Certificate Authority (CA) Definition and Examples

Understanding Certificate Authority (CA) for e-Signing

A Certificate Authority (CA) is crucial for secure online communications and is indispensable in the e-signing field. Essentially, a CA is a trusted entity that issues digital certificates. These certificates authenticate the identity of the parties involved in electronic transactions and ensure that the exchange is secure.

The Role of a Certificate Authority in e-Signing

When you send a document for e-signing, you want to be sure that the recipient is who they claim to be and that the document hasn't been tampered with. This is where a CA comes into play. By issuing a digital certificate, the CA verifies the identities of the sender and receiver, making the transaction trustworthy.

How Digital Certificates Ensure Security

Digital certificates issued by a CA contain a public key, the identity of the certificate holder, and the CA's digital signature. In the e-signing process:

1. Verification: The CA checks the veracity of the identity of the certificate requestor before issuing a digital certificate.
2. Encryption: The public key in the certificate is used to encrypt the document, ensuring that only the intended recipient can decrypt and read it.
3. Integrity: The CA's digital signature on the certificate acts as a seal of authenticity, confirming that the document has not been altered.

Examples of Certificate Authority Functions

1. DigiCert: Known for providing SSL and TLS certificates, DigiCert ensures that your e-signed documents are encrypted and securely transmitted.
2. GlobalSign: Focuses on providing digital signing certificates for various industries, enabling secure and authenticated e-signing processes.
3. Symantec: While now part of DigiCert, Symantec has been a longstanding authority in issuing digital certificates, emphasizing secure communication.

Why It Matters for Your Business

With GoodSign, you don't need to worry about the complexities of digital certificates or daunting subscription costs. For just $1.50 per envelope, GoodSign leverages trusted CAs to ensure that your e-signing transactions are secure, authenticated, and legally binding. This means you can focus on growing your business without the overhead of expensive software or multiple user licenses.

By choosing GoodSign, you are opting for a pay-per-use model that removes financial barriers and offers robust security features, making it easier than ever to handle your document signing needs.

With Certificate Authorities behind the scenes, rest assured that your e-signing process is in reliable hands.