The three eIDAS levels
- Simple: any electronic data linked to a signature, such as ticking a box or signing with a finger on a screen.
- Advanced: uniquely identifies the signer, is under their control and reveals any later change to the document.
- Qualified: an advanced signature made with a qualified certificate, issued by a qualified trust service provider, and with a qualified signature creation device.
None of them can be rejected as evidence just for being electronic. The qualified one is the only one the regulation directly equates with a handwritten signature. eIDAS applies in the European Union; other countries have their own e-signature rules.
When you need it
When a document needs the strongest presumption of validity, or when a rule or the other party asks for it: certain contracts, filings or documents you expect to be disputed. To accept a quote or sign off a service report, an advanced or simple signature is usually enough.
An example
A company signs a five-year maintenance contract with penalties. Both sides use a qualified signature: if there is ever a dispute, nobody will have to prove who signed. The report for each visit, on the other hand, is signed by the customer on the technician’s screen.
The usual mistake
Using the same level for everything. Requiring a qualified signature on a service report complicates every visit, and closing a major contract with a ticked box leaves the proof up in the air. Choose the level document by document, with your legal advisor.