a physical smart card or USB token, a cloud signature makes it easy to apply trusted signatures directly from a mobile device or a Web browser. For more information, please see the digital identity solution providers page in the Adobe Trust Center.
What is an electronic seal?
An electronic seal or e-seal is used by a legal entity such as a business or organization to certify the origin, authenticity, and integrity of documents. Electronic seals may provide strong legal evidence that the document has not been altered and originated from the entity identified by the digital sealing certificate.
Are digital signatures legal?
The Adobe security overview provides information on security for Adobe Acrobat Sign Solutions. To learn more about how Adobe protects your documents, data, and personal information, please visit the Trust Center.
What regulations does Acrobat comply with?
Want to know more?
Whether you need some basic information about our e-signature solutions or you’d like a customized quote for your unique business needs, we’re here to help you get your questions answered.