Digital signatures provide a record of exactly what was signed and can be verified in the future. Using signature fields in Microsoft Office files makes it possible for organizations to reduce risk when using electronic transactions and streamlining paper processes for contracts or other agreements.

How To Electronically Sign A Word Document Digital certificates are issued by a certification authority (CA), like Sectigo. (For documents in particular, you will need a document signing certificate.) When you send a digitally-signed file, you also send your certificate and public key. To create a digital signature you have to have a signing certificate, which proves identity.

This gives users confidence that the signed documents originate from the recognized source and have not been forged or tampered with.ĭigital signatures can be applied to a variety of document types including Adobe PDF files, PNGs, image files, JPGs, and Word Documents. Thus, when you sign a Word document digitally, you are confirming that the information in the document originated from the signer and has not been altered. This type of electronic signature, or e-signature, is an encrypted stamp of authentication applied to digital information such as e-mail messages, macros, or electronic documents. Unlike handwritten signatures, digital signatures enable secure electronic document exchange and workflows, ensure document integrity and authorship, and satisfy electronic document compliance requirements. How A Digital Signature In Microsoft Word Works Below, we go over how a digital signature works and the process to e-sign a Microsoft Word document. When you go to add a digital signature to a Word document, or any document for that matter, it’s essential to follow the correct steps.

Electronically signing a document authenticates the signer, so all recipients can verify that the contents have not been modified since it was signed.

Microsoft word insert signature