In addition to your name and email address, a digital ID typically has a serial number, an expiration date, and the name of the company that provided it.
Two keys are included with digital IDs: the private key unlocks or decrypts data, while the public key locks or encrypts it.
To sign documents or encrypt PDFs using a certificate, you require a digital ID.
Digital IDs that are self-signed may be sufficient for individual use or small- to medium-sized enterprises.
A digital ID from a certificate authority, a reliable third-party supplier, is required for the majority of business transactions.
Regretfully, if you forget your password, there is no way to retrieve it or reset it.
An ID from a certificate authority is typically required for sensitive transactions between businesses instead of a self-signed one.
For PKCS #12 IDs, passwords and timeouts can be configured.
Notify the certificate authority right away and ask for the revocation of your certificate if your digital ID was issued by one.
A microprocessor chip included in a smart card stores your digital ID and resembles a credit card.
Comparably, you can store digital IDs and authentication information on a tiny, keychain-sized device called a security hardware token.
Now let’s see how to sign a PDF with a digital ID.
It will require you to do a few general procedures before you can digitally sign papers.
A digital certificate is the first requirement, which can be obtained through a self-sign service or from a certified source.
Without a certificate, it is not possible to add a digital signature to a PDF file.
Additionally, you’ll need to have access to an app that lets you sign papers digitally. This can be done with easy-to-use programs like Adobe Reader or Windows Microsoft Word.
Alternatively, a more feature-rich solution with sophisticated document management features might be what you wish to choose.
It is typically possible to customize the software, so you should become familiar with all the options and establish your preferences. For example, you can set a visual signature to appear at the bottom of a document every time you sign, in addition to your digital signature.
Launch Adobe Acrobat and open your document.
Navigate to the FORMS AND CERTIFICATES area by clicking the TOOLS tab and scrolling down. From the CERTIFICATES dropdown menu, choose OPEN.
Select DIGITAL SIGN from the newly displayed choices bar.
After making your choice of digital signature, click CONTINUE. Choose CONFIGURE NEW DIGITAL ID and adhere to the on-screen instructions if you haven’t already uploaded a digital signature certificate to Adobe Acrobat.
Choose SIGN after configuring the signature’s look.
Here’s how to add digital signatures to your documents if you use PandaDoc:
Open your PandaDoc account and log in. Choose an existing file from the DOCUMENTS tab on the right side of the screen, or upload a new PDF by choosing NEW DOCUMENT > UPLOAD.
Select the FIELDS tab under CONTENT. Move the SIGNATURE field to the appropriate location within the PDF.
To add your signature, double click on the new area and follow the on-screen instructions.
Using a specialized program makes it much simpler to add digital signatures to PDFs.
You can upload, store, and manage all of your PDF documents from a single, secure dashboard with a system like PandaDoc.
It merely takes a few clicks to add a recipient’s signature to a PDF, and all signed documents and recipient signatures are securely kept on our encrypted servers.
Any of our premium products are available for a free trial.
Additionally, we are the only company in the industry to provide limitless document uploads and free e-signatures with our forever-free electronic signature plan.