The Digital Signatures vs. Electronic Signatures Published in CTO Vision

We get this question almost every day: “What’s the difference between a digital signature and an electronic signature?”

We’re so glad you asked. 

A digital signature is a highly sophisticated type of electronic signature that is much more secure, compliant with regulations and legally defensible.  

Our Chief Technology Officer John Harris wrote an article for CTO Vision explaining this e-signature divide—and how independence is a key defining factor between a digital signature and an electronic signature.  

In his article, John says:

“The heart of what defines a true digital signature is independence.

“Digital signatures adhere to strict, published international and industry standards and are more widely accepted globally than electronic signatures. Digital signatures are legally-binding and can be verified independently—without any reliance on the vendor. Because you have permanent ownership and control of the legal evidence, whether you still have a relationship with your e-signature vendor is irrelevant. Your signatures can be proven valid for years to come. This is critical in certain industries, such as healthcare, real estate and financial services, as signatures must often be legally verified decades after being signed.” 

You can read John’s entire article downloading this free PDF.

To learn more about adopting digital signatures, download this free white paper.