{"id":21410,"date":"2022-06-02T12:25:20","date_gmt":"2022-06-02T10:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailcommsgroup.com\/blog\/simple-electronic-signature-simple-advanced-and-qualified-principal-features-and-which-choose\/"},"modified":"2025-08-25T10:30:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T08:30:59","slug":"simple-electronic-signature-simple-advanced-and-qualified-principal-features-and-which-choose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailcommsgroup.com\/en\/blog\/simple-electronic-signature-simple-advanced-and-qualified-principal-features-and-which-choose\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple, advanced and qualified electronic signature: main characteristics. Decide which one to choose"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10565″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”grid” css=”.vc_custom_1756110642664{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column dp_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1646912863207{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]As time goes by, digital commerce and remote contracting become normalized, but sometimes the user has doubts about the validity of the<\/strong> electronic signature<\/strong>. Even more so when you are aware that there are simple, advanced and qualified ones. Some companies offering remote services and products also have the same questions. What are the answers? The short one is: simple, advanced and qualified electronic signatures that follow the characteristics marked in EU Regulation 910\/2014 eIDAS are valid. But each of them has its own use and its capacity in court.<\/strong>. This is part of the long answer that you can read below.<\/p>\n

Will you join us?<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”grid” css=”.vc_custom_1652884839941{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column dp_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1646912863207{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1654242174036{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;}”]Table of Contents <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Electronic and digital signature. Are they the same?<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Types of electronic signature: simple, advanced and qualified.<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Electronic signature: choosing a supplier<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Innovation: Virtual Signature Room<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. How we can help you<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”grid” css=”.vc_custom_1654160045242{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;}” el_id=”1″][vc_column dp_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1646912863207{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1756110559909{padding-top: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;}”]<\/p>\n

    Electronic and digital signature. Are they the same?<\/h2>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]No, they are not the same,<\/strong> even though they are terms that are sometimes interchanged and may seem synonymous.<\/p>\n

    The electronic signature is a legal concept of acceptance of content, whose main purpose is to attest to the signatory’s will<\/strong>. Regulation (EU) 910\/2014, known as eIDAS, defines electronic signatures in its three varieties: simple, advanced and qualified.<\/p>\n

    A digital signature is a cryptographic mechanism, an encryption and decryption technique that modifies the data in a document to make it unintelligible to an unauthorized recipient<\/strong>. It is part of the advanced and qualified electronic signature, and guarantees the integrity of the data and the identity of the issuer. By means of the digital signature, in addition, the sender cannot deny that he has sent the signed message.<\/p>\n

    There is a third concept that sometimes appears: digitized signature<\/strong>. The definition in this case is simple. It is the trace of a handwritten signature converted into an image after scanning it or making it on a touch<\/strong> screen. It is therefore equivalent to a simple electronic signature.<\/p>\n

    The eIDAS regulation defines the common characteristics of the different electronic signatures for all European Union countries. This regulation came to build a space of trust around digital relations (transactions and e-commerce) between member states. Two important features of this regulation are that, on the one hand, it standardizes the experience, the rights of users and the obligations of companies, wherever they are located within the Union’s territory. On the other hand, its content has not had to be transposed, but has been applied directly in all EU countries. Faster and less subject to interpretation.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”grid” css=”.vc_custom_1654085709305{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;}” el_id=”2″][vc_column dp_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1646912863207{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1654085681818{padding-top: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;}”]<\/p>\n

    Types of electronic signature: simple, advanced and qualified<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The eIDAS regulation differentiates between three types of electronic signatures<\/a> according to their security levels, capacity to guarantee the integrity of the signed content and guarantee the identification of the signatory.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”grid” css=”.vc_custom_1652951351728{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 15px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/6″ dp_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1646912863207{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”10547″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1654097698662{padding-top: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;}”]<\/p>\n

    2.1 Simple electronic signature<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This is the easiest way for a user to sign digitally. As such, it has its advantages and disadvantages. Among the first is the speed of implementation in any process and system<\/strong>. It could be, for example, a simple click on a web page. On the other hand, this system makes it impossible to identify the signatory unequivocally, so it is only suitable for issues with a low legal risk. A quick example is the checkbox to accept general terms and conditions when purchasing a concert ticket.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”grid” css=”.vc_custom_1652951351728{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 15px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/6″ dp_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1646912863207{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”10546″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1654097716797{padding-top: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;}”]<\/p>\n

    2.2 Advanced electronic signature<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The eIDAS regulation states: “the electronic signature that meets the requirements referred to in Article 26”. And these requirements are, in brief: it must be uniquely linked to the signatory and allow his or her identification<\/strong>. In addition, it must “have been created using electronic signature creation data that the signatory can use, with a high level of confidence, under his exclusive control”<\/strong> and, finally, it must be protected against subsequent modifications<\/strong>. Any changes that occur after signing must be detectable.<\/p>\n

    The ability of this system to prove that the signer is who he\/she says he\/she is is very high. And its level of security and integrity as well, but it has to be demonstrated through elements such as, for example, time stamps or evidence that must also be securely guarded.<\/p>\n

    The advanced signature is combined with digital identification and authentication systems<\/a> to meet the first of the conditions set by eIDAS. Its implementation is recommended for complex signature processes or with the need for a broad legal guarantee<\/strong>. Among the main advantages that we can offer at Customer Comms for the companies that entrust us with their advanced signature processes are the following:<\/p>\n