Connective FAQ

The wide-ranging use of digital technologies such as mobile computing, cloud-based services and e-signatures have fundamentally changed the market dynamics in which companies operate. These advances have forced enterprises to produce results faster and easier. The latter requires removing all potential obstacles for their clients and personnel to do business.

Digital Transaction Management leverages these technologies enabling companies to manage and control the end-to-end process of creating, handling and singing any kind of agreement digitally. DTM removes the friction inherent in transactions that typically involve people, workflow, paperwork, document handling, data trails and signatures to create faster, easier, more convenient, compliant and secure processes.

An electronic signature, or e-signature is a legal concept. It is the electronic equivalent of a paper signature and thus has legal value. It captures a person’s intent to agree with the contents, terms and conditions as specified in the (electronic) document, contract or other record it is attached to.

A digital signature is a cryptography-based technology. An electronic signature created by means of digital signature technology is the electronic equivalent of a notarized paper signature. Digital signatures use the standards and procedures of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to sign electronic data with a cryptographic key.

A digital signature guarantees the integrity of the document it signs. The contents of the message cannot be modified or tampered with, without breaking the validity of the digital signature. However a digital signature does not always guarantee the authentication of the sender. Only when a qualified certificate links the signature to a person, is the identity of that person legally confirmed. These qualified certificates must be provided by a recognized certificate authority or generated by a secure signature creation device (such as an eID).

The European legislation that regulates e-signatures recognizes these differences concerning digital signatures. When qualified certificates are added, these digital signatures provide non-repudiation and thus their juridical value is guaranteed by law and does not require a court ruling. See also “Are Connective’s electronic signatures legal in Europe?”

Electronic signatures are legal and recognized as valid in Regulation No 910/2014, known as eIDAS, which entered into force throughout Europe last July 1, 2016. The eIDAS is directly applicable in all member states by the fact that it is a regulation, and not a directive.

Based on the analysis of DLA Piper in June 2020, if it is properly configured, Connective eSignatures allows the creation of electronic signatures within the meaning of Article 3(10) of the eIDAS Regulation and even, depending on the signature method chosen by the customer or user, certain advanced and qualified electronic signatures (within the meaning of Articles 3(11) and 3(12) of the eIDAS Regulation). Connective has also included in Connective eSignatures means guaranteeing the long-term validity of these electronic signatures, namely an integration with third-party electronic time-stamping officially recognised certificate authorities (CAs).In this context, and with proper configuration, Connective eSignatures as an electronic signature solution allows the management of a signing process that complies with the requirements for all kinds of electronic signatures foreseen under the eIDAS Regulation.

With its breadth of signing methods supported, Connective eSignatures allows the initiator of
the signing process to choose the settings that are most appropriate to the electronic document in question and the intended legal consequences. With this properly done, law firm DLA Piper concludes after a thorough assessement and with a high level of confidence that Connective eSignatures is a tool that, in conjunction with appropriate and legally compliant processes,
allows the production of electronic signatures and records with respect to certain transactions, each as defined in the U.S. eCommerce Laws.

We support both Microsoft Windows (XP, 7, 8 and 10) and Mac OS X (El Capitan & Yosemite). Additionally our Connective eSignatures solution has a responsive design and works also on the Apple iPad and Android based tablets. Our dedicated apps support both iOS and Android devices

On Windows:

Internet Explorer
Microsoft Edge
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome

On Mac OS

Safari
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome

For each browser, support is extended to up to two releases back.

No. Connective’s eSignatures solutions upholds a zero footprint principle, meaning no installation of additional middleware is required. At first-use of Connective eSignatures a small extension will be added to your browser and that’s it, you’re good to go. No updates, no driver installs and no insecure java run-times.

That depends on the type of signature you would like to use. A basic, manual signature can be drawn by simply using your mouse or touchpad. However if you want to provide a qualified advanced e-signature by using your beID or other eID, you will need an eID reader. Connective supports most PCSC smart card readers.

In addition, Connective maintains a constantly increasing list of partnerships, to ensure compatibility with a wide variety of soft- and hardware. These partners include: Vasco, OpenTrust, Microsoft Pinpoint, CertEurope, K-Sign, GlobalSign, QuoVadis, Topaz Systems, SafeNet, Wacom, StepOver and Option.

Digital Transaction Management leverages these technologies enabling companies to manage and control the end-to-end process of creating, handling and singing any kind of agreement digitally. DTM removes the friction inherent in transactions that typically involve people, workflow, paperwork, document handling, data trails and signatures to create faster, easier, more convenient, compliant and secure processes.