What is a proper electronic signature?

Signit Online
7 min readNov 30, 2023

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Electronic signatures revolutionise the way we conduct business, enabling faster and more secure transactions in the digital era. An electronic signature is a legally binding mark that represents an individual’s consent and agreement to the content of a digital document. Signit online offers a reliable and efficient electronic signature solution, streamlining your contract management and signing processes with professionalism and ease.

Understanding Proper Electronic Signatures

In today’s digital age, proper electronic signatures are essential for businesses and individuals alike. With a clear understanding of their legal context and various types, you can ensure secure and efficient transactions.

Electronic Signature Definition and Its Legal Context

An electronic signature is a legally binding mark that signifies a person’s agreement to the contents of a digital document. It can be as simple as a typed name, a scanned image of a handwritten signature, or a unique digital signature created using cryptographic methods. Electronic signatures have legal standing in many countries, including the UK, the US, and the EU, making them a valuable tool for businesses and individuals.

Importance of Electronic Signatures for Businesses and Individuals

Electronic signatures play a crucial role in streamlining various processes, including contract management, document signing, and agreement finalisation. They offer numerous benefits such as reduced paperwork, faster transactions, and increased security. By adopting electronic signatures, businesses can save time and resources while individuals can sign documents from anywhere, at any time.

Types of Electronic Signatures

There are three primary types of electronic signatures, each with varying levels of security and legal weight:

Simple electronic signatures: These are basic forms of electronic signatures, such as typed names or scanned images of handwritten signatures. They offer minimal security and may not be suitable for highly sensitive documents.

Advanced electronic signatures: These signatures are uniquely linked to the signatory and can be verified using cryptographic methods. They provide a higher level of security compared to simple electronic signatures.

Qualified electronic signatures: These are the most secure and legally robust form of electronic signatures. They require a qualified digital certificate from a trusted certificate authority and adhere to strict legal requirements.

Electronic Signature vs Digital Signature: Key Differences

Although the terms ‘electronic signature’ and ‘digital signature’ are often used interchangeably, they have distinct differences. Electronic signatures encompass a wide range of methods to signify agreement on a digital document, while digital signatures refer specifically to a secure and cryptographic method of signing documents. Digital signatures offer a higher level of security and are a subset of electronic signatures.

Legal Requirements for a Proper Electronic Signature

To be considered legally valid, a proper electronic signature must meet the following requirements:

Intent to sign: The signatory must demonstrate a clear intent to sign and agree to the contents of the document.

Consent of the parties involved: All parties must consent to the use of electronic signatures for the transaction.

Association of the signature with the document: The electronic signature must be uniquely linked and identifiable with the specific document being signed.

Record retention and audit trail: A proper electronic signature must have a secure and traceable record, including information about the signing process, signatories, and any changes made to the document.

By understanding the different types of electronic signatures and their legal requirements, you can confidently implement proper electronic signatures in your business or personal transactions.

Advantages of Using Electronic Signatures

Implementing electronic signatures in your business transactions and personal document signing processes can greatly improve efficiency, security, and convenience. Let’s explore the key benefits of using electronic signatures and how Signit online can help you take full advantage of these features.

Enhanced Security and Authentication: Electronic signatures offer a higher level of security compared to traditional wet ink signatures. Advanced and qualified electronic signatures employ cryptographic methods to verify the identity of the signatory, ensuring the authenticity of the document. Signit online provides a secure platform with unique biometric identity verification, safeguarding your sensitive information and protecting against potential forgery.

Streamlined Contract Management and Signing Processes: Electronic signatures allow for a faster and more efficient workflow, reducing the need for physical paperwork and time-consuming manual processes. Signit online streamlines contract management, allowing you to create templates, add signing parties, and manage project contracts and statuses from one central location. This improved efficiency saves time and resources for both businesses and individuals.

Real-time Notifications and Trackability: With electronic signatures, you can receive notifications on contract actions and track the progress of your documents in real time. Signit online offers this valuable feature, keeping you informed of any updates or changes to your contracts, and helping you maintain a comprehensive audit trail.

Cross-device Compatibility and Accessibility: Electronic signatures are compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. This cross-device compatibility ensures that you can sign and manage your documents from anywhere, at any time. Signitonline’s user-friendly platform is designed to work seamlessly across all devices, making your electronic signature experience as convenient as possible.

