What is an electronic seal?

An electronic seal is used by legal entities (such as organizations and companies) to guarantee and verify the origin and integrity of digital documents (such as invoices and deeds).

 

What is are the differences between an electronic seal and an electronic signaturel?

Although the underlying technology and standards of electronic seals are very similar to those of an electronic signature, there are important differences between these two electronic trust services.

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• Purpose: Where digital signatures are intended to digitally sign legally valid documents, electronic seals are intended to guarantee the origin and integrity of digital documents.

• Intended for: Electronic seals are intended for legal entities, electronic signatures for natural persons.

• Verification of: With electronic signatures, the identity of the signatory is verified, with an electronic seal, the origin of the document.

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Which electronic seals do exist?

Similar to an electronic signature, the following three types of electronic seals exist.

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1. Simple electronic seal (SESeal)

• These are all types of electronic seals that do not meet the minimum requirements for advanced and qualified electronic seals and are therefore less reliable.

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2. Advanced electronic seal (AdESeal)

An advanced electronic seal meets the following security requirements set out in the eIDAS Regulation.

• Unique link to the legal entity: The advanced electronic seal must be uniquely linked to the entity (legal entity) that creates the seal.

• Identification of the legal entity: The seal must unambiguously identify the legal entity that created it.

• Creation with seal creation data that the legal entity keeps under exclusive control: The seal must be generated with data (e.g. a private key) that are managed only by the legal entity and to which no unauthorised access is possible.

• Protection against alteration: The seal must be generated by a means that ensures that alterations to the signed data can be detected.

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3. Qualified Electronic Seal (QESeal)

The qualified electronic seal offers the highest level of legal certainty. A qualified seal is equal to an advanced seal with the additional:

• The seal is created with a Qualified Seal Creation Device (QSCD);

• A qualified certificate for electronic seals issued by a QTSP.

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What are the most important advantages of an electronic seal?

• Increased trust: Electronic seals – especially qualified electronic seals – enable businesses, organizations, and government agencies to conduct and deliver electronic transactions and online services in a more secure and reliable manner. This, in turn, helps them build and maintain the trust of their customers and stakeholders.

• Document origin assurance: Electronic seals are based on digital certificates issued by QTSPs. These certificates serve as proof that an electronic document was issued by a legal entity that created the seal.

• Document integrity assurance: Advanced and qualified electronic seal providers use PKI technology to ensure that the sealed document has not been tampered with.

• Legal effect: The eIDAS Regulation states that electronic seals may not be denied legal effect simply because they are in electronic form. Therefore, businesses can use electronic seals as evidence in legal proceedings.

• Increased efficiency: Companies can use digital tools to automate electronic sealing of documents, improving efficiency and productivity.

• Interoperability: Qualified electronic seals offer EU-wide recognition and increased interoperability.