What’s Shifting for Notaries in 2026 Posted on March 4, 2026 - 12:28 pm by Lianca Security, Deepfake Defense, and the New Digital Standard The notary profession enters 2026 in a fundamentally different landscape than even two years ago. Remote Online Notarization (RON) has matured into a mainstream, regulated system, and the industry is now shaped by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, both the tools that empower notaries and the threats that challenge them. The biggest shift is clear: security is no longer a supporting feature of notarization. It is the product. And the rise of deepfake audio and video has pushed identity verification into a new era. Why Remote Online Notarization (RON) is the New Operational Default Remote Online Notarization is now the standard workflow for many organizations. With expanded state adoption and improved platform capabilities, RON has evolved into a stable, widely accepted system. Notaries are adapting to: Higher session volumes Faster turnaround expectations Cross state compliance requirements Fully digital document handling RON is convenient and becoming the modern standard for notarization. Fraud Detection Moves to the Center As notarization becomes more digital, fraud attempts have become more sophisticated. Identity verification now requires multilayered, AI assisted fraud detection to keep pace with synthetic identities and digital impersonation. Teams are adopting: Automated ID analysis Behavioral and biometric checks Realtime anomaly detection Enhanced audit trails This shift reflects a broader industry reality: fraud prevention is now a core competency for notary teams. Deepfake Audio & Video Detection Becomes Essential The most significant security development heading into 2026 is the emergence of real-time deepfake detection within RON platforms. In October 2025, Secured Signing launched Realify, a breakthrough feature designed specifically to combat deepfake fraud during remote notarizations. By analyzing video and audio in real-time, this technology classifies sessions as Authentic, Suspicious, or Fake. For notary teams, this means: Continuous monitoring before, during, and after the session Detection of manipulated video feeds and synthetic voices Alerts that notify notaries of potential fraud Verifiable scans stored in the audit trail As Secured Signing noted, deepfake fraud “isn’t a future problem, it’s happening right now.” For notary teams, this means deepfake detection is no longer optional. It is becoming a compliance expectation and a competitive differentiator. Regulatory Standards Tighten States continue refining RON laws, with a growing emphasis on: Stronger identity proofing Secure audiovisual recording Technology standards for fraud detection Cross jurisdiction recognition rules As deepfake detection becomes more widely available, regulators and financial institutions increasingly view it as part of “reasonable security measures” for RON compliance. MobileFirst Notarization Expands Mobile optimized RON platforms are becoming more common, enabling signers to complete notarizations from smartphones and tablets with the same security standards as desktop sessions. This aligns with consumer expectations for convenience and accessibility. What This Means for Independent and Inhouse Notaries in 2026 To stay ahead of the curve, notaries must transition from “paper stampers” to “digital gatekeepers.” Here is your actionable checklist: Audit Your Tech Stack: Ensure your RON platform includes integrated, real-time fraud defense. Update Your Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Train staff to respond to AI-driven “Suspicious” alerts. Use Security as a Differentiator: Market your enhanced biometric security as a benefit to your clients. Prioritize Mobile Accessibility: Ensure your workflows are optimized for signers using smartphones and tablets. Stay Informed: Follow updates from the NNA and your local Secretary of State to remain compliant as state laws evolve. The notary of 2026 is defined not just by a stamp or a signature, but by their ability to operate confidently in a digital, AI accelerated, fraud resilient environment. Biometric Identity Verification (IDV): The New Gold Standard for Trust Identity verification is undergoing its most significant upgrade in decades. As digital fraud grows more sophisticated, the industry has moved beyond traditional document checks toward biometric-anchored identity proofing. This shift ensures that notaries authenticate not just what a signer possesses (an ID card), but who they actually are. Why Biometric IDV is Essential in 2026: Biometric IDV verifies identity using inherent human characteristics, making it nearly impossible for fraudsters to bypass via synthetic media. Key developments now embedded in modern RON platforms include: Facial Biometrics & Liveness Cues: AI analyzes facial geometry and micro-expressions in real-time to ensure the person on camera matches the government-issued ID. Behavioral Biometrics: Systems monitor ”human-only” markers, such as natural head movement, blink rates, and reaction timing, to distinguish a live human from a high-resolution deepfake or a pre-recorded injection. By embracing deepfake detection, real-time biometric standards, and AI-driven fraud prevention, you are doing more than just maintaining compliance - you are building a fraud-resilient future. These capabilities are no longer theoretical and are now embedded directly into RON platforms.
