The Online Digital Signature Way

4 April, 2013

According to “The State of Talent Management 2013” survey of more than 5,700 HR professionals in North America (Feb, 2013), “Human resources managers are increasingly turning to full or partial cloud computing options.”   

This is the latest in many related publications discussing the strong and growing relationships between the HR industry and advanced cloud technologies. Josh Bersin, contributor to Forbes magazine, released his predictions for 2013 in a report that was followed by an article “HR, Leadership, Technology, and Talent Management Predictions for 2013” (January, 2013). According to Bersin, more traditional HR models are being redefined with the integration of new technological practices that enable high performing managers or fast movers (as he calls them), to “focus heavily on decentralised, hands-on, technical leadership.”     

In a competitive industry, and as more companies seek cost savings with solutions and tools that increase efficiency and productivity, the cloud offers an abundance of benefits to organisations’ HR departments, particularly in the ever-essential process of timely communication with existing and future personnel.

From the quick updating of records, to handling evaluation processes, signing of annual leave requests, or company’s policies, the ability to electronically fill-in and eSign forms with PKI digital signature technology, ensures that information is securely and accurately handled.

Furthermore, Secured Signing’s exclusive cloud broadcasting feature allows HR managers to instantly deliver signing invitations to a list of invitees - regardless of time zone or location - with just a click of a mouse, guaranteeing a rapid and streamlined business workflow that can later be tracked by authorised staff. 

Vivek Kundra’s (former CIO in the Obama administration) metaphor concludes this brilliantly: “Just like water from the tap in your kitchen, cloud computing services can be turned on or off quickly as needed. Like at the water company, there is a team of dedicated professionals making sure the service provided is safe, secure, and available on a 24/7 basis. When the tap isn’t on, not only you are saving water, but you aren’t paying for resources you don’t currently need.”   

Till next time,

Cheers, John    

14 February, 2013

28 June, 2012 

“In a networked world, trust is the most important currency.” Eric Schmidt

Cloud computing represents a major transformation in the way companies leverage information and appeals with its offer of a one-stop-shop, cost-effective, hassle-free, and efficient business environment. Acting Deputy Director General of Information Society and Media for the European Commission, Megan Richards, emphasised during her speech at the Cloud Computing World Forum conference in London (15 June 2012) the sizable market and ever growing trend that is expected to reach 11 billion in revenue by 2014, representing 3.6 percent of the total IT market. 

Nevertheless, the cloud’s birth and existence has challenged, and still does, one of the crucial components in any type of relationship – trust! From a ‘face-to-face’, on-premise, product-based, controlled IT business environment, to externally service-based sourced operations. In his book The Big Switch, Nicholas Carr shows an historic analogy that brilliantly reflects the effects of a similar significant shift that took place in the 19^th Century:  the evolution of power plants. At the time, companies who usually generated their own power from in-house steam engines and dynamos, have gradually plugged into the cheap power that was generated from newly built, professionally run, centralised electric grid of electric utilities.     

Trust in cloud computing, or concerns over it, refer to the characteristics of the technology (reliability, security) as much as to legislation, governance, and organisational issues. While some aspects can be overcome only by government legislations and regulations, or are associated to the psychological, behavioural, and technical customer’s ‘time-of-adaption’, others are directly linked to practices and steps taken by the cloud provider.  

• Security - When communicating sensitive documents for signing purposes in the Cloud, comprehensive security measures have exceptional importance. The Secured Signing’s user-based PKI digital signature technology provides each user with a unique digital ID (signing key) that is accessible only to that user. The system instantly seals the signed document, and any changes made invalidate the signatures. Furthermore, users have the ability to verify their signatures offline any time at their desktop / mobile device, or at the Secured Signing’s Free Verification Service.

• Reliability - Business reliability is an essential indicator of the attitude, actions, and results derived from a service. Continuous setting of goals, ongoing development, and regular quality evaluation and monitoring are at the heart of the Secured Signing digital signature cloud service. Constant online signing performance assessments and follow-through processes ensure customers’ satisfaction: “The Secured Signing solution impressed us instantly with its high level of security, capabilities, and seamless implementation” Gadi Hadar, Managing Director at Asia Pacific Easy-Forex.        

• Open communication – The fundamental shift in human communication behaviour requires cloud services to acknowledge and respond to their digitally aware clients. Successful communication is associated with trust and influences brand loyalty that will guarantee commitment of even geographically dispersed customers. With the apparent value of multiple ways for communicating (via e-mail or direct phone with the service provider), it’s the prompt, approachable, and responsive service that creates the difference: “Secured Signing was very fast and responsive whenever we asked for something. Their customer service is amazing.” Kym Volp, Queensland State Manager, Evolve Scientific Recruitment.                

Till next time,

Cheers, John

14 March, 2012

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” Leonardo da Vinci

The latest ‘Mobile World Congress’ took place in Barcelona between Feb 27^th – 1March 2012. The list of distinguished Keynote speakers ranged from Bret Taylor, Facebook’s CTO, to Rene Obermann Chairman & CEO Deutsche Telekom (speeches can be found on the Conference’s website). As I was unable to attend, I searched for related interesting content and comments. John Konczal (IBM) describes in his post a Conference environment that was dominant with Cloud computing technology and its unique solution: “The promise of simplicity”. Couldn’t agree more - no software or hardware to purchase, install, or manage, in addition to other obvious benefits including efficiency, and satisfied customers to name a few. Almost heaven for users, yet, not that simple. As providers of Cloud service and consumers of others, we are actually often caught in what John Maeda calls the “simplicity paradox”.

In his book ‘The Laws of Simplicity’, Maeda (Professor in MIT) describes this paradox as a desire we have to get something simple and easy to use that comes with expectations to simultaneously obtain with it complex things we want it to do. His book offers a guide of ten laws for balancing this paradox in business, technology and design. His tens law, which he calls “The One”, says “Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding the meaningful.”

From the first design of the Secured Signing’s PKI digital signature Cloud service, the team works continually and tirelessly to provide a simple electronic signing experience that offers multiple solutions for a variety of businesses and industries worldwide. The wide selection of essentially easy to use choices for signing documents online are all abiding Maeda’s important principal. The ISign, We Sign, Form Direct, Form Filler, and Form n’Go, along with its customised solutions are all parts of true simplicity in human-technological interaction. 

Till next time,

Cheers, John.

3 February, 2012

“Trust is the foundation to total quality, and trust is made up of both character (what a person is) and competence (what a person does).” Stephen Covey

I would argue that this is completely true — not just to describe individuals, but also to define companies, organisations, and even technologies.

A lot was written about digital signature’s proven qualities, competencies, and usage. Recently, this was demonstrated by SAFE-BioPharma Association (January 19, 2012). Their analysis of the three major IT trends that will shape the life sciences industry in 2012 revealed a unique use of interoperable digital identities, and trial-related documents and records (until now, these were mostly paper-based) that were transformed into electronic format with the secure and legally binding digital signature technology.

The global SAFE-BioPharma’s digital signature and identity standards were jointly established with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency, and are commonly used in pharmaceutical and healthcare groups.

The Secured Signing’s Cloud-based PKI digital signature online service is built with this technology that fulfils what Bill Gates once said: “For computing to achieve its full potential and to enrich the daily lives of people and businesses everywhere, it must first be made as secure and reliable as it can be!”            

Till next time,

Cheers, John