Digital signing glossary
All key terms explained, from eIDAS to PKI.
AES (Advanced Electronic Signature)
An electronic signature that meets additional requirements under eIDAS Article 26: uniquely linked to the signatory, capable of identifying the signatory, created using data under the signatory's sole control, and linked to the signed data so any change is detectable. ValidSign supports AES through SMS verification, iDIN, and other advanced authentication methods.
Audit Trail
A tamper-proof log of every action taken during the signing process. Includes timestamps, IP addresses, authentication methods used, and document hash values. ValidSign generates a comprehensive audit trail for every transaction, providing legal evidence of the signing process.
BankID
A Scandinavian electronic identity system used in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Allows citizens to authenticate digitally for government and financial services. ValidSign supports BankID for cross-border European signing.
DigiD
The Dutch government's digital identity system for citizens. Used to access government services and sign documents with high assurance. ValidSign natively integrates DigiD for qualified signature creation.
eHerkenning
The Dutch government's digital identity system for businesses. Required for official government interactions. ValidSign supports eHerkenning for B2G document signing.
eIDAS
European regulation (EU 910/2014) on electronic identification and trust services. Establishes the legal framework for electronic signatures, seals, timestamps, and delivery services across all EU member states. ValidSign is fully eIDAS compliant.
Electronic Seal
A digital seal applied by a legal entity (organization) rather than a natural person. Used for document certification and batch signing. ValidSign supports qualified electronic seals via PKIoverheid.
Electronic Signature
Data in electronic form attached to or logically associated with other data in electronic form, used by the signatory to sign (eIDAS Article 3). ValidSign supports all three levels: SES, AES, and QES.
ETSI
European Telecommunications Standards Institute. Develops technical standards for electronic signatures including PAdES, XAdES, CAdES, and ASiC formats. ValidSign implements ETSI standards for maximum interoperability.
GDPR / AVG
General Data Protection Regulation. EU regulation on data privacy. ValidSign is fully GDPR compliant with all data stored in EU data centers.
Hash Function (SHA-256)
A cryptographic algorithm that creates a fixed-size digital fingerprint of a document. Any change to the document produces a completely different hash. ValidSign uses SHA-256 to guarantee document integrity.
iDIN
Dutch bank-based identity verification. Citizens authenticate using their own bank's login (ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank, etc.). ValidSign uses iDIN for advanced identity verification.
NEN 7510
Dutch standard for information security in healthcare. ValidSign holds NEN 7510 certification, making it suitable for signing medical documents and patient data.
PAdES
PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures. ETSI standard for embedding signatures in PDF documents. ValidSign uses PAdES-LTV (Long-Term Validation) format ensuring signatures remain verifiable for decades.
PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)
The system of digital certificates, certificate authorities, and trust chains that enables secure electronic signatures. ValidSign operates within the PKIoverheid (Dutch government PKI) framework.
PKIoverheid
The Dutch government's Public Key Infrastructure. Provides the highest level of trust for digital certificates in the Netherlands. ValidSign is an authorized user of PKIoverheid certificates.
QES (Qualified Electronic Signature)
The highest level of electronic signature under eIDAS. Has the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature in all EU member states. Created using a qualified certificate and a qualified signature creation device. ValidSign supports QES through PKIoverheid and accredited trust service providers.
SES (Simple Electronic Signature)
The most basic form of electronic signature under eIDAS. Includes any data in electronic form used to sign. ValidSign's email-based signing creates SES-level signatures.
Trust Service Provider (TSP)
An organization that creates, verifies, and validates electronic signatures, seals, timestamps, or certificates under eIDAS. ValidSign works with qualified TSPs to provide the highest assurance levels.
X.509 Certificate
The international standard for digital certificates used in PKI. Contains the signer's public key, identity information, and the certificate authority's signature. ValidSign uses X.509 certificates for all digital signatures.
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