Will AI Replace Notaries Posted on February 20, 2026 - 11:24 am by Lianca Why Human Judgment Wins Every Time In an era where AI can draft complex contracts in seconds and generate hyper-realistic deepfakes, the question is no longer if technology will change the notarial profession, but whether the “human in the loop” is becoming obsolete. The short answer: Yes – now more than ever, the human notary is indispensable. Why? Because as the tools to commit fraud become more automated, the “human touch” becomes the only remaining defense that cannot be hacked. While AI is fundamentally transforming the Remote Online Notarization (RON) and eSignature landscape, it isn’t here to take your seat at the digital table. Instead, it is arming you with “digital superpowers” to catch sophisticated fraud that the human eye simply cannot see. Will AI Replace the Way Your Documents are Signed? A common concern for businesses is whether AI will eventually automate the entire signing process, removing the need for human intent. While AI can certainly facilitate a signature, it cannot replace the legal integrity of a digital signature. eSignatures vs. Digital Signatures: The AI Factor Traditional eSignatures (an image of a signature or a typed name) are being upgraded by AI to detect forgery by analyzing the speed, pressure, and stroke patterns of a signer. However, AI cannot “sign” for you because a signature is a legal expression of consent. Secured Signing’s digital signatures go beyond basic eSignatures by using PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) to give you a seamless, secure, and truly tamper-proof experience. Our platform creates a trusted digital chain that verifies every sender, every signer, and every document. The AI Role: Automates document pre-filling, tags signature fields, and flags anomalies. The Human Role: Provides the final authorization and assumes legal responsibility for the agreement. AI: The Ultimate Assistant, Not the Boss Think of AI as a high-speed digital clerk. It excels at the “grunt work” that used to slow down the signing process. Automation of Routine Tasks: AI can instantly scan hundreds of pages to flag missing signatures or extract specific legal clauses. Predictive Workflows: Platforms now use AI to analyze past behavior and predict where a document might get “stuck,” ensuring a smoother journey for the signer. Real-Time Accuracy: AI doesn’t get tired. It can cross-reference 16,000+ types of global IDs in seconds, ensuring the document presented is legitimate before the notary even says “hello.” The Identity Gap: Why Code Can’t Replace Credit Secured Signing’s ID Verification uses advanced artificial intelligence and biometric face-matching technology to automatically validate ID documents and confidently confirm the signer’s true identity and authenticity. This multi-layered approach serves as your best defense for robust fraud prevention, moving beyond simple document checks to a comprehensive verification of the person behind the screen. As synthetic identity fraud is projected to cause $23 billion in losses by 2030, this technology is evolving to catch what the human eye might miss: Biometric Matching: Comparing the live video feed to a government-issued ID with mathematical precision to ensure the face matches the photo. Audio-Visual Analysis: Detecting “voice inconsistencies” that suggest a digital voice changer or AI-generated audio is being used. How Secured Signing Leads the Way: The Realify Advantage Secured Signing doesn’t just use basic AI; it integrates Realify, an advanced deepfake detection tool. While a human might struggle to spot a sophisticated digital mask or a high-quality “spoof,” Realify analyses facial movements and vocal characteristics in real-time. This ensures the person you see is a “live” human being, not a synthetic generation. Why Humans Remain Irreplaceable If AI is so good at security, why do we still need a notary? Because notarization is a legal act of judgment, not just a technical check. Human Judgment vs. Machine Logic Feature AI Capability Human Notary Necessity Detecting Coercion Can analyze micro-expressions, but lacks “gut feeling.” Can sense if someone off-camera is forcing the signer to act. Verifying Capacity Can confirm a person is awake/present. Can judge if the signer truly understands the legal weight of the deed. Legal Accountability Cannot be sued or held liable in court. A commissioned official who stands behind the legality of the act. Complex Ethics Operates on binary “Yes/No” logic. Navigates the “gray areas” of high-stakes wills and real estate deals. The Bottom Line: AI can tell you if an ID is real; only a Notary can tell you if the intent is real. AI isn’t taking your job; it’s taking the risk out of your job. By filtering out fraud and automating compliance, platforms like Secured Signing allow notaries to focus on what they do best: providing the human trust that the legal system demands every time a notary uses their stamp. As security matures, the proof that the person behind the screen is who they say they are will only get stronger. This doesn’t make the notary obsolete; it makes their seal of approval more valuable than ever.
