{"id":12091,"date":"2024-04-06T15:03:59","date_gmt":"2024-04-06T15:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/?p=12091"},"modified":"2024-02-22T14:22:01","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T14:22:01","slug":"how-do-i-sign-a-document-electronically","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/how-do-i-sign-a-document-electronically\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I sign a document electronically?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h0\">What is an electronic signature?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An <strong>electronic <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signature <\/a>is a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/4-training-methods-everyone-should-know-about\/\">method <\/a><\/strong>of authenticating the <strong>integrity<\/strong> and origin of an electronic <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document <\/a>or online transaction. Unlike a <strong>traditional <\/strong>handwritten <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signature <\/a>on paper, an <strong>electronic <\/strong>signature is a <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/dematerialization\/\">digital <\/a>version that ensures the <strong>validity <\/strong>and non-alteration of the signed <strong>document<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The electronic <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signature <\/a><\/strong>uses cryptographic techniques to <strong>create <\/strong>a unique identifier linked to the <strong>signatory <\/strong>and the <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document<\/a>. It <strong>relies <\/strong>on <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/dematerialization\/\">digital <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-signature-certificate\/\">certificates<\/a>, which are electronic files <strong>issued <\/strong>by a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-signature-certificate\/\">certification <\/a><\/strong>authority that attest to the <strong>identity <\/strong>of the signatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main <strong>characteristics <\/strong>of electronic signatures are :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Authentication:<\/strong> <strong>Allows <\/strong>the signatory to be <strong>uniquely <\/strong>and reliably identified, thus <strong>preventing <\/strong>identity theft.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integrity:<\/strong> <strong>Guarantees <\/strong>that the <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document <\/a>has not been modified since it was <strong>signed<\/strong>, by checking whether any alterations have been made.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Non-repudiation:<\/strong> Once a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document <\/a><\/strong>has been <strong>electronically <\/strong>signed, the signatory <strong>cannot <\/strong>deny having signed it, as the electronic <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signature <\/a>is irrefutably linked to the signatory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Security:<\/strong> Electronic signatures use <strong>robust <\/strong>cryptographic <strong>algorithms <\/strong>to protect the data and <strong>information <\/strong>linked to the <strong>signature<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h1\">How do I sign a document electronically?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To sign a <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document <\/a><strong>electronically<\/strong>, you have several <strong>options<\/strong>, the main ones being :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Scanned handwritten signature: <\/strong>You can print out the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document<\/a><\/strong>, sign it by hand and then scan it to obtain an electronic copy with your <strong>signature<\/strong>. You can use a scanner or a <strong>scanning <\/strong>application on your phone or tablet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Digital signature:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/dematerialization\/\">digital <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signature <\/a>uses <strong>cryptographic <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/4-training-methods-everyone-should-know-about\/\">methods <\/a>to guarantee the authenticity of the <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document <\/a>and the signature. It&#8217;s important to note that a <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/dematerialization\/\">digital <\/a>signature is <strong>different <\/strong>from a simple image of your <strong>scanned <\/strong>signature. To create a <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/dematerialization\/\">digital <\/a>signature, you can use electronic signature <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-signature-certificate\/\">certification <\/a>services or specific software.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Digital signature applications:<\/strong> Many online <strong>applications <\/strong>and platforms offer <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/dematerialization\/\">digital <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signature <\/a>services. They <strong>enable <\/strong>you to upload your <strong>document<\/strong>, place your electronic <strong>signature <\/strong>in the appropriate place, and save the <strong>electronically <\/strong>signed <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Digital certificates: <\/strong>A <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/dematerialization\/\">digital <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-signature-certificate\/\">certificate <\/a>is an electronic file that <strong>attests <\/strong>to your identity and is used to <strong>securely <\/strong>sign <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">documents <\/a><strong>digitally<\/strong>. <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/dematerialization\/\">Digital <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-signature-certificate\/\">certificates <\/a>can be <strong>obtained <\/strong>from certification <strong>authorities<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h2\">What are the advantages of electronic signatures?