How to Choose Best eSignature App (8 Factors to Consider)

It can be confusing to find out if a provider can meet your needs but fear not. We have put together a practical checklist with eight points that you should look out for with a digital signature provider.

Identity Authentication

Identity authentication Signers must prove they are who they claim to be by providing, validating, or accessing some type of shared information.

• Does the digital signature service require users to prove their identity before digitally signing a document?
• How strong is the authentication method? Does the system require a user to receive just one email, or do they have to answer private questions or enter a code that is sent to their mobile device?
• Can documents be accessed without authentication after they have been signed?

Audit Trail

Audit Trail a function that tracks every action by the signatories and documents in every transaction to provide comprehensive evidence of the entire transaction that has taken place.

• Does the E-signature online app track every event in the signature process?
• How detailed are the events stored? What information is kept?
• How is the audit trail saved? Is it secured against manipulation?

Notice and Consent

Notice and Consent design and other laws require that users know that they are embarking on a digital signature process and that they must have an opportunity to choose not to.

• Is there an adequate and visible indication of the use of an electronic signature app being given to the user?
• Will the user be given the option to opt out of using the service?
• Is the consent to the use of electronic signatures clearly shown?
• Is user consent tracked as a reviewable action?

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E Signature and Intent

Signature and Intent The user must perform a digital signature action to indicate the intent to sign.

• How user sign a document?
• Is the process communicating the intention?
• How is the document viewed by a user?

Data Records

Association the signature must be linked to the data or data records to be signed to prove the connection between them is another good thing about the best e signature app.

• How is the free e signature linked to the documents to be signed?
• Is the assignment of the signature based on standards or proprietary solutions?
• Is the digital signature firmly embedded in the document or just an image attached to the document?

Integrity of Signatures

Integrity a user's signature must be tied to the version of the document he is viewing while signing, and the documents must remain the same after signing.

• How is the electronic signature contract protected during the process of adding each signature?
• Does the service provide strong evidence of tampering with the documents after they are signed?
• Can the service protect and also prove the integrity of a document at all times from the first to the last signature?

Verification Independence

Independence in verification you should choose a provider who does not require an ongoing contract for the validation of signatures.

In which format are the signatures and documents created? Is it proprietary?

• Are the documents and signatures human-readable and also accessible with free PDF viewing software?
• Is every digital signature an integral part of the document? Do the signatures inherently provide the integrity of the document?
• Can individual signatures be validated without having to go back to the manufacturer who created them?
• Do the signatures comply with international cryptographic and document standards, such as B. RSA, DSA, sha, pages, and pdf?

Long-Term Validity

Long-term valid signatures should be based on standards whose validity can be proven not only today but also in decades.

• Can the electronic signatures be validated in the long term?
• Does the digital signature service use a technology that is standards-based and can be validated in the future?
• Are the systems used for signing vendor-specific or are they based on established cryptographic tools?

So, these are some of the main things that you need to find out in the best e signature app.