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Participant
July 16, 2019
Question

What is the difference between certifiying and digitally signing a document?

  • July 16, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 3202 views

I'd like a bare bones explanation about the difference between the two, what makes each unique, and their pros and cons. It's part of our procedure to always digitally sign, but our clients want to know why they can't certify instead. Thanks.

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3 replies

Inspiring
July 18, 2019

Hi There,

Adding to the description by "margueritek"

For more information you may please follow the help articles in the links below:

I  hope this will help, let us know if you need more information.

Regards,

Amal

Inspiring
July 16, 2019

Certifying signatures are, in fact, digital signatures. However the use is different. Certifying a document is done before any other signing, and may place restrictions on what operations may be performed. The status of a certifying signature is shown in the document top bar. Generally, you certify a document to indicate that the next person is getting a valid document. Certifying signature can be visible, but often are invisible. Many documents from the US Government are certified, for instance, to indicate that the content hasn't been fiddled with. Signature validation always begins with the certifying signature, if it is present. Ordinary digital signatures are an indication that a particular person has signed the document.

Bernd Alheit
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 16, 2019

How does you sign the documents?