eSignature Solutions for Law Firms Posted on February 18, 2026 - 10:39 am by Lianca The legal industry has reached a digital tipping point. To stay competitive, firms are increasingly moving away from paper-based systems in favour tech-driven workflows where efficiency and security are top of mind. Modern firms are trading cumbersome paper trails for Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES). More than just a digital ink-on-page, these solutions provide the robust cryptographic framework required to ensure document integrity, enforce compliance, and protect the firm’s most valuable asset: its reputation. Why Law Firms are Moving to eSignatures eSignatures have become highly popular for law firms, and the benefits of going digital speak for themselves: Accelerated Workflows: Eliminate the 48-hour “print-sign-mail” cycle. Documents can be executed in minutes, not days. Reduced Administrative Risk: Digital platforms ensure no field is left blank. Say goodbye to missing matter numbers or forgotten initials. More accessible: Being able to sign from anywhere, at any time, on any device, is arguably one of the best perks for both lawyers and clients. Unmatched Security: Standard ink can be forged; digital signatures use encryption and detailed audit trails to ensure document integrity. Built-in compliance: Platforms like Secured Signing keep your documents legal by meeting all major industry regulations, so you can feel confident knowing your work is compliant. Why Law Firms are choosing Secured Signing As AI becomes more sophisticated the threat of deepfake impersonation is no longer theoretical—it is a direct risk to the integrity of legal transactions. When an identity is spoofed, the resulting signature is fraudulent, potentially voiding high-stakes agreements and exposing your firm to massive liability. Protecting your firm requires moving beyond basic email verification. It requires a strategy that links identity to the signing event in real-time. This is why the Secured Signing digital signature platform introduced Realify™, an industry-first defense against AI-driven fraud. How Realify™ Protects Your Firm: Realify™ provides a real-time AI security layer integrated directly into Secured Signing video signing and Remote Online Notarization (RON) meetings. Biometric & Liveness Detection: Realify™ analyzes the signer’s video and audio in real-time, scanning for the subtle inconsistencies that betray an AI-generated deepfake. Instant Risk Scoring: During a session, the host or notary receives an immediate classification—Authentic, Suspicious, or Fake—allowing them to halt a fraudulent transaction before it’s executed. Permanent Evidence: Results are embedded into the document’s audit trail, providing superior non-repudiation and court-ready evidence. Deep Dive: We have published a detailed blog on Tools to Protect Against Deepfake Impersonation, which breaks down the specific biometric and cryptographic tools available to help your firm stay ahead of bad actors. What Law Firms Must Demand in a Signature Solution Choosing a esignature provider is a matter of professional due diligence. To ensure a solution is “court-ready” and operationally sound, firms should prioritize the following four pillars, all of which are core to the Secured Signing digital signature platform: Cryptographic Integrity & Audit Trails: Look beyond a simple image of a signature. Unlike “simple” eSignatures that just overlay a picture on a PDF, the Secured Signing platform utilizes Personalized X509 PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) technology. This ensures every signature is cryptographically bound to the document. The Result: Any subsequent alteration to the document instantly invalidates the signature, providing a tamper-evident seal that is supported by a comprehensive, time-stamped audit trail. Global Regulatory Compliance: Ensure the platform meets or exceeds the standards of the eIDAS (EU/UK), ESIGN Act (US), or local equivalents. This ensures the legal validity of your documents across jurisdictions. Ecosystem Integration: The solution should not be a silo. The Secured Signing digital signature platform offers seamless, native integration with leading case management systems like Clio, NetDocuments and soon iManage and more. The Benefit: By initiating and managing signings directly from within your existing legal ecosystem, you keep your workflows automated, minimize manual data entry, and ensure all signed documents are automatically filed back to the correct matter. Complex Multi-Party Workflows: Legal documents often require specific signing orders, witness requirements, and notary interventions. Secured Signing was built specifically to handle these sophisticated requirements. Witnessing & Notarization: The platform supports Remote Online Notarization (RON) and automated witnessing workflows, where the witness is invited only after the primary party has signed. Sequential Signing: You can define a strict “signing ceremony” order, ensuring that documents move from partner to client to witness in a logical, automated sequence Ultimately, digital signatures are about more than just replacing the pen. They are a defensive shield for your firm’s reputation and a strategic tool to reclaim hours of billable time every week. By choosing the Secured Signing digital signature platform, you aren’t just adopting a new tool; you are future-proofing your practice against the risks of the digital age.
