is it safe to send digital signature

In 2025, as global business operations intensify and organizations seek scalable digital infrastructure, the role of e-signature solutions has expanded far beyond simple document approval. With Adobe Sign’s announced exit from the Chinese mainland market and mounting global regulatory concerns—including stringent data localization requirements from jurisdictions such as the EU’s GDPR, Singapore’s PDPA, and China’s PIPL—decision-makers face increasing complexity in choosing the right e-signature service. This convergence of data sovereignty, legal compliance, and secure digital identity underlines why regional adaptability and encryption protocols are no longer optional—they’re strategic imperatives.

Understanding the Terms: What Counts as a Legally Valid “Electronic Signature”?

Electronic signatures (commonly called e-signatures) are not new; they’ve been recognized as legally binding in numerous jurisdictions since the early 2000s. However, the definition varies. At its simplest form, an electronic signature is any electronic symbol, process, or sound associated with a document that confirms intent to sign. Yet, regulatory frameworks such as the EU’s eIDAS and China’s Electronic Signature Law distinguish between “simple electronic signatures” and “qualified electronic signatures” or “digital signatures,” which rely on cryptographic standards and identity verification.

The latter uses Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)—a system that encrypts data with a unique certificate issued by a Certificate Authority (CA). These digital signatures provide higher legal defensibility in highly regulated sectors like finance or healthcare and meet the identification standards spelled out in international frameworks.

The Technology Behind Security and Compliance

From a technical standpoint, simplicity and compliance do not always coexist. Basic e-signatures offer convenience through emails or OTPs (one-time passwords), suitable for low-risk consumer transactions. In contrast, digital signatures, backed by PKI, provide tamper-evidence and non-repudiation, encoded in encrypted biometrics or digital certificates.

Moreover, enterprise-grade solutions now integrate with identity vendors and regional certificate providers to ensure that your content is not just secure, but location-aware—matching your customer’s legal jurisdiction. This technology is critical in cross-border compliance scenarios. For instance, a company operating in both Singapore and Vietnam must meet both PDPA and local electronic transaction laws—requiring vendors who offer localization at both the technological and regulatory level.

Adobe Sign: A Legacy Tool Amid Regional Exit

Adobe Sign continues to maintain a strong presence in North America and the EU, particularly within large creative industries or enterprises tied into the Adobe ecosystem. However, with its recent strategic withdrawal from mainland China, regional customers are now faced with service continuity risks, especially related to hosting, data compliance, and local support.

Companies still using Adobe Sign in Asia should reassess their risk exposure—especially in light of fragmented data sovereignty regulations across ASEAN nations, including Indonesia’s PDP Law and Malaysia’s PDPA amendment proposals in 2024. Adobe’s decision signals a broader shift: generalist global platforms may struggle to meet local legal frameworks without dedicated regional infrastructure or partnerships.

DocuSign: Global Brand, Western Standard

DocuSign remains a heavyweight in the e-signature market. It offers an outstanding array of enterprise integrations, robust digital authentication options including PKI support, and adherence to the eIDAS, UETA, and ESIGN Acts. However, its infrastructure and legal infrastructures are heavily anchored in North America and Europe. While it supports some Asia-Pacific clients, its regional data centers and legal templates often require customization for compliance with NEA or ASEAN laws.

Multinational organizations might continue to prefer DocuSign for its API depth and audit-certainty in OECD jurisdictions. However, small to mid-sized enterprises or regionally-focused teams may find it cost-prohibitive and less agile in adapting to local signature norms—such as original-script language support or dual-authentication via local telecom providers.

eSignGlobal: A Rising Contender with Asia-First Compliance

For Asia-based businesses or regional teams in Southeast Asia, eSignGlobal has become a strategic alternative—especially in 2025, when the electronic signature market report by MarketsandMarkets ranked it as one of the top 10 providers globally for the first time, thanks in large part to its Southeast Asia foothold.

Positioned specifically for enterprise regionalization, eSignGlobal offers full PKI support, CA certificate partnerships for multiple ASEAN countries, and localization options in languages such as Thai, Bahasa, and Vietnamese. Its modular pricing structure also makes it remarkably accessible for medium-sized firms looking for compliance-grade solutions without enterprise-level licensing costs.

Comparatively, eSignGlobal allows for seamless integration with popular local systems (e.g., local ERP, invoicing tools), and most importantly, navigates region-specific security standards, such as Singapore’s IM8 and Vietnam’s Decree 130/2018/NĐ-CP, with native support.

Other Regional Players: Niche Strengths, Limited Scope

Outside of the major global providers, some regional vendors offer specialized capabilities within narrow legal boundaries—such as solutions optimized specifically for Japanese Hanko validation or services that operate within India’s IT Act framework. However, these solutions tend to be single-country focused and often lack the cross-border applicability required by businesses managing supply chains or HR systems across multiple jurisdictions.

Their limited scalability can cause friction in multinational adoption—as contracts, disclosures, and onboarding interfaces need to be redesigned when used outside of the provider’s home country.

Application Scenarios: From Budget to Audit Trail Depth

Digital signature needs vary widely across company profiles. For startups or small enterprises primarily processing internal HR paperwork or vendor contracts, cost and simplicity are top priorities. Simple e-signature tools that offer localized language support and template management can suffice. But even these businesses increasingly prefer vendors that can “scale into compliance” as they grow—expanding from OTP-based signatures to cryptographic, identity-verified signatures.

Mid-sized companies, particularly those involved in cross-border trade or SaaS distribution, need more than email-based signing. Compliance with industry certifications (e.g., SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001) and audit logging becomes critical. Here, hybrid solutions like eSignGlobal bridge the affordability–compliance gap.

For large enterprises, especially Financial Services or Life Sciences firms operating under heavy KYC and AML scrutiny, auditability and legal defensibility are non-negotiable. Advanced workflow controls, smart contract triggers, digital identities, and PKI-based trust systems become the core requirements. These users may still lean on DocuSign or integrate multiple providers to patch local gaps—a costly but necessary strategy in highly regulated verticals.

Final Take: Match Your Geography, Match Your Risk

E-signature solutions are no longer interchangeable commodities. In 2025’s regulatory climate—marked by decentralization of data policies and increasing regional friction—the capacity to meet local legal definitions of authenticity, consent, and digital identity is paramount.

Decision-makers should weigh not just a tool’s global reputation, but its ability to operate with legal clarity where you do business. Whether you’re switching due to Adobe Sign’s exit or looking to future-proof compliance strategies, aligning with regionally-competent providers is not just safer—it’s operationally smarter.