What is Digital Signature Certificate

· DIGITAL – It is Indicates electronic format and Encryption

· SIGNATURE – It Represents the unique authorization of digital signature

· CERTIFICATE – Represents a legal and validating credential for authorized user

Digital Signature Certificate(DSC) is a electronic and legally recognized equivalent of traditional signature. A digital signature is equivalent to a pen-and-paper signature but in a digital form. It uses a mathematical algorithm to encrypt your signature. Encryption is the unique identity of the person and the document on which they are signing. A digital signature guarantees that the owner is sharing the document and the content of the document was not altered in transit.

A cryptographic process runs in the background called hashing. This process creates a unique code called hash which represents the content of the document. This hash is then encrypted with your private key a kind of secret code to create your digital signature.

For example, a contract is signed digitally with a private key and shared with a partner. The recipient validates the signature using the sender’s public key. If the verification is successful, it confirms that the contract is genuine and untampered.

Once you have your DSC, you must use it according to the guidelines of The Information Technology Act of 2000.