Frequently asked questions about the digital signature

A digital signature is an electronic version of the signature on paper. With a digital signature, you can sign a document, such as a contract, online. You can sign a digital signature using a laptop, smartphone or tablet, for example. 

A digital signature is the digital replacement of the signature on paper. With a paper signature, you agree to a document with pen and ink. With a digital signature, you agree to a document with electronic data attached to the document. the difference is in authentication. With a digital signature, authentication no longer takes place physically, but digitally. And this verification process is also documented in a so-called proof document. Read more about the digital signature here.

A digital signature looks like a signature on paper. With a digital signature, the signature is not made with a pen on paper. The digital signature is made with a device, such as a computer or smartphone, on a digital document. This also involves the creation of this digital form of signature.  Read more about the digital signature here.

An electronic signature, also called digital signature, is an electronic variant of a handwritten signature. There are three variants of the electronic signature: simple electronic signature, advanced electronic signature and qualified electronic signature. Read more about the electronic signature here. 

An ordinary electronic signature (SES), also known as a simple electronic signature, is the simplest form of digital signature. No or limited method of identification is used with this signature, so the verification of the signer's identity is established with a lesser degree of reliability. As a result, this digital signature has the lowest form of reliability. Read more about the ordinary electronic signature here.

An advanced electronic signature (AES) is a digital signature where the signatory is uniquely linked to the document. This allows the identity of the signatory to be verified. This digital signature also has high reliability when it comes to verifying the identity of the signatory. Authentication methods such as Idin or PiM meet these requirements. This is important for the legal validity of the document. Read more about the advanced electronic signature here.

A qualified electronic signature (QES) is a digital signature established by a qualified means and a qualified certificate. The certificate is issued by special certificate service providers, also called TSP (trusted service provider).  A qualified digital signature is always legally valid because the degree of identity verification is very high. In addition, the qualified electronic signature is subject to the so-called 'Proof of Burden'. Whoever claims that a qualified electronic signature is not (legally) valid must also prove this. Read more about the qualified electronic signature here.

In four steps, you can digitally sign your documents. Step 1 is uploading your PDF or Word document. Step 2 is sending your document to the recipients. Step 3 is the recipient's turn: he receives a signing request in his mailbox and signs the document. Finally, each signatory and the requester receives the digitally signed document and a proof document in the mail. Read more about digital signing here.

You put a digital signature using a digital device such as a computer, smartphone or tablet. You put the digital signature on a Word or PDF document, for example. For the digital signature to be legally valid, it is important that you check the identity of the signatory. You do this with a digital signature solution. Read more about digital signatures here. 

You can create a digital signature in Stiply:

1. Upload the agreement or contract to be sent for signature. This can be a PDF or a Word file.
2. Enter the recipients' details and place the fields where a signature should be in the document!
3. The recipient receives the signature request in the mail and can put a scribble in the places where a digital signature is requested.
4. Each signer receives the digitally signed document in the mail and the requester receives a proof document with the entire process!

It depends on the level of the digital signature which requirements it must meet. There are three types of digital signatures: a simple digital signature, advanced digital signature and qualified digital signature. With a simple digital signature, the identity of the signatory does not have to be verified. With an advanced digital signature, the signer must be linked to the document by identification. With a qualified digital signature, the signatory must also be reliably identified and the signature must be created by a qualified means. Read more about digital signatures here. 

You can easily sign Word documents digitally. Stiply ensures that Word documents are converted to PDF documents. These remain intact after signing. For the document to be legally valid, it is important that you check the identity of the recipient. With the Stiply for Word plug-in, you can legally sign your documents directly from your own Microsoft Word. Read more about digital signing from within Microsoft Word here.

You can digitally sign a PDF in Stiply:

1. Upload the PDF file to be sent for signature.
2. Enter the recipients' details and place the fields where a signature should be in the document.
3. The recipient receives the signing request in the mail and can put a scribble in the places where a digital signature is requested.
4. Each signer receives the digitally signed document in the mail and the requester receives a proof document with the entire process!

Digital signature is used by both individuals and businesses. There are many organisations from different sectors using the digital signature because of its convenience, speed and cost savings. Almost any type of document can be signed with a digital signature. 

A digital signature can be used for all types of documents you want to have signed digitally. For example, this can be for employee contracts, financial documents such as mortgage agreements, order confirmations, leases and many more types of documents. Either way, using digital signatures speeds up and eases the work process.

