Digital Certificates: What are they, what are they for, and what advantages do they offer?

What are Digital Certificates?

An Electronic Certificate or Digital Certificate is a digital file issued by a Certification Authority, such as vinCAsign , that guarantees the link between the identity of a person or entity and the public part of the file and that, therefore, allows its holder to be identified unequivocally.

Digital Certificates allow citizens or companies to identify themselves to third parties, sign documents electronically and carry out online procedures securely and confidentially , complying with European regulations such as eIDAS and providing the highest levels of security with full legal guarantees.

What is the difference between a Digital Certificate and a Digital Signature?

A digital or electronic certificate links a person’s identity to a digital file using cryptographic technology and is issued by a Certification Authority. Issuing a digital certificate requires the identification and authentication of the person. Nowadays, thanks to the new regulation ETD/465/21 , video identification is permitted, eliminating the need for in-person verification, which was previously required.

A digital or electronic signature is a cryptographic code created when associating a digital certificate with a document, allowing the recipient to validate the identity of the signer and guaranteeing that the document has not been altered.

The European regulatory framework, eIDAS 910/2014 , recognizes three types of electronic signatures : simple, advanced, and qualified. However, only the qualified signature offers the highest level of security, equivalent to a handwritten signature in terms of its legal validity. The qualified signature guarantees the identity of the signer and the integrity of the signed electronic document.

Thus, we see that with a digital certificate we are identifying the person, while with a digital signature we are linking the person who signed the document to the signature. A digital certificate is a type of electronic signature.

What are Digital Certificates used for?

The digital certificate serves three main purposes:

1. Authenticate : The main function is to authenticate the person who possesses it, although smart devices with an internet connection can also be authenticated. The digital certificate is one of the most secure authentication methods available today, as it allows for encryption, decryption, authentication, and protection of data privacy and integrity.

2. Carry out procedures online : Thanks to Digital Certificates, citizens and companies can streamline, manage and simplify online procedures with the electronic offices of Public Administrations such as the SEPE, City Councils, National Police, Social Security, the Tax Agency, among others, offering a fast and secure service.

It should be noted that the law requires legal entities, entities without legal personality , those practicing a profession for which mandatory membership in a professional association is required, public employees, and those representing anyone included in this group to interact electronically with the administration. It also allows individuals to choose whether or not to communicate with public administrations electronically.

Among the many procedures that can be carried out online today we find: immigration procedures, application for unemployment benefits or subsidies, marriage certificate, application for deregistration of the cadastral owner, application for retirement pension, among many others .

3. Sign official or legal documents: As we’ve seen, a digital certificate is one of the digital signature options. This allows citizens and businesses to electronically sign official documents such as employment contracts, commercial agreements, mortgages, etc.

What benefits do Digital Certificates offer?

Legal validity: An electronic signature with a qualified digital certificate has the same legal value as a handwritten signature, with the added advantage that it has a traceability that a paper signature does not have.

Furthermore, electronic signatures are supported by the European eIDAS regulatory framework and the national one.

Time saving: currently Many procedures can or should be carried out online with public administrations, banks, real estate agencies, medical services, etc. Digital certificates help us streamline these procedures, saving us travel and long queues.

Money savings: Thanks to digital certificates or signatures, we reduce costs in paper, printing, and storage.

It benefits the environment: the reduction in paper use due to digitization of online procedures, It allows for a reduction in the carbon footprint.

Security: Digitally signed documents cannot be altered, making them more secure and reliable than those signed on paper.

In conclusion, digital certificates are one of the most widely used technologies today by companies and individuals, as they facilitate and protect online transactions, guaranteeing both our identity and the validity of the document.