[Infographic] What Kind of E-Signature Do You Need?

Trying to make a decision between e-signature vendors can be a confusing process. The seemingly endless features offered by e-signature vendors are hard to filter through, especially when you are just starting the process. As you become more accustomed to the terminology in the e-signature market, you might notice that almost all vendors offer similar solutions, but what differentiates one e-signature from the next could be critical. The decision tree below is a handy tool that will lead you in the right direction.

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Independent E-Signatures

Independent e-signatures and their cryptographic information (the data used to verify the e-signature) are embedded in signed documents. Independent e-signatures are ideal for a company or organization looking for:

• Complete ownership and control of documents, because evidence remains embedded in the documents, which can be verified offline, and documents can remain solely with the user.
• Transparency, because you’re given a complete history of the signing process and all the legal evidence associated with e-signatures.
• Longevity, because technology is based on international, published standards, which make e-signatures valid forever.
• Safety, because there is a lower risk associated with heightened ownership/control, transparency and longevity.

Dependent E-Signatures

Dependent e-signatures link back to the e-signature vendor for verification. If a link breaks or a disaster occurs, you may lose evidence of your e-signature’s validity. When using dependent e-signatures, keep in mind:

• You are dependent on a third party for legal evidence and validity.
• Because they are not embedded into documents, dependent e-signatures also can’t be verified offline.
• They may be based on proprietary technologies, which are not guaranteed to keep your signature valid in the future.