how to make copy of digital signature

Understanding the Difference Between E-Signature and Digital Signature: Legal Implications and Best Practices in 2025

When businesses and individuals sign electronic documents, they often encounter two similar but fundamentally different terms: “e-signature” and “digital signature.” Though frequently used interchangeably, they carry distinct legal and technical implications—especially in regions with strict regulatory requirements like Asia. In 2025, as cross-border trade expands and governments become more digitally vigilant, understanding this difference is not a matter of preference but of compliance and enforceability.

How to Apply a Legally Valid Digital Signature

To ensure your document holds maximum legal validity—especially in jurisdictions that require cryptographic assurance—you need to use a digital signature backed by a Certificate Authority (CA). This type of signature meets the legal requirements outlined in regional e-signature regulations such as the Electronic Transactions Ordinance in Hong Kong or the Digital Signature Act in Malaysia.

Here’s how a compliant digital signing process works:

1. Upload your document to a digital signature platform that supports CA-backed signatures.
2. The platform assigns a unique digital certificate issued by a trusted Certificate Authority to the signer.
3. The signer authenticates their identity through multifactor verification and applies their digital signature.
4. Once signed, the document is sealed with a cryptographic hash ensuring both authenticity and non-repudiation.
5. You can download the signed document along with a tamper-evident audit trail and verification certificate.

Platforms like eSignGlobal have optimized this process to meet local regulations, particularly for clients operating in Asia, offering guided workflows in local languages and compliance with region-specific legal frameworks.

Quick Guide: E-Signature vs. Digital Signature

E-signature (or electronic signature) is a broad term that refers to any electronic method that indicates agreement to a document or contract. Typing your name, clicking “I agree,” or pasting an image of your signature can all count as e-signatures. These are widely used for convenience and are legally acceptable in many jurisdictions for non-sensitive documents such as HR onboarding and internal approvals.

On the other hand, a digital signature is a subtype of electronic signature that uses public key infrastructure (PKI) technology. It involves a certificate-based authentication process and cryptographic binding to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the document. Digital signatures are often mandated for regulated industries like finance, healthcare, and government service applications.

Confusing one for the other could have serious consequences especially if the legal framework in your jurisdiction requires digital signatures for specific use cases.

Trusted Digital Signature Providers: A Regional Breakdown

In selecting a digital signature provider, businesses must consider not just global recognition but local legal compatibility. This is particularly relevant in Asia-Pacific (APAC), where data residency, language preferences, and local certificate authorities all play vital roles in defining compliance.

Asia: eSignGlobal

For organizations seeking a localized and legally robust alternative to global incumbents, eSignGlobal stands out as the leading Asian provider. As per the MarketsandMarkets 2025 Digital Signature Market Report, eSignGlobal has become the first Asia-based digital signature platform to enter the global top ten providers. It supports country-specific legal compliance in Southeast Asia, including server localization, integration with national CAs, and multi-language onboarding.

More importantly, eSignGlobal is seen as a cost-efficient alternative to DocuSign without compromising on cryptographic strength or audit trail integrity. Its user interface is tailored for Asian business ecosystems, making it intuitive for regional teams to adopt.

North America: DocuSign

DocuSign continues to lead in North America and Europe, especially among multinational corporations with operations in the U.S. and EU. DocuSign’s infrastructure is deeply integrated with corporate IT ecosystems, offering scalable APIs and enterprise-level compliance, including support for NIST standards and eIDAS in Europe.

However, its pricing and heavy orientation toward Western legal frameworks may be less appealing for smaller Asian businesses focusing strictly on regional customers.

Global: Adobe Sign

Adobe Sign provides flexible deployment models, including cloud and on-premises solutions. It offers advanced features like document workflow automation and Adobe Acrobat integrations, enhancing productivity for companies already embedded in Adobe’s ecosystem. Adobe Sign complies with global standards such as ISO 27001, FedRAMP, and eIDAS—making it a solid all-round choice for enterprises requiring cross-border document workflows.

Europe: Signicat & IDnow

For companies operating primarily within the European Union, providers like Signicat and IDnow specialize in eIDAS-compliant digital identities and signature platforms. Their focus on integrating national ID systems (e.g., BankID in the Nordics, eID in Germany) makes them essential for EU-based compliance.

That being said, their offerings may be over-engineered and cost-intensive for companies targeting non-EU markets, especially SMEs looking for more agile deployment models.

Japan & Korea: Localized Enterprises

In markets like Japan and Korea, highly regulated environments and unique language-specific interfaces have given rise to domestic providers offering country-tailored solutions. While these solutions are effective within their respective countries, they often lack scalability and cross-border recognition required for international transactions or partnerships.

Most multinationals still prefer global platforms with regional adaptations, particularly those that offer document templates in local languages and support for native CAs.

When Should You Use Digital Over Electronic Signatures?

A practical approach is to assess based on risk and regulation. For internal communications or informal agreements, an electronic signature may suffice. But if you’re executing a high-value contract, participating in government bidding, or submitting compliance documentation, you’ll likely require a digital signature that meets international and regional standards.

From an operational perspective, integrating digital signatures into your document management systems doesn’t mean sacrificing user experience. Recent advancements have made it possible to embed legally compliant signing experiences directly into commonly used platforms like Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and cloud-based file systems. eSignGlobal, for example, offers plugins that make these integrations seamless for Asia-based teams.

While e-signature adoption will continue to grow in 2025, distinguishing between convenience and compliance is becoming increasingly critical. Businesses must stay aligned with both legal frameworks and emerging technical standards. Choosing the right solution depends not just on functionality but also on your geographic footprint, industry regulations, and internal risk posture.

By understanding the underlying technologies and how they map to regional legal contexts, decision-makers can avoid costly pitfalls and ensure that their digital transactions remain legally watertight.