How to electronically sign documents?

Published on : 26 April 20213 min reading time
When you send an email with an attachment, you will give the email more value by electronically signing the attached document. The electronic signature has the same value as the handwritten signature affixed to a classic letter. But how do you go about electronically signing a document ?

Electronic signature: what is it?

When we talk about an electronic signature, one is tempted to believe that it is a dematerialized version of the signature, but it is far from being the case. To electronically sign a document, it is not enough to scan a handwritten signature and then affix it to a document in electronic format. Nor is it a signature made with a stylus via his smartphone or tablet. To make an electronic signature, the use of a special tool is required. The latter consists of a signature engine and an electronic certificate. It contains a certain amount of information including your name, your first name or the name of the company or organization to which you belong. As for the signature engine, its role is to retrieve the information present in the certificate and then affix it to the document. Through this process, you will be easily identified by the signer. For this reason alone, sign your documents online.

How to affix an electronic signature?

There is nothing complicated about electronically signing documents. All you need to do is get electronic signature software. All electronic signature software like Yousign software works pretty much the same. The tool you use will generate a fingerprint consisting of several characters. Encryption of the fingerprint is performed using a private key. When you send your documents, you must also provide the public key so that your correspondent can easily recognize their source or the signatory of them. What’s more, if you electronically sign the document you send, you reassure your recipient that your email will not be considered spam.

What are the advantages of signing a document electronically?

Signing documents electronically can provide you with many benefits, starting with securing your documents. If your email is accidentally sent to another person, you have nothing to worry about because the content of your documents will be inaccessible. Your documents will also be more valuable and your correspondent will immediately know where they come from. Since the electronic signature is tamper-proof, you won’t find another more effective method to protect your most sensitive documents.