What are Digital Signature Certificates?
Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs) are cryptographic digital signatures provided by a Certifying Authority (CA) that authenticate the identity of a person or business. These certificates provide secure digital communication, ensure the authenticity of the signatory, and data integrity, hence their importance in the current digital-first business world.
A Digital Signature Certificate includes the name of the user, their public key, the expiration date of the certificate, the name of the CA issuing it, and the digital signature of the issuing authority. This technology helps create secure and legally valid signatures for documents and transactions conducted electronically.
Send Your Query
Who Can Buy Digital Signature Certificates Online?
Anyone who requires secure online authentication and document signing can buy a Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) online. These certificates cater to individuals, organizations, government bodies, and foreign entities for legally valid electronic transactions.
Foreign Organization DSC
Issued to foreign companies to conduct secure business transactions and e-filing in India.
Govt Organization DSC
For Indian government departments to authenticate digital transactions and documents.
Foreign Individual DSC
For non-Indian residents who need to sign documents electronically in
India.
Individual DSC
Issued to Indian citizens for personal use in e-filing, income tax, and other services.
Government Individual DSC
For government employees to securely access and sign official digital documents.
How Do Digital Signatures Work?
Digital signatures function using asymmetric cryptography, which involves a pair of keys: a private key and a public key. Here’s how the process works:
Signing Process: When a document is signed, a hash (a mathematical algorithm) of the message is generated. This hash is then encrypted using the sender’s private key.
Verification Process: The recipient decrypts the hash using the sender’s public key. If the hash matches the one generated from the original document, the signature is verified.
Types of Digital Signature Certificates and Their Uses
Digital Signature Certificates provide security and legal validity, but different types serve distinct purposes. Here’s a breakdown of the three main types and when to use them:
Purpose: Basic-level verification for low-risk transactions.
Verification: Confirms only the email ID and username of the signer.
Use for:
✔ Internal corporate communications
✔ Email validations
✔ Basic document attestations
Limitations: Not valid for legally binding documents.
Purpose: Moderate security for individual and business use.
Verification: Validates identity against a pre-verified database.
Use For:
✔ Income tax filings (ITR)
✔ GST registration & returns
✔ Company incorporation (MCA forms)
✔ Patent and trademark filings
Legal Recognition: Accepted under the IT Act 2000 (India) and similar laws globally.
Purpose: Highest security for high-value transactions.
Verification: Requires in-person identity proof or biometric checks.
Use for:
✔ E-tendering & government bids
✔ Court e-filings & legal contracts
✔ ICEGATE/DGFT
✔ Banking & financial agreements
✔ Cryptocurrency & blockchain transactions
Compliance: Meets eIDAS (EU) & ZertES (Swiss) standards.
Frequently Asked Question
It uses Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to encrypt and verify signatures, ensuring secure and tamper-proof transactions.
A USB device stores the digital certificate and private key securely.
Submit your ID proof, address proof, and a photo to a licensed Certifying Authority (CA) like www.vishwnet.com
No, a digital certificate contains the public key, while a digital signature is the encrypted hash of a document.
No. DSCs are tied to individuals. Each employee who signs documents digitally must have a certificate.