It is a complete reality: we live totally immersed in a digital society. Nowadays, we would not know how to carry out many tasks without a computer or smartphone, both socially and professionally. In fact, we communicate through social media, share all kinds of information, and conduct our banking transactions digitally. That is why security is a key issue, both on a personal level and for commercial agreements and transactions, and that is where electronic signatures come into play. What is a digital signature used for? Are electronic signatures and digital signatures the same thing? And do they serve the same purpose as digital certificates?
Differences between digital signatures and electronic signatures
Since the dawn of time, signatures have been used to validate or authenticate documents, with the exception that in the past they were done with ink and now, in this digital age, they are done using online encryption. However, when we talk about digital signatures or electronic signatures, we tend to confuse the two terms and use them as synonyms, when in fact they are not.
What is an electronic signature used for? An electronic signature is a much broader concept than a digital signature. It encompasses most of the authentication methods used by all types of companies that use electronic means to validate documents and contracts. One example is signatures with passwords, used to carry out transactions with financial institutions and banks.
For its part, a digital signature is a type of electronic signature that relies on encryption algorithms to perform mathematical operations. Due to its complex composition, the digital signature is characterized by being very secure. Likewise, the benefits of digital signatures can be divided into two main categories:
- To protect access to certain documents and files. For example, some companies encrypt payrolls or certain important financial files.
- So that, if you are a responsible officer or financial director, you can authenticate or validate specific documents and contracts .
In turn, digital signatures require a digital certificate, which is the digital identity of the individual or company (natural or legal person). This is essential if you belong to or own a company with financial controls and automated and digitized internal processes.
How do you obtain a digital certificate?
The function of the digital certificate is to identify yourself on the Internet and exchange data and information with other companies, organizations, and individuals. It ensures that only the parties involved in a communication can access certain information. Therefore, it is very useful for commercial and labor relations between customers and suppliers where we want to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive data.
It is also very common for us to be required to have a digital certificate for dealing with the public administration. City councils, governments, and all kinds of administrations are increasingly advocating for the implementation and development of digital systems and applications. A good example is the TicketBAI system, a software program for controlling tax matters promoted by the Basque Government.
Now,how do you obtain a digital certificate? This type of digital signature, which is so useful for providing security for certain transactions, especially financial ones, is issued by several entities:
- The National Mint, which is dependent on the government.
- The Electronic Technology and Certification Agencies of certain autonomous communities (such as Valencia and Catalonia).
- The General Directorate of the Police.
So, if you need a digital certificate, simply request one from the electronic headquarters of these organizations. You can obtain this type of digital signature by downloading a file to your computer, smartphone, or any other device. Another option is to import or export it directly using an electronic ID card.
Features of digital signatures
At the beginning of this text, we mentioned that digital signatures are the most secure and reliable type of electronic signature due to their complex mathematical encryption based on algorithms. In fact, this is what many refer to as an advanced electronic signature, as it belongs solely to the signer, having been created with a series of personal data.
Likewise, electronic signatures allow only the sender and receiver to have access the sender and recipient to a signed or validated document, with the assurance that they are the only ones interacting in the process. This is set out in Article 26 of EU Regulation 910/2014, as the issue of electronic signatures is already regulated at national, continental, and global levels.
How is an electronic signature used?
As mentioned above and in more detail, a digital signature serves to identify a signer, certify the validity of the document being signed, and guarantee that the signer is committed to what has been digitally signed. However, another common question in this regard is how this electronic signature is used.
There are many benefits to electronic signatures. To use one, you must first have the aforementioned digital certificate. If you already have it, you can sign your documents online with applications and services such as easyap. services such as easyap. With the solution we offer, you can take advantage of two main benefits:
- Forget about paperwork, formalities, and bureaucratic procedures to first obtain your digital signature and then use it in your transactions.
- A considerable saving in time and materials, since you won't have to travel in person or use up ink cartridges and printer paper, for example.
Thanks to applications such as ours, you can directly implement your electronic signature in the program and use it for any documents you wish. We have more than 20 years of experience implementing administrative and financial management systems for companies in all types of sectors and from all over the world. This is the advantage of being a team that was originally conceived by professionals from both the technology and finance sectors. Would you like to get to know us?
