{"id":10299,"date":"2023-10-26T18:03:19","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T15:03:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oberig-it.com\/?p=10299"},"modified":"2024-03-08T14:23:40","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T11:23:40","slug":"the-ultimate-e-signature-security-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oberig-it.com\/en\/articles\/the-ultimate-e-signature-security-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate E-Signature Security Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"

No organization wants security scars. That\u2019s why IT and Information Security departments generally conduct\u202fextensive due diligence on their cloud software providers to protect against data breaches, identity fraud, phishing<\/span><\/a>, malware, viruses, and other security threats.<\/p>\n

To help defend your organization, customers, and workflows, we\u2019ve compiled an
\ne-signature security\u202fchecklist specifically for evaluating e-signature services. This checklist takes a holistic approach to understanding levels of security. We recommend not only looking at the security of the service, but also how signers are authenticated, the vendor\u2019s approach to digital document and signature security, the use of white labeling to protect against phishing attacks, and the audit trail associated with the digital transaction.<\/p>\n

Identity Verification & Authentication<\/strong>
\nE-Signature laws, such as the ESIGN Act and UETA in the United States or the eIDAS regulation in the European Union, outline the types of electronic signatures that can be used to sign digital documents. While these laws don\u2019t say much about specific security techniques and technology, the legal definition of an electronic signature always includes language around signer identity. This puts identity security at the top of your e-signature security priorities, since there is a legal requirement to connect each signature to the individual who applied it.<\/p>\n

Over the course of any digital agreement, you will be engaging with either unknown or known signers. In the case of the former, robust measures are required to determine who you are doing business with the first time you conduct a transaction with them. In the case of the latter, known signers are provided with credentials and these credentials are authenticated prior to giving them access to the signing ceremony and electronic documents.<\/p>\n

Identity verification<\/strong>
\nAs an alternative to cumbersome in-person identity validation measures, today\u2019s organizations are using technology to run identity checks remotely and in real time. Not only does this reduce the number of steps compared to paper-based processes, it also removes touchpoints where customers have traditionally struggled and dropped off.<\/p>\n

To deliver a fast, online customer experience while also establishing trust, best approaches to digital identity verification combine ID document verification technology and facial recognition. These technologies make it possible to digitally verify the signer\u2019s identity using their government-issued ID such as their driver\u2019s license, passport, or national ID.<\/p>\n

User authentication<\/strong>
\nOnce a signatory\u2019s identity is verified, organizations often issue electronic credentials to facilitate future digital transactions. In the case of existing customers, we recommend you leverage credentials your organization already issued. Not only are such credentials generally reliable if they have been used over time, but this saves the customer the hassle of having to create and remember yet another set of credentials.<\/p>\n

Look for an e-signature solution that can easily integrate with a wide range of authentication options throughout the e-sign workflow. While there are many secure and user-friendly options for authenticating signers online, the key point here is to do so without diminishing their experience. As such, look for e-signature solutions that offer options to best fit your signers\u2019 needs across your digital channels \u2013 and as a result, enable better experiences.<\/p>\n

What to look for:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. A solution that supports a complete range of ID proofing & authentication options, to protect your clients and assets. This includes methods such as:<\/p>\n