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Electronic <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signatures <\/a><\/strong>offer many <strong>advantages <\/strong>over traditional paper <strong>signatures<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Time-saving: <\/strong>Electronic <strong>signatures <\/strong>enable <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">documents <\/a>to be signed instantly, without the need for printing, scanning or mailing. This speeds up the signing process <strong>considerably<\/strong>, enabling transactions to be completed more <strong>quickly<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost savings:<\/strong> By eliminating the need for <strong>paper<\/strong>, ink and postage, electronic <strong>signatures <\/strong>help reduce the costs associated with <strong>physical <\/strong>document management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accessibility: You can sign <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">documents <\/a>electronically <strong>from <\/strong>any Internet-connected <strong>device<\/strong>, whether computer, tablet or <strong>smartphone<\/strong>. This makes signing easier for people far from home.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Security:<\/strong> Electronic <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signatures <\/a>use <strong>advanced <\/strong>cryptographic <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/4-training-methods-everyone-should-know-about\/\">methods <\/a>to ensure the <strong>authenticity<\/strong>, <strong>integrity <\/strong>and non-repudiation of the signed document. This <strong>enhances <\/strong>security and reduces the risk of signature forgery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Traceability:<\/strong> Electronic signatures <strong>leave <\/strong>an audit trail of who signed the <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\"><strong>document<\/strong> <\/a>and when. This can be useful for <strong>compliance <\/strong>and tracking <strong>purposes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h3\">What type of electronic signature should I use?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The type of <strong>electronic <\/strong>signature to be used depends on the specific <strong>requirements <\/strong>of your situation, the <strong>regulations <\/strong>in force in your <strong>country <\/strong>or <strong>jurisdiction<\/strong>, and the desired level of <strong>security <\/strong>and <strong>validation <\/strong>for the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document <\/a><\/strong>to be signed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Simple electronic signature:<\/strong> This is a <strong>basic <\/strong>electronic <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signature <\/a>that can be as <strong>simple <\/strong>as a scanned image of your <strong>handwritten <\/strong>signature. Although this <strong>type <\/strong>of signature is easy to <strong>implement<\/strong>, it may not be as <strong>secure <\/strong>as other <strong>electronic <\/strong>signature <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/4-training-methods-everyone-should-know-about\/\">methods<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advanced electronic signature:<\/strong> This <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/4-training-methods-everyone-should-know-about\/\">method <\/a>uses cryptographic <strong>techniques <\/strong>to guarantee <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document <\/a>integrity and <strong>uniquely <\/strong>link the signature to the signatory. <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/dematerialization\/\">Digital <\/a>certificates are <strong>generally <\/strong>used to <strong>create <\/strong>an <strong>advanced <\/strong>electronic signature.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Digital signature: <\/strong>The <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/dematerialization\/\">digital <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signature <\/a>uses <strong>advanced <\/strong>cryptographic <strong>algorithms <\/strong>to create a secure electronic <strong>signature <\/strong>that guarantees the <strong>authenticity<\/strong>, integrity and <strong>non<\/strong>&#8211;<strong>repudiation <\/strong>of the <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/dematerialization\/\">Digital <\/a><strong>signatures <\/strong>are often used in <strong>contexts <\/strong>where high security is <strong>required<\/strong>, such as financial <strong>transactions <\/strong>or legally binding <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">documents<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Qualified electronic signature:<\/strong> In some jurisdictions, a qualified electronic <strong>signature <\/strong>has a legal value <strong>equivalent <\/strong>to that of a handwritten <strong>signature<\/strong>. These <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signatures <\/a>must comply with strict standards defined by local <strong>regulations<\/strong>, and be associated with a <strong>qualified <\/strong>certificate issued by an accredited certification authority.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>The choice of <strong>electronic <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/signature-for-order-what-when-and-how\/\">signature <\/a>type will depend on the <strong>nature <\/strong>of the <a href=\"https:\/\/edusign.com\/blog\/its-easy-to-create-your-own-electronic-signature\/\">document<\/a>, the <strong>importance <\/strong>of the <strong>transaction<\/strong>, legal and <strong>security <\/strong>requirements, and the tools and <strong>services <\/strong>available for <strong>signing electronically<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is an electronic signature? An electronic signature is a method of authenticating the integrity and origin of an electronic document or online transaction. Unlike a traditional handwritten signature on paper, an electronic signature is a digital version that ensures the validity and non-alteration of the signed document. The electronic signature uses cryptographic techniques to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":12092,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12091"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12091"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12091\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12170,"href":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12091\/revisions\/12170"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edusign.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}