Understanding Electronic Signatures

Simple, Advanced, and Qualified

Discover the differences between Simple e-Signatures (SESs), Advanced e-Signatures (AdESs), and Qualified e-Signatures (QESs) to choose the right one for your needs.

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Standards header
simple sign

Simple e-Signature

Provide a basic level of security and are suitable for general business communications and internal documentation

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Legal weight
Basic eSignatures offer a foundational level of security. They are easier to implement and are suitable for scenarios where high security is not a primary concern.
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Identification requirements
Typically require minimal verification, such as email confirmation or a typed name, ensuring a straightforward and quick signing process.
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Area of application
By utilizing basic eSignatures, organizations can increase efficiency for day-to-day operations where high security is not essential.

Use cases

Simple signature
advanced sign

Advanced eSignature

Offer a higher level of security and are appropriate for most business contracts and transactions

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Legal weight
Advanced eSignatures offer a higher level of security compared to simple eSignatures, since it provides assurance about the identity of the signer and the authenticity of the document.
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Identification requirements
They typically involve additional authentication factors such as two-factor authentication (2FA), SMS verification, or knowledge-based authentication (KBA).
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Area of application
Advanced eSignatures provide a stronger level of non-repudiation, making it more difficult for signers to deny their actions.

Use cases

Advanced signature
qualified sign

Coming soon

Qualified eSignature

Provide the highest level of security and are necessary for high-stakes, legally binding agreements and strict regulatory compliance.

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Legal weight
Qualified e-Signatures are the most secure and legally binding form of electronic signature.
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Identification requirements
They adhere to specific regulatory standards, such as the European Union's eIDAS regulation or the U.S. ESIGN Act, and require stringent identity verification.
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Area of application
Qualified eSignatures often involve in-person verification, digital certificates, or hardware tokens.

Use cases

Qualified signature
Know you Signature laws

Know your country's eSignature Laws

While iLovePDF's digital signatures are legally valid in many contexts, it's crucial to verify their acceptance in the specific country and situation where they will be used. For critical or high-security situations, we recommend seeking legal advice to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations.

Have any doubts about eSignature validity? Our team can help you with this process.

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Secure
iLoveSign provides robust authentication, time-stamped audit trail, and encrypted storage, to safeguard the integrity and security of your digital signatures and documents.
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Easy to use
Streamline signing with a user-friendly interface, save recurring signature requests as templates, and automate notifications and reminders for both signers and document owners to simplify your document workflows.
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Designed for collaboration
Effortlessly manage roles and permissions, create signature requests, and enhance collaboration within your team.