Digital signature
Digital signature |
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Digital signature is a type of electronic signature that uses asymmetric encryption algorithms to ensure extra protection in documentation authenticity. Taking existing signatures into account and sorting the signature types by security levels, the digital signature has the maximum degree of authentication, followed by the other electronic signature categories, until paper signature, which is the most vulnerable and bureaucratic type.
Digital signature encompasses a duo of keys:
▪The private key, composed of a set of encrypted codes known only to the subscriber, with the purpose of encoding and identifying the author of the file; ▪The public key, derived from the previous key, used to check the validity of the signature.
The encoding is different in each signature, and any attempts to edit the document invalidate the attached signature. Moreover, everything is authenticated by a Certifying Authority. This entity is duly licensed by the National Institute of Information Technology, responsible for creating the Brazilian Public Key Infrastructure, which provides certificates in the ICP-Brazil standards.
To digitally sign a document, it is necessary to have a digital certificate. It is worth noting that, since July of 2018, this resource is mandatory for companies with more than one employee, and its validity may vary between 1 and 3 years, according to the needs of each business. The certificate is imperative for some specific procedures, such as issuing the electronic invoice.
In SE Document, it is possible to use the digital signature through the digital certificate. See further details in the Configuring a digital signature section. |