Customisation and Branding Options with Signit online: Signit online offers free company branding, enabling you to customise the appearance of your electronic signatures and maintain a professional image. Additionally, the platform’s enterprise package includes advanced company branding options, third-party integration, API connections, and customisable usage limits, catering to businesses of all sizes.

In conclusion, electronic signatures offer numerous advantages, from enhanced security and authentication to streamlined contract management and signing processes. By choosing Signit online as your electronic signature solution, you can experience these benefits firsthand and revolutionise the way you conduct business and manage documents.

How to Create a Proper Electronic Signature with Signit online

Creating a proper electronic signature with Signit online is a straightforward and user-friendly process. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your electronic signature is legally valid and secure.

Registering an account: To begin, sign up for a free account on the Signitonline platform. The registration process is simple and does not require credit card information. Once your account is set up, you can access various features, such as document templates and signature customisation options.

Creating or uploading a document: With your account registered, you can either create a new document from scratch or upload an existing one. Signit online supports various file formats, allowing you to work with the documents that best suit your needs. Additionally, you can utilise the platform’s templates for a more efficient document creation process.

Adding signing parties and assigning roles: After your document is ready, you can add the necessary signing parties and assign their respective roles. Signitonline allows you to easily manage multiple signatories, streamlining the signing process and ensuring that all parties are informed and involved.

Customising the appearance of the electronic signature: Signit online offers free company branding, enabling you to personalise the appearance of your electronic signature and maintain a professional image. You can customise various aspects of the signature, such as its colour and font, to match your company’s branding and style.

Finalising and signing the document: Once all the signing parties have been added and the electronic signature customised, you can proceed to sign the document. Signitonline’s platform ensures that your signature is properly associated with the document, meeting legal requirements and providing a secure audit trail. After the document has been signed by all parties, it can be saved, downloaded, or shared as needed.

By following these steps, you can create a proper electronic signature with Signit online and enjoy the benefits of a secure, efficient, and professional signing process.

Trusting Signi tonline for Your Electronic Signature Needs

When it comes to managing electronic signatures, you need a reliable and efficient platform that prioritises security and ease of use. Signit online is the ideal solution for individuals and businesses seeking a trustworthy electronic signature service. By choosing Signit online, you can enjoy numerous benefits and features that cater to all your electronic signature needs.

Unique biometric identity for safe identity verification: Signit online utilises advanced biometric technology to ensure the utmost security for your electronic signatures. This unique identity verification system safeguards your sensitive information and prevents potential forgery or identity theft.

High level of security and data protection: In addition to biometric identity verification, Signit online offers a high level of security for your data. The platform adheres to strict data protection standards, ensuring that your documents and electronic signatures remain safe and secure throughout the signing process.

Simple and transparent pricing options: Signit online offers flexible and transparent pricing options to suit your needs. With pay-as-you-go pricing and no requirement for credit card information during registration, you can enjoy the convenience and affordability of electronic signatures without any hidden fees or commitments.

Seamless design and user-friendly interface: The Signit online platform is designed to be user-friendly, with a seamless interface that makes managing and signing documents a breeze. With the ability to create templates, add signing parties, and track the progress of your documents, you can enjoy a smooth and efficient electronic signature experience.

Book a demo and sign up for Signit online: Ready to revolutionise your contract management and document signing processes? Book a demo and sign up for Signitonline today to experience the convenience and efficiency of proper electronic signatures. With Signitonline, you can trust that your electronic signature needs are in safe and capable hands.

Embrace Electronic Signature Convenience

Throughout this article, we’ve explored the importance and benefits of proper electronic signatures in the digital era. They offer enhanced security, streamlined contract management, and increased efficiency for businesses and individuals alike. Signitonline is a comprehensive solution for your electronic signature needs, boasting compatibility with all devices, high-level security, real-time notifications, and unique biometric identity verification. Don’t miss out on the convenience and ease of signing documents electronically. Experience it for yourself by booking a demo with Signit online today!

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Signit Online
Signit Online

Written by Signit Online

Signit Online is a website that helps businesses and individuals to get Digital Signatures on any document needed in no time and with ease.

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