The Truth Behind Electronic Signatures

Ever noticed that reassuring green checkmark in Adobe after you electronically sign a document with Big eSign? It feels official, doesn’t it? But have you ever wondered what it really means? Let’s break it down and uncover the facts behind electronic signatures—and why you should dig a little deeper into what “secure” truly entails.

Legally Binding ≠ Trust and Security

First things first: a legally binding agreement doesn’t always mean it’s secure or trustworthy. Take a handshake, for example—it’s legally binding in many cases, but hardly secure. Similarly, electronic signatures are governed by laws that require intent, consent, identity verification, and an audit trail. This is great news because it ensures the signatures are legally valid.

But here’s the catch: not all electronic signatures are created equal. That PDF you just emailed with an image of your signature? It’s legally binding, but it’s also vulnerable to tampering.

The Illusion of Security

Enter Big e-sign, promising security with locked PDFs and that comforting “Signed and all signatures are valid” message in Adobe. Sounds secure, right? Not so fast.

That message isn’t about your signature—it’s about a digital document signing token. These tokens do help protect the document from tampering, but they don’t validate your identity (or your recipient’s). Instead, they validate Big eSign’s certificate, issued by a Trust Authority like Entrust.

Want proof? Open the Signature Properties in Adobe next time. You’ll see the certificate belongs to Big eSign, not you. This setup falls short of minimum trust requirements for many organizations, including the U.S. Department of Defense.

The Complexity of Real Security

Implementing these digital signing tokens isn’t straightforward. The process is technically complex, and open-source libraries often don’t cut it. So, while it’s tempting to build your own solution to balance cost, trust, and security, it’s a tough road to navigate.

A Better Way: Security and Trust, Fully Integrated

This is where our e-sign solution shines. We’ve partnered with a Trust Authority to offer true white-label electronic signatures with branding, security, and trust baked in. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Your Own OV Tokens: Legally binding and tamper-proof with your brand’s identity.
• Unmatched Scalability: Forget limits like 10 contracts per month. With us, you can handle 100 for the same price—or scale to millions with ease.
• Unbeatable Value: Premium security at a fraction of the cost of Big eSign.

The Bottom Line

Not all electronic signatures are equal. It’s essential to look beyond the green checkmark and understand what you’re really getting. With our solution, you don’t just get legally binding e-signatures—you get true security, trust, and the scalability your business needs.

Stay informed. Choose wisely. And never settle for less when it comes to the integrity of your agreements.

Ready to upgrade your e-sign game? Let’s talk!

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Disclaimer: The content on this site is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Laws and regulations can change rapidly, and UnicornForms does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information presented. For any legal inquiries or concerns regarding the content, we recommend consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.