Knowledge Base

Different types of Electronic Signatures

There are the following 3 different types of singnatures, all of which are offered by cloudplan:

Simple Electronic Signature (EES)

This is the most commonly used variant. It is not complex and easy to use. There are few barriers to the signatory.

The signatory can sign electronically in the form of a graphic signature on the screen or by entering his name in text form in accordance with Section 127 (3) BGB.

cloudplan offers various options for signing: Using the mouse on the screen, by hand on the mobile phone, in text form or by uploading a signature graphic.

Security features:

  • Identification by email
  • Mathematical hash formation of the document content and sending to participants in the workflow for later integrity checking. Log with timestamps of every change to the document up to completion Storage of the IP address of the signatory
  • Log with timestamps of every change to the document up to completion
  • Storage of the IP address of the signatory

Use cases

Various types of contracts included

  • Purchase contract
  • Orders
  • Employment contract
  • Rental agreement (e.g. an apartment)
  • Logs
  • NDA

Advanced Electronic Signature (FES)

An AES is uniquely assigned to a signer and enables the signatory to be identified. The prerequisite is the use of a certificate.

The AES and the QES are cryptographically protected and based on digital signatures. If the content of the document is changed after the signature, the digital signature automatically becomes invalid. Technically, a mathematical “hash value” is formed over the content of the signature and thus the signature is formed. A change would change the hash and the digital signature is invalid.

Security Features

  • Identification and signature by digital certificate
  • Automated checking of the signature validity with common software such as Acrobat Reader
  • Mathematical hash formation of the document content and sending to participants in the workflow for later integrity checking.
  • Log with timestamps of every change to the document up to completion
  • Storage of the IP address of the signatory

Use cases

Various types of contracts included

  • Purchase contract
  • Orders
  • Employment contract
  • Rental agreement (e.g. an apartment)
  • Logs
  • NDA

Qualified Electronic Signature (QES)

A QES is an AES that meets additional requirements. A qualified certificate is required and special requirements are placed on the hardware and software.

Security features

  • Legally corresponding to a handwritten signature (Switzerland and EU law)
  • Identification and signature via digital qualified certificate Management of the signatures by a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP)
  • Automated checking of the signature validity with common software such as Acrobat Reader
  • Mathematical hash formation of the document content and sending to participants in the workflow for later integrity checking.
  • Log with timestamps of every change to the document up to completion
  • Storage of the IP address of the signatory

Use cases

  • Fixed-term employment contracts
  • Temporary employment contracts
  • Loan agreements
  • Lawsuits
  • Notices
  • Property right registrations

The eIDAS regulation and the EU signature directive describe the electronic signature.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verordnung_(EU)_Nr._910/2014_(eIDAS-Verordnung)

https://www.bsi.bund.de/DE/Themen/Oeffentliche-Verwaltung/eIDAS-Verordnung/eidas-verordnung_node.html

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32014R0910

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31999L0093

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__127.html

Menu „Create Workflow“ in Portal

Cross-border

Cross-border2

Reference to eIDAS

Which identity documents are valid within the EU?

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