The Evolution of Digital Signatures: From Ink to Pixels

With the development of the legal framework for electronic document workflow in Ukraine, several concepts denoting electronic signatures (EDS, QES, AES, etc.) have appeared. What is the difference between them and where they are used – let’s consider in the article.

Types of electronic signature

For a long time, only the concept of electronic digital signature (EDS) was common among users. However, with the enactment of the Law of Ukraine “On Electronic Trust Services” it lost its relevance. The adjusted concept of qualified electronic signature (QES) has replaced it.

Qualified electronic signature QES is an analog of a handwritten signature. Its legal force is confirmed by the Law of Ukraine “On Electronic Document Workflow and Electronic Documents”.

From a technical viewpoint, a QES is a set of electronic data that is formed from a document file, a signature key and a time stamp. Together they form a container (an archive that contains both the file and the signature at the same time) or a separate file that must be stored and verified together with the document. This data indicates that a particular signature key was applied to the document in the archive at a particular time and that the file (document) has not been modified. Thanks to the time stamp, it is possible at any moment to establish when the QES was applied to the document, and it is also proof that the document existed at a certain point in time.

Types of electronic signature

Types of electronic signature

For a long time, only the concept of electronic digital signature (EDS) was common among users. However, with the enactment of the Law of Ukraine “On Electronic Trust Services” it lost its relevance. The adjusted concept of qualified electronic signature (QES) has replaced it.

Types of electronic signature

For a long time, only the concept of electronic digital signature (EDS) was common among users. However, with the enactment of the Law of Ukraine “On Electronic Trust Services” it lost its relevance. The adjusted concept of qualified electronic signature (QES) has replaced it.

Types of electronic signature

For a long time, only the concept of electronic digital signature (EDS) was common among users. However, with the enactment of the Law of Ukraine “On Electronic Trust Services” it lost its relevance. The adjusted concept of qualified electronic signature (QES) has replaced it.

• With the development of the legal framework for electronic document workflow in Ukraine, several concepts denoting electronic signatures (EDS, QES, AES, etc.) have appeared. What is the difference between them and where they are used – let’s consider in the article.
• With the development of the legal framework for electronic document workflow in Ukraine, several concepts denoting electronic signatures (EDS, QES, AES, etc.) have appeared. What is the difference between them and where they are used – let’s consider in the article.
• With the development of the legal framework for electronic document workflow in Ukraine, several concepts denoting electronic signatures (EDS, QES, AES, etc.) have appeared. What is the difference between them and where they are used – let’s consider in the article.
  • • • With the development of the legal framework for electronic document workflow in Ukraine, several concepts denoting electronic signatures (EDS, QES, AES, etc.) have appeared. What is the difference between them and where they are used – let’s consider in the article.
      • With the development of the legal framework for electronic document workflow in Ukraine, several concepts denoting electronic signatures (EDS, QES, AES, etc.) have appeared. What is the difference between them and where they are used – let’s consider in the article.
      • With the development of the legal framework for electronic document workflow in Ukraine, several concepts denoting electronic signatures (EDS, QES, AES, etc.) have appeared. What is the difference between them and where they are used – let’s consider in the article.
      • With the development of the legal framework for electronic document workflow in Ukraine, several concepts denoting electronic signatures (EDS, QES, AES, etc.) have appeared. What is the difference between them and where they are used – let’s consider in the article.