The Benefits of Secured Signing’s Video Confirmation and ID Verification Posted on January 6, 2026 - 10:13 am by John Webster As businesses rapidly migrate toward fully digital ecosystems, the necessity for robust security measures has never been more critical. While digital signatures streamline operations, they introduce a high-stakes challenge: How do you know the person behind the screen is truly who they say they are? Consequently, remote identity verification solutions, specifically Secured Signing’s Video Confirmation combined with Identity Document Verification (IDV) – are emerging as the gold standard for establishing trust in a virtual world. Why are traditional verification methods falling short? For decades, identity verification relied on physical presence. However, in today’s fast-paced economy, these traditional processes have become significant bottlenecks. Manual methods, such as in-person document checks or mailing certified copies, can take days or even weeks to finalize. Furthermore, these legacy systems are surprisingly vulnerable. Physical documents can be forged, and manual checks are often susceptible to human error. In addition to these security risks, the operational costs of manual processing – printing, courier fees, and administrative hours – can skyrocket. Therefore, businesses are urgently seeking a solution that balances speed with uncompromised security. How does Secured Signing bridge the gap? Remote identity verification solutions offer a sophisticated alternative to the outdated “scan and email” method. Specifically, this technology allows businesses to verify a client’s identity in real-time using Advanced Biometric Facial Matching. Our AI-powered Identity Verification (IDV) solution sets a new standard for security and trust, which is essential for high-stakes digital transactions such as Online Notarization, eWills, Power of Attorney (POA), and remote witnessing. By leveraging advanced facial recognition and liveness detection, the system analyzes the user’s facial biometrics to ensure they are physically present. What makes this security framework different? Unlike traditional methods, Secured Signing surpasses basic checks by combining biometric matching with real-time deepfake detection. This ensures that the person behind the screen isn’t using a static photo or a sophisticated AI-generated mask, delivering a truly reliable and tamper-proof identity check. Is there an extra layer of protection? To provide the strongest possible defense against fraud, our multi-layered framework includes Geolocation tracking to authenticate the user’s physical location at the moment of signing. Where is this evidence stored? For full transparency and compliance, all critical data, including the biometric match results, deepfake analysis, and geolocation – is automatically saved into a comprehensive Audit Log and Signing Certificate. This creates an immutable record that satisfies even the strictest regulatory requirements. What does this look like in the real world? To understand the relevance of this technology, let’s look at a practical scenario involving a Remote Mortgage Application. The Scenario: Sarah, a loan officer, has a client, Marcus, who lives in a different city. Marcus needs to sign urgent loan documents to lock in a volatile interest rate, but he cannot visit a branch in person. The Old Way: Sarah would email the documents. Marcus would have to find a Notary Public to verify his ID, sign the papers, and courier them back. This process takes 3–5 days, often resulting in the rate lock expiring and the deal falling through. The Secured Signing Way: Sarah sends the agreement via Secured Signing with Video Confirmation and IDV enabled. Instant Notification: Marcus opens the link on his smartphone. Liveness Check: He records a short video snippet, speaking a unique passcode shown on screen. Biometric ID Scan: He captures a photo of his driver’s license. The AI instantly compares the ID photo to his live video. Instant Completion: Marcus digitally signs. The Result: The entire process takes 10 minutes. Sarah receives a tamper-proof package including the signed contract, the video recording, and a comprehensive ID verification report. What are the core benefits for your organization? Adopting this technology does more than just speed up a single workflow; it transforms your risk management profile. Can we improve compliance? Absolutely. Secured Signing’s platform is designed to help businesses meet strict regulatory frameworks. Specifically, it supports adherence to Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations by creating an immutable audit trail that proves you verified the signer’s identity with due diligence. Is it faster than current methods? Undoubtedly. By removing the physical barriers to verification, you can reduce your “Time to Signature” from days to minutes. This efficiency not only improves operational flow but significantly boosts the customer experience. Is the security truly “Un-fakeable”? Yes. Unlike a static signature, the combination of biometrics and liveness detection ensures the signer is a living, breathing person. This drastically reduces the risk of identity theft and “non-repudiation” (where a signer later claims they weren’t the one who signed). Is it cost-effective for my budget? Surprisingly, yes. Adding Video Confirmation to an outbound agreement adds no additional cost to the transaction. While the advanced IDV carries a nominal fee, it is far lower than the cost of manual processing, couriers, or the potential cost of a fraudulent transaction. Ready to secure your digital future? As the digital landscape evolves, “good enough” security is no longer an option. By leveraging real-time video and biometric verification, your business can move forward with the confidence that every signature is authentic, every document is secure, and every client is exactly who they say they are.
