What Is eIDAS?

The Electronic IDentification, Authentication and Trust Services (eIDAS) regulates the use of electronic signatures throughout the European Union (EU). It was introduced to standardise the requirements for electronic identification and cross-border transactions between European countries. Following Brexit, the UK government replicated the EU’s legislation to ensure that the same regulations applied to electronic transactions involving UK businesses and citizens.

The eIDAS regulation recognises three different types of electronic signature: simple electronic signatures, advanced electronic signatures (AES), and qualified electronic signatures (QES). In most cases, simple electronic signatures are sufficient, but advanced electronic signatures and qualified electronic signatures may be required if parties wish to attain a certain level of identity assurance or ensure compliance with national laws.

What is the difference between the three types of electronic signature defined in the eIDAS regulation?

Simple electronic signatures

Simple electronic signatures, sometimes known as standard electronic signatures, are basic electronic equivalents to handwritten signatures. These types of e-signatures can be typed, drawn or uploaded onto a digital document. They require no further assurance of signatory identity.

Advanced electronic signatures

An advanced electronic signature is much more comprehensive. Produced with the help of encryption technology, it can easily be linked to the signer and capable of verifying their identity. Advanced electronic signatures can only be created by the signatory via a private encryption key and are linked to this individual in such a way that any changes to the signed data can be detected.

Qualified electronic signatures

A qualified electronic signature is the highest level of electronic signature. Featuring all of the elements of an advanced electronic signature, it is created using a secure signature creation device and backed by an additional qualified certificate issued by a qualified trust service provider. It is the role of the trust service provider to verify the signer’s identity and confirm they are who they claim to be.

Why should I choose one form of electronic signature over another?

While it is important to note that eIDAS doesn’t provide explicit instructions on when each of these signatures should be used, a simple electronic signature is usually considered enough to authenticate a business transaction. When deciding which variant to use, businesses should consider that AES and QES provide additional security and a higher level of identity assurance compared to simple electronic signatures, although acquiring these types of signatures may be more complicated.

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DocXign and eIDAS

At present, DocXign helps businesses and individuals to authenticate transactions and agreements via simple electronic signatures. As mentioned above, this type of electronic signature is considered a sufficient signal of approval for most documents.

Find out more about DocXign’s eIDAS-compliant features and how you can use these to benefit your business.

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Understanding the eIDAS regulation