Have you ever wondered who sets the standards that make electronic signatures work across borders? ETSI, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, plays a vital role in shaping the signature landscape, especially within the framework of the eIDAS Regulation.
ETSI is an independent, non-profit organization that brings together industry experts, academia, and government representatives to develop technical standards for various technologies, including information and communication technologies. These standards ensure interoperability, quality, and security, fostering innovation and growth in the European market.
ETSI's Role in eIDAS Compliance
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) lays down the groundwork for the technical methodologies needed for creating electronic signatures as classified by the eIDAS regulation: Simple, Advanced, and Qualified.
In addition to these signature types, ETSI also outlines specific requirements that Trust Service Providers must adhere to, ensuring a high level of security and reliability in digital transactions across the European Union.
ETSI categorizes electronic signatures into four distinct formats based on the document or data type being signed. Here's a brief overview of each format:
CAdES (CMS Advanced Electronic Signatures): Designed for cryptographic message syntax, CAdES is ideal for securing email communications and other messages requiring a high level of encryption and authentication.
XAdES (XML Advanced Electronic Signatures): Designed for XML documents, XAdES adds an additional layer of security to XML files, making it suitable for business and legal documents that are structured in XML format.
PAdES (PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures): Specifically developed for PDF documents, usually used for contracts and agreements.
JAdES (JSON Advanced Electronic Signatures): The newest addition, JAdES facilitates secure and verifiable signatures on web-based transactions and data exchanges formatted in JSON.
Additionally, ETSI defines technical profiles that describe how to employ electronic signatures in various scenarios, such as online agreements or digital transactions. These profiles ensure that electronic signatures are interoperable. It also verifies that trust service providers and their technologies comply with the established standards. This ensures that the services are safe and reliable, just as required by eIDAS.
Diving deeper into signature standards
ETSI boasts a robust catalog of signature standards, addressing various use cases and security levels:
ETSI TS 119 312 - Digital Signature Formats: This standard specifies the formats for advanced and qualified electronic signatures that ensure interoperability across the EU. It covers the technical requirements for signatures to be secure and recognized across member states.
ETSI EN 319 102-1 - Signature Creation and Validation: This standard provides guidelines for the creation and validation of electronic signatures.
ETSI EN 319 142 - Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI): This standard specifies the Baseline Profile for PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures (PAdES) that extends the ISO 32000-1 PDF specifications to enable advanced electronic signatures compliant with eIDAS in PDF documents.
For more detailed information on digital signatures and the technical standards developed by ETSI, visit their official page.
So, what should you remember about ETSI?
ETSI is the organization behind the technical requirements that make electronic signatures secure and effective across Europe and beyond. Their standards are designed to evolve, ensuring that as technology advances and security needs change, electronic signature practices remain trusted and secure.