How Secured Signing Is Making Online Signing Safer Posted on December 11, 2025 - 10:09 am by Lianca Stop Deepfakes and Fake IDs with Secured Signing Technology is accelerating at breakneck speed, consequently, criminals are racing right alongside it. Armed with advanced AI, today’s fraudsters can fabricate hyper‑realistic photos, clone voices, and generate deepfake videos so convincing they blur the line between truth and deception. As a result, Identity verification has become a high‑stakes battleground. Across nearly every industries, businesses, notaries, and professionals are confronting a new wave of AI‑driven identity attacks. Furthermore, these threats slip past traditional security measures with alarming ease, striking at every critical moment: opening new accounts, authorizing high‑value transactions, and even during everyday re‑authentication. Ultimately, the old defenses simply aren’t enough anymore. Why AI Fraud Is ExplodingCheap, easy-to-access Generative AI tools has empowered criminals to create incredibly realistic fake identities at a global scale. This isn’t a future threat – it’s a current, accelerating crisis.The numbers prove the severity of the problem:85% of identity fraud cases now involve generative AI tools.More than 1 in 3 fraudulent attacks in 2024 involved Gen AI – up sharply from less than 1 in 5 in 2023.The projected cost of Gen AI–enabled fraud in the U.S. alone could reach $40 Billion by 2027, a more than triple increase from 2023.Attacks like these can happen at any stage of your workflow:Opening new accountsRemote notarizationHigh-value transactionsDigital forms and agreements Fraud is no longer simple. It’s smart, fast, and global. Your security needs to be smarter too. Introducing the Ultimate Deepfake Disrupter Secured Signing ID Verification with Biometric Facial Matching To stay ahead, you need a defense that is faster, smarter, and more accurate than the fraud itself. Recognizing this need, we are proud to deliver that solution. Specifically, Secured Signing has partnered with LexisNexis® technology to provide a cutting-edge document verification and biometric liveness and face match solution. Through this collaboration, you can confidently approve trusted transactions while simultaneously detecting deepfakes and forged documents. In essence, this technology is your new frontline defense: By leveraging state-of-the-art, proprietary AI models and a deep neural network, our solution delivers fully automated authentication of ID documents and verification of ID holders’ identities in a matter of seconds. A New Layer of Security and Experience Our updated ID Verification features a new look and feels for a seamless signing experience, plus a critical fraud prevention boost: Enhanced Biometric Security: Combining deep document analysis with biometric facial matching for the most robust defense. Geolocation Capture: We now capture the Geolocation of your signers to confirm their physical location, adding an essential layer of fraud prevention. Security Meets Simplicity: Key Benefits You no longer have to choose between robust security and a great user experience. Secured Signing delivers both: Enhanced Biometric Security: Combining deep document analysis with biometric facial matching provides the most robust defense against evolving fraud tactics. Global ID Coverage: Verify over 16,000 identity documents across 220+ countries and territories. Go global with confidence. Credential Analysis: Up to 300 security checks are conducted on every document, ensuring deep, thorough scrutiny. Multi-Language Capability: Support for 140+ languages, capable of reading and extracting Information from 99.7% of printed government IDs. These core changes focus on making the signer experience even easier and more secure – from capturing their ID to taking the selfie for biometric face matching. We handle the complexity, so your staff and clients experience only simplicity. Confidence for the Future This solution is Secure. Accurate. Scalable. Confidently Detect Fraud: Stay ahead of evolving schemes with a highly adaptable, self-learning technology. Remain Compliant: Adhere to stringent privacy, security, and AML/KYC regulations with ease. Reduce Costs: Boost efficiency and profitability from the start with a fully automated solution. Click here to learn more about the improved Secured Signing ID Verification and start shutting down deepfakes today! Secured Signing ID Verification
