Digital Signature vs. Electronic Signature Software

Organizations have become increasingly confused about their digital signature software options due to the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN). This act officially gives electronic signatures the same legal standing as handwritten ones.

As a result, terms such as digital signature software and electronic signature software are often used interchangeably, even though both technologies are very different. So what is the difference?

Digital signature software (sometimes referred to as Advanced or Secure Electronic Signatures) is the result of a cryptographic operation. The digital signature software technology guarantees data integrity and non-repudiation of transactions. This ensures that the digital signature cannot be copied, altered, or corrupted.

Electronic signature software contains electronic images that are physically or logically attached to the signed data. Adding a sentence “I, John Doe, sign this document” is good enough to be considered as an electronic signature; however, it is clear that electronic signatures are easy to forge, unlike digital signatures.

The CoSign® digital and electronic signature solution introduces a graphical digital signature software solution that merges both digital technologies and electronic graphical signatures (see illustration).