Digital Signature

Certifaction's digital signature allows users to add one or more digital signatures to PDF documents.Certifaction document signatures are based on the PAdES standard, which uses cryptography and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to provide the highest guarantee against forgery.Certifaction uses three signature levels with increasing identity verification assurances:

• Standard Electronic Signature (SES): email verification
• Advanced Electronic Signature (AES): enhanced verification requirements
• Qualified Electronic Signature (QES): Swiss and EU qualified electronic signature requirements

Certifaction's unique privacy-first signature ensures that document content does not leave your IT infrastructure in clear text.

Simple document signature

Here are the steps during a simple document signature:

1. The CLI receives the PDF document and processes it (adds security features including a unique secure URL and one or more signature pages).
2. The hash of the file is sent to the Certifaction API.
3. The Certifaction API forwards the hash to the appropriate Trust Service Provider (TSP) — one of several pluggable providers — depending on the signature level and jurisdiction.
4. The TSP signs the hash and returns the PKCS #7 CMS signature to the Certifaction API.
5. The Certifaction API forwards the signature to the CLI.
6. The CLI embeds the signature in the PDF document and returns it to the user.

Additional signatures can be appended to an already signed document sequentially. Sending a signed document to another signer is a simple and valid option.