Court Case showcases Digital Signing’s shortfalls but there is a Solution Posted on September 2, 2020 - 6:55 am by John Webster Digital Signing adoption across the world is rowing with Government Regulations being adapted to allow a huge range of documents to be Digitally Signed. Getting documents signed digitally is not without risks however and if you use the wrong provider or software solution toget your serious documents signed you could find yourself in trouble in the future. One recent court case in Australia involving a business lender who was using DocuSign and it perfectly highlights the possible repercussions if incorrect signing processes are followed or the wrong software selected. Read on for details of the case plus how they could have avoided the issue in the first place. Marketlend Pty Ltd v Blackburn [2020] NSWDC 358 The business lender Marketlend advanced credit of $600,000AUD to a company called Blackburn, run by a husband and wife. Using their standard digital signing process and DocuSign software the loan documents including personal guarantees were sent for signing to both the husband and wife who both signed digitally. Blackburn later went into liquidation and were unable to make any significant repayments to Marketlend, with the debt growing to over $700,000. A court case ensued. Marketlend felt they had a viable case – relying upon the wife’s personal guarantee as proof of initializing the loan agreement. According to the wife, they were separated at the time of the loan agreement and the wife denied signing anything or being liable for the $700,000. Although Marketlend had a digitally signed document by both parties, it was later found that the husband had access to both her company email and DocuSign account, and signed the documents on her behalf. Utilizing information saved by the e-signing company and mobile telephone location evidence – the court corroborated the wife’s stance, which in turn meant the loan agreement was not legally binding. In this case, the lack of signer authentication and identity verification throughout the business loan signing process was Marketlends downfall. So, what could they have done differently to ensure the identities of Blackburn’s signee’s were correctly verified, and that the digital documents were executed in a way to protect from forgery? How to Avoid this Issue by Verifying Who is Signing a Digital Document There are a number of different techniques Marketlend could of utilised to verify the documents were digitally signed bythe right person – if they were using software which offered those features such as Secured Signing. Along with email verification and document passwords, Secured Signing offers two additional options to verify the identityof who is signing: SMS Verification As this case showed, company email addresses are not 100% secure and although email verification and password protecting documents is a good start – including a mobile verification step takes verifying who is signing to the next level, after all it’s not often people are without their phone. Secured Signing’s SMS Verification feature sends an SMS code to the signee’s mobile phone which is used to access the document before signing can take place. Video Confirmation Having both email and SMS verification add a layer of protection during the initial phase of digitally signing a document, but access to both can still be compromised. For the ultimate protection, Secured Signing have created a feature called Video Confirmation which can verify & prove who signed a document easily in the future. With a simple tick of a box when signing documents – signees must record a 10-second video of themselves performing a specific random gesture during the signing process. The recording is easy for the signee to complete and can be done on any device so adds no friction to the signing process. Watch the full Video Confirmation demo video here! The completed video recording then attaches automatically to the signed document and can be accessed at the time to verify the identity of the signee and in the future as long-term evidence that proves exactly who digitally signed the document. Had Marketlend been using Secured Signing’s Video Confirmation feature they would have quickly seen it was not the wife signing the document and never would have advanced the $700,000 avoiding this issue completely. Worried about your own digital signing solution or digital signing in general? If you’re getting serious documents signed, successfully verifying a signee’s identity is an important step in the digital signing process and ensures a digitally executed document can be upheld in court, or in general business proceedings. Secured Signing are the only digital signing platform offering the Video Confirmation feature and it’s actually just one of the many features we have available to ensure non-repudiation of contracts. If after seeing this court case you are worried about your current digital signing solution and are serious about safeguarding your business, signatures and documents, get in touch today and we’ll work with you to ensure your company is protected.
