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We see many different terms when it comes to electronic signatures. It is easy for anyone new to this area to feel confused, not just about what an electronic signature is, but also about how it works in practice and how much legal protection it actually offers.
Whether you are onboarding a new employee, approving an internal document, or signing a contract with a client or partner, it is crucial to know what type of electronic signature you are using and how secure it is.
Because picking the wrong type of electronic signature can bring serious consequences for your business.
In this article, we’ll cover the three types of electronic signatures defined under EU law: simple, advanced, and qualified. We’ll also explain what sets each one apart and how to choose the right one for your business.
Key takeaways:
- The EU eIDAS Regulation defines three levels of electronic signature: Simple (SES), Advanced (AES), and Qualified (QES). Each offers a different level of security and legal standing.
- SES doesn’t confirm who signed the document, so it works well for low-risk, informal agreements.
- AES proves who signed and detects any changes made afterwards, making it suitable for mid-level contracts that need stronger proof of identity.
- QES is the only signature with the same legal weight as a handwritten one across the EU, used for high-stakes or regulated transactions.
- Veriffy supports all three levels as a qualified trust service provider, helping businesses match every document to the right level of protection.
What is an Electronic Signature?
According to the European Commission, an electronic signature is an electronic indication of a person’s intent to agree to the content of a document or a set of data to which the signature relates. As more industries move their operations online, this type of signing has become an essential part of everyday business, helping processes move faster while maintaining both security and legal validity.
The European Union’s (EU) 2014 eIDAS Regulation classifies electronic signatures into three levels: simple, advanced, and qualified. Each level carries a different degree of security, trust, and legal strength, which we will explore in the sections below.
Simple Electronic Signatures (SES)
Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) are the most basic form of electronic signature. It shows that someone agreed to something. But it does not prove who that someone really was, or that they meant to sign. That is why SES is considered the weakest type of electronic signature.
SES in Practice:
- Clicking the “I Agree” or “Accept” button.
- Logging in using a username and password.
- Inserting a scanned image of a handwritten signature.
- Drawing your signature with a mouse or touchscreen.
Using SES in business:
- Internal communication: approving vacation or travel requests, acknowledging company policies, or confirming internal announcements.
- Low-risk agreements: low-value purchase orders, expense approvals, service confirmations, invoices.
- Everyday approvals and consents: newsletter sign-ups, accepting website terms and conditions, delivery confirmations, event registrations.
Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES)
Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES) offer a higher level of security than SES. It proves who signed the document and detects any changes made after signing.
AES in Practice. AES usually relies on a digital certificate and a private key. Before signing, the signer’s identity is checked, often through an SMS code, a video call, or an official ID document. This link between the signer and the signature is what makes AES stronger than SES.
A signature only counts as advanced if it meets these four conditions:
- The signature is uniquely linked to the signer.
- It can identify the signer.
- Only the signer can control the data used to create it.
- Any changes made after signing can be detected, since the signature stays linked to the document.
AES in Business:
- Financial agreements: loan and consumer credit agreements.
- Business contracts: B2B agreements, vendor onboarding, or procurement contracts.
- Confidential and IP documents: NDAs involving sensitive information or intellectual property agreements.
- Cross-border transactions: commercial agreements between parties in different countries.
Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES)
Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) are the highest level of electronic signature that carries the same legal weight as a handwritten one across the EU.
A signature only counts as qualified if it meets these conditions:
- It must meet all four AES requirements outlined earlier.
- It is created using a qualified electronic signature creation device (QSCD).
- It is backed by a qualified certificate, issued by a qualified trust service provider (QTSP).
A Legal Advantage of QES for Business
QES also gives your business a practical legal advantage. Imagine a client later claims they never signed a contract. With QES, it is up to them to prove that. With SES or AES, it works the other way: your business has to prove that the signature is valid.
QES in Business:
- Banking and finance: loan agreements, mortgages, and regulated financial documents.
- HR: employment contracts, termination agreements, and confidentiality agreements.
- Public sector: government filings and legal or notarial acts.
- Real estate: property sales and land registry transactions.
- Cross-border agreements: contracts that need to be recognized as valid across every EU country.
Veriffy’s Perspective
Electronic signatures are not going away. If anything, businesses are going to depend on them even more. Too many still treat them as a simple, routine action, when in reality, it is a decision that builds a business’s long-term security, trust, and protection against risk. Being a qualified trust service provider for 15 years, we make sure businesses have the security and legal certainty behind every signature.
Arūnas MilašauskasCEO at Veriffy
What Makes Veriffy an Expert in Electronic Signatures?
Veriffy is a Qualified Trust Service Provider, officially listed on the EU Trusted List. Our electronic signature solutions comply with the European eIDAS framework and support different signature levels according to business and regulatory requirements.
Our expertise is built on 15 years of experience and confirmed by internationally recognized security and quality certifications.
Unlike many competitors who offer a single point solution, Veriffy provides a complete infrastructure covering the entire document lifecycle: sign, verify, manage, and archive.
Veriffy supports both on-premises and cloud deployment, an option few providers in this space offer, giving organizations control over where and how their data is handled.
Most important. Our team acts as consultants: for every business situation, we find a solution rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