You can easily sign all types of documents digitally. Such as employment contracts, financial documents like mortgage agreements, tenders, rental agreements and many more types of documents. However, to ensure the legal validity of the document, it is important to check the identity of the recipient.

When looking for digital signing software, there are a number of differentiating factors. Functionality, user-friendliness, service, security and privacy and options to implement your own house style and customisation often determine which digital signing software suits your company.  

You can get started with digital signing in 3 easy steps. The first step is to test and experience digital signing with a trial account with no obligation. The second step is to choose the right amount of users for your company. The third step is to purchase a subscription so you can get started with digital signing!

A digital signature has many advantages. A digital signature is faster, simpler, more user-friendly, better for the environment, gives more insight into the status of documents and saves a lot of time and therefore costs. 

You can create a digital signature for free using Microsoft Word, for example. For a legally valid signature, however, you need to check the identity of the signer. For this, you need a digital signing solution, such as Stiply. We have a 14-day free trial. Create a free trial account.

With digital signatures, identifying the signatory online is officially called authentication. The eIDAS stands for Electronic Identities and Trust Services and is a European regulation on electronic identifiers. The eIDAS regulation states that authentication is an electronic process that enables the confirmation of the electronic identification of a natural or legal person, or of the origin and integrity of data, in electronic form. In short: with authentication, you digitally verify the identity of the signatory. 

The eIDAS regulation states that a digital signature is as legally valid as a signature on paper, as long as you use a sufficiently reliable authentication method for the document you are having signed. That means you check the identity of the signer. In addition, you need to look at the information and document you want signed against the trustworthiness level of your authentication method. Read more about the legal validity of digital signatures here

A digital signature is legally valid if you use a sufficiently reliable authentication method. The eIDAS regulation states that there are three types of digital signatures, based on the level of authentication: the ordinary electronic signature (SES), the advanced electronic signature (AES) and the qualified electronic signature (QES). 

Digital signing is just as secure, and sometimes even more secure, than a signature on paper. To do so, however, the supplier of the digital signing solution must ensure user privacy, document integrity and take security measures such as conducting an annual pen test and ISO certification of the organisation and software solution.... 

The verification of a digital signature is done by checking the identity of the signer. You can identify the signer online by applying a reliable authentication method, such as iDIN or PiM authentication. In addition, every digitally signed document contains a so-called hash code. Using this code, you can verify (or have verified) the integrity of a signed document. 

There are several methods by which you can identify the signer of a document online. This is also called authentication. Examples of online identification methods include authentication via e-mail, SMS, PiM, iDIN or a direct debit authorisation. 

iDIN is a product of Dutch banks used to allow people to identify themselves digitally. When signing digitally with iDIN authentication, the signer logs in via their bank, and is thus identified. So you know with a high degree of certainty that the signature was signed by the right person. With iDIN authentication, it is possible to sign (or have signed) an advanced electronic signature. 

A SEPA authorisation, or SEPA Direct Debit authorisation, is an authorisation by the customer to have invoice amounts automatically collected from their bank account. This is done on the basis of an authorisation form to be completed by the customer. Through Stiply, it is possible to have both a contract digitally signed and a valid SEPA direct debit authorisation directly retrieved in one process. Read more about the valid digital SEPA direct debit mandate with Stiply.

A digital direct debit authorisation is an authorisation by the customer to have invoice amounts automatically collected from his bank account. The customer fills in an authorisation form for this purpose. You can collect a digital signature and a digital direct debit authorisation in one process with Stiply's digital signing solution. Read more about the valid digital SEPA direct debit mandate with Stiply.

With a digital direct debit authorisation, a customer grants permission to have invoice amounts automatically collected from their bank account. With Stiply, you can send a contract to your customer. After approving the contract, the customer is directly linked to his bank to issue a direct debit authorisation. For this, Stiply is an accredited Mandate Service Provider (MSP) with the Betaalvereniging Nederland which means that the direct debit authorisation can be executed with banks such as ABN AMRO, Rabobank, ING and Triodos. Read more about a digital direct debit mandate with Stiply. 

There are several advantages of a digital direct debit mandate. You can handle mandates completely digitally which is more user-friendly for both the issuer of the mandate and the applicant. In addition, the chargeback risk goes from 13 months to 8 weeks for a B2C mandate and there is no chargeback risk for a B2B mandate. Finally, the mandate data are registered directly with the customer's bank, the account number is always correct and there is a higher success rate for the first direct debit. Read more about the advantages of a digital direct debit mandate with Stiply.