Preventing Costly Signing Mistakes

Key Discussion Points:

Ensuring the Signer’s Identity: “Signed” 

The first major pitfall discussed is the uncertainty surrounding who actually signed a document. Identity theft and unauthorized signing are significant risks, as highlighted by a case where a husband forged his wife’s signature to extend a mortgage. This underscores the need for robust identity verification in digital signing.

Document Tamper-Proofing: “Sealed” 

The second pitfall addresses the assumption that all e-signing platforms are secure and that documents remain unchanged after signing. The reality is that documents can be altered after being signed, rendering them invalid.

A secure platform ensures that once a document is signed, it is “sealed” with a digital mark. If any changes are made to the document after it has been signed, the seal is broken, and a clear indication will show that the document has been tampered with. This prevents unauthorized modifications and protects the integrity of the agreement.

Secure Document Storage: “Delivered” 

The third common pitfall is leaving signed documents in inboxes, which poses significant risks in terms of accessibility, security, and audit compliance.

The solution presented is to leverage integrations with popular document management systems (e.g., SharePoint, OneDrive, Dropbox, Content Manager). These integrations allow documents to be sent for signing directly from their storage location and then automatically returned and saved back into the same secure system once signed. This ensures:

• Centralized Storage: Documents are stored in secure, organized systems.

• Automated Workflow: Reduces manual effort and the risk of documents being misplaced.

• Enhanced Security: Protects sensitive information from unauthorized access and cyber threats.

• Audit Trails: Provides a complete and verifiable record of document handling.