Video Confirmation: The Gold Standard for Identity Proof Posted on July 25, 2019 - 2:37 am by John Webster If you’re using digital signatures in your business, do you know who’s really signing your documents? Now, more and more businesses just like yours are turning to video confirmation to make sure the signer is who they say they are. Verifying digital signatures with Video Confirmation It’s never been easier to sign documents online. But, it’s not always simple to identify the signatories. Paul Bains is a U.S bankruptcy attorney. He used electronic signatures for clients bankruptcy petitions; however, the court rejected his petitions. There was no way to authenticate the identity of the signers – the signatures could easily have been forged, according to the ruling. This is the kind of dispute your business wants to avoid. Companies are using video confirmation to make sure their agreements signing process has appropriate evidence and will stand up in court. Video confirmation is one of the only electronic signing methods vetted by the United Kingdom Law Commission. How does video confirmation work? With video conformation, your customer performs gestures specific to that document, creating a video of themselves that cannot be reasonably challenged. How to use video confirmation with Secured Signing: Turn on video confirmation in Settings 2. Prepare your document 3. Enable the video confirmation option on the Invitation Workflow screen The process for the signee is simple and takes just a few seconds. It’s the same as the usual workflow, just with the addition of video: A popup appears on the screen with clear instructions for the signer. Your customer may be prompted to grant the web browser software access to the device’s camera. The instructions for which gestures to perform will appear as an overlay on the video recording. (On mobile devices, the instructions will be given before recording.) Once the video confirmation is complete, you will receive a copy of the signed document. It contains data on the gestures the signer needed to perform and the location and password of the video. Look at https://player.vimeo.com/video/222296536 to check out how it is works Once the document has been signed you can watch the video and compare signer’s identity against other forms of identification you have on file. Video confirmation is growing because it’s easy and impossible to dispute: Identity confirmation is fast and tamper-proof Access to the video link is secured by the PKI-based digital signature. Gesture requirements are specific to document being signed All signing and video actions are captured in the audit trail It is free, no extra cost Your business can combine video confirmation with other steps to secure the signing process. Secured Signing offers two factor authentication. for document access, the signee enters a pin sent to their mobile phone. These controls work with the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) protocol, the only proven technology to prevent forgeries. The final document contains details – including an audit trail and the origin of the signature – that prove identity. Video confirmation in action The financial services industry is one of the biggest users of digital signatures. Video confirmation provides new levels of security and authentication for finance companies. Typically, someone applying for a loan must travel to a branch to complete paperwork. It’s a cumbersome process that puts potential customers off. Now imagine this scenario: the lender can verify their identity from wherever they are, using video confirmation and their mobile device. Once verified, the funds are dispersed. Protect your business with Video Confirmation In the digital world, keeping pace with technology will help you gain customers, increase your competitiveness and reduce churn. Access simple digital signatures with Secured Signing. You have peace of mind, without compromising your customers or the validity of your business agreements. It’s easier than ever to sign online. Start using video confirmation today to make sure it’s safe, too.
Scanned signatures are a risk. Switch to Secured Signing Posted on August 30, 2017 - 5:12 pm by John Webster Tim Osborn, of Osborn Law, wrote recently in the Newcastle Herald about a court case that highlights the risks in relying on scanned signatures as a form of signing. It’s a reminder that if you need to sign, then you should sign with a tamper-proof digital signature that is unique to you and your document.Nothing else is worth the risk.The Legal Pitfall of “Paste-and-Click” SignaturesIn the case in question, an electronic image of the signature was readily accessible on the corporate network. The court held that documents signed by simply pasting the image into a document were not legally binding.It was not possible to demonstrate that the owner of the signature had personally applied their signature to the document or given their explicit consent to do so. The result was a loss of business and a costly court case—a disaster that could have been avoided by using a digital signature service like Secured Signing.Why Secured Signing is Superior to Scanned ImagesSigning a document using Secured Signing is a simple “click-to-sign” process that differs from scanned signatures in several critical ways.1. Automated Audit Logs and Record KeepingSecured Signing gives you an automated log of every action performed in the signing process. This is one of the key pieces of advice Mr. Osborn gives in his article: Good quality record keeping is invaluable. It demonstrates that a signed document is evidence of a legally binding agreement.By automating this log, your team doesn’t have to waste time keeping manual records of who did what and when.2. Robust Identity ValidationA key problem in the referenced court case was the inability to prove who actually applied the signature image. Secured Signing solves this by creating unique credentials for each signer that only they can access.For even higher stakes, you can add video confirmation to the process. This captures a brief recording of the person during the act of signing, creating a document that cannot be reasonably challenged.3. The Power of PKI-Based SecurityUnlike a mere graphical representation of a name, PKI-based digital signatures provide sophisticated methods to “seal” the document. This creates an irrevocable, unforgeable, and non-transferable link between the signer and the document, ensuring it is tamper-proof.Protect Your Business TodayInviting people to sign your documents with Secured Signing is quick, simple, inexpensive, and significantly reduces your legal risk.Help us spread the word. Share this with your friends and colleagues so they can enjoy the benefits of secure digital signatures. They can start signing online today with one of our Freeway evaluation accounts.
