Which method is right for you?

When it comes to electronic sealing and signing, the question immediately arises as to whether traditional sealing/signature cards or remote service providers are the better choice. In discussions with our customers, we can determine individual needs and specific use cases in order to make targeted recommendations. But which method is right for your needs?

To give you an initial overview, this blog post provides you with the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.

Everything you need to know about seal and signature cards

The advantages of seal and signature cards are primarily monetary. Compared to other solutions, there are no fees per transaction, only the one-off acquisition costs for the signature card and the card reader. In practice, this looks like this: Before you can apply the first seal or signature digitally, you must apply for the relevant card from a trust service provider and purchase a suitable card reader. Users also need our fat client DATA Boreum from Anwendung Governikus. As soon as you have received these components, you can start sealing and signing. Within the validity period of the card, you can seal and sign as often as required without incurring any additional costs.

Another advantage is that users can apply a seal or signature to documents even in particularly vulnerable environments, as they do not require an Internet connection

The disadvantages, however, are that the card must always be to hand. If the card is not within reach, you cannot seal or sign electronically. In addition, a corresponding reader is always required, which makes provision more complex and harbors potential sources of error. Particularly important: If you lose the card, you can no longer seal or sign it

Everything you need to know about remote service providers

Would you like to apply signatures and seals without special hardware such as a card reader or signature card? Then remote service providers offer a flexible alternative. In practice, you use our signature and seal platform DATA Sign to achieve this. Users can either integrate it into the desired specialist procedure or operate it via a web interface in which various remote service providers are integrated. After a one-off registration and authentication , you have the flexibility to easily apply signatures and seals from anywhere. This procedure allows you to sign and seal a large number of documents automatically as well as to sign and seal them electronically from time to time.

In contrast to signature or seal cards, the key material cannot be lost here as it is stored by the remote service providers. You can also create the key material yourself by carrying out simple processes. As with seal/signature cards, you must identify yourself so that both qualified and advanced signatures and seals can be applied.

Data protection is a key aspect when using remote service providers. With DATA Sign, the actual document that is to receive a seal or signature never leaves the company's own IT infrastructure. Only a mathematical representation of the document (hash function) is sent to the provider. Optionally, the document title can also be made unrecognizable.

One disadvantage of using remote services is that an Internet connection is always required to apply signatures and seals. In addition, the signatures/seals applied are billed per transaction. To make the process easier for you, you are welcome to take advantage of our reselling offer. You can contact us at any time for further information.

But which option is the right one?

We cannot make a general recommendation at this point, as the application varies greatly and you have to decide on an individual basis. If you only need to apply signatures/seals under strict conditions and under lock and key, you can rely on DATA Boreum with its cards and card readers. However, if you and your employees want to be flexible and occasionally sign and seal from your home office, it may make more sense to rely on remote service providers with DATA Sign. Retrieving the key material via the Internet offers you more flexibility compared to using a card and reader.

Share post