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

[shookiesandmilk]

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.

[Bernd Alheit]

How does you sign the documents?

[margueritek]

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.

[Amal .]

Hi There,

Adding to the description by "margueritek"

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

• Certificate-based signatures, Adobe Acrobat DC
• About certificate signatures in Adobe Acrobat
• https://helpx.adobe.com/content/dam/help/en/document-cloud/Adobe_DC_eSign_Best_Practices_Digital_Sig...
• Validating digital signatures, Adobe Acrobat

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

Regards,

Amal