Know Your Customer (KYC) with Video Confirmation and Secured Signing Posted on August 8, 2017 - 1:13 am by John Webster It seems obvious but it bears repeating. Being absolutely clear on who is signing your document, not only makes good business sense, it is also a compliance requirement for many industries. Adding video confirmation to Secured Signing’s usual signing process ensures there can be no doubt about who signed your document. Even if your business is not subject to anti money laundering and counter terrorism financing (AML/CTF) legislation, robust customer due diligence practices will give you a competitive advantage, limit your exposure to the risk of loss and protect your business from damage to its reputation. It’s also just plain good sense. If there is ever a dispute, being able to simply and clearly demonstrate who signed your document will ensure you are best placed to recover monies owed or the return of equipment hired or leased. It is not just banks and other lenders that need to comply with the customer due diligence requirements of AML/CTF legislation. A recent mutual evaluation of Australia’s AML/CTF frameworks gave an overall pass mark, but highlighted key areas of concern. Research by AUSTRAC, the Australian government’s financial intelligence agency, indicates the outcomes around customer due diligence (CDD) vary from very high confidence to closer to 50% confidence in customer identity. This is an area that needs to improve as AUSTRAC rightly identifies that knowing your customer is “the cornerstone of an effective AML/CTF regime.” It is not surprising that regulatory reform proposals recommend both more explicit CDD requirements and the application of CDD requirements to a broader range of industries. Secured Signing’s video confirmation capability is a simple yet powerful tool to demonstrate you know exactly who is signing your documents. Customers expect to be able to transact business with you online. Inviting your customers to sign documents online with Secured Signing gives you the capability to meet this expectation of customer convenience while enjoying the security, authenticity and reliability that only tamper proof digital signatures can provide. Adding a video confirmation to your online signing process gives you complete confidence you know who you are dealing with and in particular who signed your agreement. When you ask customers to use video confirmation in the signing process, they are prompted to record a short video before they sign the document. The whole process takes no more than 10 seconds. The video records a specific gesture which is recorded in the Secured Signing document log and the video’s secure location is appended to the document and sealed with the PKI digital signature, ensuring the details cannot be modified without invalidating the signature. If your non face to face transactions don’t give you this degree of confidence in knowing who your customer is, it is time to closely evaluate the benefits Secured Signing can give you. The best first step is to open a free evaluation account and try video confirmation of signing yourself. Secured Signing’s website provides a lot more detail on how video confirmation works to deliver unquestionable confirmation of signer’s identity. As always, if you have specific questions, please get in touch and someone will contact you personally.
Video Confirmation of Identity a must have for financial services teams adopting eSignatures Posted on June 6, 2017 - 12:00 am by John Webster Financial services companies must know who is signing their documents. If there is any doubt that the correct person has signed the loan, agreement, authority to proceed, or whatever the document may be, the business leaves itself open to fraud, is exposed to unnecessary risk and faces the possibility of loss, not to mention becoming non-compliant with ‘Know Your Customer’ legislative requirements. Secured Signing provides the most robust verification of signer identity with the world first use of video confirmation as part of the signing process.Online signing by its nature provides much stronger confirmation of who is signing your documents than simply sending documents by post or email and taking it on faith they have been signed by the correct person. The addition of video recording of the signer, in a way that is uniquely and irrevocably tied to the document being signed, provides a degree of confidence in signer identity that cannot be reasonably challenged. It is a genuinely innovative approach that provides a degree of confidence in identity that is unmatched by any other signing method. It builds on the already robust authenticity of the underlying PKI Based digital signatures used by Secured Signing and existing additional identity verification tools such as two factor authentication and identity document searches.Let’s drill into how the process works to really appreciate how robust and reliable this new approach is.Video confirmation is quick and simple for the signer. They are asked to activate the camera on their device and record themselves performing specific gestures. It takes less than 10 seconds. The required gestures are specific to the document being signed, recorded in the document log and are analysed in real time. The nature of the verification and the changing requirements make it impossible to pass the verification using an image or pre-recorded video. Video confirmation provides much stronger confirmation of identity than static biometric verification such as facial or fingerprint recognition.The confirmation video is retained in a secure, encrypted repository. The signed document contains both a reference to the location of the video confirmation and the password required to access it. The tamper proof mechanisms inherent in PKI based digital signatures means neither the reference nor the password can be modified, without invalidating the signature. All documents signed with Secured Signing can be verified independently to confirm the document content is unchanged. Video confirmation enhances the inherent security and authenticity of PKI based digital signatures with the recorded video of the person signing the document.Video confirmation is available to all Secured Signing customers now. Once enabled in My Settings, the option to require a signer to provide video confirmation is available on the signing workflow screen. You can try Secured Signing, including video confirmation of identity for free. Register for your account now.‘Til next timeCheers, John