Electronic Signing in Signi

What is an electronic signature according to eIDAS

Under the EU eIDAS Regulation, the definition of an electronic signature is fairly broad:

“Data in electronic form which is attached to or logically associated with other data in electronic form and which is used by the signatory to sign.”

Unlike previous legislation, eIDAS allows the use of various forms of electronic signing, which may differ in:

• the level of provability,
• ease of use,
• and associated costs.

Choosing the right signing method

Thanks to this flexibility, in Signi you can choose the signing method based on the specific situation. A different level of verification will be suitable, for example, for:

• simple confirmation of a delivery note worth a few hundred crowns – what matters is that the signature is fast, cheap, and convenient,
• higher-value contracts – here legal certainty and provability are key,
• or any other common business or internal action.

Levels of electronic signatures according to eIDAS

European legislation distinguishes three basic levels of electronic signatures according to their legal weight:

1. Qualified signature (Qualified)

• The highest level of electronic signature recognized throughout the EU.
• Used when dealing with public administration authorities or for serious legal actions.
• Offers maximum legal certainty but requires more complex technical and organizational arrangements.

2. Advanced signature (Advanced)

• Meets stricter requirements than a basic signature.
• In the Czech environment, BankID SIGN is most commonly used.
• To sign, you only need an active mobile key from your bank.
• From a legal standpoint, it can be used similarly to a basic signature, but it provides a higher level of provability.

3. Basic (other) signature (Basic)

• Suitable for common business and private legal actions.
• Has a minimal barrier to use and zero cost.
• Offers a lower level of provability but fully meets common legal requirements.

Methods of electronic signing in Signi

Signi supports several methods of electronic signing that correspond to different legal levels and user needs:

• Stylus signature
• Text and image signature,
• Signing a document using an SMS PIN,
• Signing in Signi via BankID SIGN,
• Qualified signatures and certificate-based signatures.

Audit trail and identification of signatories

Unlike handwritten signatures on paper, Signi provides a rich audit trail for every electronic signature, accessible to signatories, supervisory authorities, and law enforcement authorities.

The audit record contains, among other things:

• the time and IP address of the signature,
• the method of identity verification,
• and a record of two-factor identification (email + SMS).

If needed, the signature can be supplemented with advanced remote identification methods that strengthen the document's legal certainty.

Archiving electronically signed documents

Documents signed in Signi can be archived long-term. This gives you assurance that they will remain accessible, readable, and legally valid throughout the entire archiving period.