[This is a sponsored article with SigningCloud.]
Whenever we’re asked to sign documents online, the easiest way to go about it is to Google “free online signature app”, download the app, sign the document and call it a day. It’s a relatively simple, fast and free method.
However, unsecured or malicious apps can lead to fraud, forgery and be used to sign documents on your behalf without your consent.
Edward Law, the CEO and co-founder of Securemetric Bhd previously told us that e-signatures can easily be tampered with. If someone has access to your email and changes the content of the signed document, you’d have no way to detect it at all. This is where their platform, SigningCloud, comes in as a safer alternative by using digital signatures.
When COVID-19 became widespread, the demand for their locally-made solution increased, with three times as many requests for demos as companies and individuals wanted a more secure signing option.
The team, however, is not resting on their laurels just yet. They’ve been diligently improving SigningCloud by adding more features in what they dub SigningCloud V2.
Built to prioritise document security
On the surface, digital signatures and e-signatures are similar solutions for online signing. But, a digital signature has more security features and is tamper-proof to boot. It’s so secure that you’d probably have an easier time just forging a handwritten signature, Edward claimed.
Digital signatures are built with multiple main security pillars revolving around authentication, confidentiality, integrity and non-repudiation.
- Before a user signs, they will need to go through two-factor authentication (2FA) to ensure the document is signed by the intended signer.
- Only the signers and owners of the paper have access to the documents.
- The document is cryptographically fingerprinted and tamper-proof, which means any changes made to the documents after signing can be easily detected using a common PDF viewer.
- Parties cannot dispute that they have signed the documents after, as their identities were verified as authentic and trusted by certification authorities. The verification may even be presented in court as evidence.
Since everything is done digitally and safely, businesses will not have to bother about printing bundles of documents to keep in their drawers either. Everything they’ve signed can be referenced online through the platform. The solution isn’t just for companies either. If you’re an individual concerned about the safety of what you’re signing, you can also use it.
Improving on their existing solution
In SigningCloud V2, users can experience a new design that allows for “an easier document creation and signing experience”, said Edward. They settled on this new design based on user feedback and industry research on UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience).
The new UI enables users to quickly refer back to the documents they’ve signed, or the documents they need to sign, along with other customer-centric changes. This is done through a secure audit trail on the platform.
The team also routinely checks on the security of their platform through external penetration testing. A cybersecurity service company will be selected to conduct a simulated attack on the platform to test and identify weak points. As a result, the team will always be on top of the situation in case of an attack, rather than only figuring out how to deal with it when one occurs.
Edward said: “Security is always top on our list, not only do we utilise one of the region’s top security compliant cloud service providers, we invest into top-notch security services such as multi-layer firewall, anti-DDOS, anti-ransomware and 24/7 security operation monitoring.”
The platform also adheres to the Digital Signature Act 1997 (DSA 1997), where the digital ID of the signer is issued and can be verified by a licensed certification authority (CA). In SigningCloud’s case, users can choose between MSC Trustgate and Pos Digicert as their CA of choice. Users are also free from vendor lock-in, and they can choose the CA of their own volition, based on their pricing and services.
Accessibility-wise, the team will be implementing more support for EDMS (Electronic Document Management Systems) based on customer demands. The new version of SigningCloud will support Microsoft SharePoint and Alfresco EDMS. Users of these programmes can sign their documents digitally through SigningCloud, all without going out of the programme for improved workflow.
Even before these features are implemented, the team is already working on more to be added to the platform.
But if you’re not sold on the platform yet, you can try out the platform for free. Under the free version, you can upload an unlimited amount of documents for signing, provided the signers are a registered SigningCloud user as well.
Building on the momentum from Malaysia
SigningCloud’s next big leap is to aggressively expand from Malaysia into as many SEA countries as possible. They’re currently in talks with relevant regulatory parties in 3 other countries, and Singapore is one they’re following up closely with.
Once the Singapore government signs on, the residents of Singapore using Singpass (Singapore’s National Digital Identity Card) will be able to sign any legal documents on the app, which’ll go through SigningCloud’s secure digital signature process.
This process will be governed by the Electronic Transactions Act (Cap. 88) and the Electronic Transactions (Certification Authority) Regulations 2010 in Singapore.
“We will continue to add support to as many trusted CA and eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) providers as soon as possible, with our dream of making SigningCloud the Universal Signing Platform that supports cross-border digital signature in a few years,” said Edward.
Edward hopes that by bringing SigningCloud to more businesses in SEA, the businesses will be able to take a conscious step towards becoming more digitally-capable, through digital signatures.
- For more information on SigningCloud, click here.
- Read up on what we’ve written about SigningCloud in the past here.
Featured Image Credit: SigningCloud
