When speaking of electronic signatures, your mind may wander directly to more advanced types, like SES, AES, or even QES. These three e-sign categories are most often brought up when distinguishing the different options.
But the truth is that electronic signatures start on a lower threshold—being even as simple as signing a physical piece of paper with actual pen ink, and then scanning said document or photographing it.
Are all electronic signature methods secure and recommended by experts to use? Perhaps the fact that SES, AES, and QES is brought up so often is not one of coincidence.
In this article, we’ll cover practical simple electronic signature examples and types, starting off from the most basic—wet ink all the way to SES (Simple Electronic Signatures) that can actually be validated for correctness.
Table of contents
1. Wet ink: sign, scan/photograph, and send
2. Typewritten signatures: draw or type and agree
3. Clickwrap signatures: check and agree
4. Simple Electronic Signatures (SES)
5. More advanced electronic signature examples: AES and QES
6. Choose what’s utmost secure and efficient
7. Frequently asked questions
Wet ink: sign, scan/photograph, and send
Wet ink signatures are signatures made on physical pieces of paper with an actual pen, hence the name “wet ink”, referring to the ink traces left on paper.
Wet signatures are traditional signatures used for centuries before, and ones that remain important in certain scenarios, like signing medical emergency papers at a hospital, signing notary public documents, or government official documents.
But are wet signatures secure on their own?
Not exactly. For a wet signature to be perfectly secure, important documents usually require additional identity verification and/or an officiary of the signature, like a notary or witness, who also signs the document to further confirm the validity of the signature.
Based on that definition, we can draw out the biggest con for traditional document signing, and that is its time-consuming nature and the relatively easy possibility of forging it.
To sign a document with a pen and ink, we have to show up to an agreed place in person, validate our identity, carry out agreements or talks with a notary, officiary, or other witnesses, often wait in lines, and endure traffic on the way back.
In case there is no officiary or ID verification, a simple traditional signature can be easily forged by others, making it difficult for such signatures to be subject to non-repudiation, aka, a situation where we cannot challenge the authorship or validity of a signature or signed document.
Now, traditional signing, although secure when conducted in person with all the additional layers of safety, is not the best option to choose when signing remotely.
Why?
Because it’s not entirely possible to validate the correctness of such signatures.
Wet ink signature scans and possible threats
The way the process of signing with wet ink “electronically” usually goes is when you:
- receive a document, contract, or agreement to be signed on your email inbox,
- read the document to ensure the correctness of data and clauses,
- print out the document,
- sign the document in the required places using pen and ink,
- either scan the signed document or photograph it,
- send it back to the other party for verification.
Yet, although it is possible to turn a traditional wet ink signature into an electronic one by scanning or photographing the signed document and storing it online, it is not the best e-signature option out there.
Scanned or photographed wet ink signatures cannot be properly validated for correctness, since they don’t require any verification—even as simple as checking for a verification code sent by email or phone number.
Meaning that, essentially, it’s plausible for others to forge your signature and upload online as yours, if there’s no additional verification on your part.
Typewritten signatures: draw or type and agree
Moving a step further, the second example of electronic signature to discuss is a typewritten signature.
This one may resemble the process of traditional signing the most since one of the ways to complete it is by actually drawing out your name and surname, but on a digital screen using a stylus or a finger, instead of a physical paper and pen.
“Typewritten” as a word suggests more, though. On its own, the word refers to text or document that has been typed out using a typewriter or a computer.
Hence, typewritten signatures are not only drawing out your names on digital screens, like laptops, mobile phones or tablets, it’s also simply typing your name or initials on a keyboard, which is then transformed into a signature with a signature generator.
Essentially, typewritten signatures fall within the most commonly used definition of electronic signatures, which is an electronic sound, symbol, or process that indicates the signer’s agreement to the conditions of a given document.
Typewritten signatures vs security and verification
Typewritten signatures, although legally binding, are still not the most secure option out there since there is no additional verification, just as with the case of wet ink signature scans.
Clickwrap signatures: check and agree
Clickwrap signatures are the most simple to produce, since they generally just require checking a box to help indicate the signer's agreement.
Whether it’s reading and accepting the terms and conditions on mobile or web applications, clickwrap signatures capture user’s intent to agree with a simple “I agree” button checkbox.
Simple Electronic Signatures (SES)
Moving on to the fourth, and most secure example of simple electronic signatures, we’re now going to uncover SES signatures in more detail.
Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) are a way to create a signature digitally after email or phone number verification with a unique code sent to the person signing the document.
Simple electronic signatures are legally binding, as they’re fully compliant with eIDAS—electronic IDentification, Authentication, and trust Services, an EU regulation setting e-signatures standards.
The unique code sent to the signer proves that SES signatures are created securely, as opposed to simply checking an “I agree” box or sending a scanned image of your handwritten signature to the other party.
But the main advantage of SES signatures is how universal they are. Because they’re legally binding and secure Simple Electronic Signature, they allow you to sign most contracts in business transactions.
It’s only in highly-specific cases, like signing a non-compete clause or transferring copyrights in a contract that require more advanced signature types, like QES.
Given the universal quality, you may go as far as to mass sign documents with SES signatures, provided you have the right platform to do so.
Autenti is one of the best digital signature software platforms offering three types of electronic signatures: Simple Electronic Signatures (SES), Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES), and Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES)—the latter supported by over 170 providers.
It also offers mass signing, e-signature validation, a mobile application, and more, all on a completely secure platform.
Autenti prioritizes security with advanced encryption, multiple authentication methods, and compliance with international standards, including ISO/IEC 27001:2017, eIDAS, and GDPR.
Autenti has been used by hundreds of clients across Europe and continues to deliver an exceptional experience.
Daniel Fietkiewicz, Director of Sales Support, and Monika Sykulska, Contract Manager, at Pru—a financial company focusing on insurance protection and saving, say:
“Our top priority is the time saved for our consultants in contract signing. Thanks to our partnership with Autenti, they can do this comfortably, anytime and anywhere, in a fast and secure way.”
Simple Electronic Signatures: common use cases
To get a clear understanding of how Simple Electronic Signatures ensure secure but simple digital document signing, we’re going to review some common use cases.
For example, if you work in the insurance industry, you can use SES signatures for agency agreements, receivables insurance, broker agreements or general agreements, like insurance guarantees.
For those working in real estate, the example documents cover sale and lease agency agreements, booking agreements, or notices for meeting apartments.
HR can use SES signatures for contracts of cooperation, employment contracts, or contracts for specific work without transferring copyright.
Sales teams can sign electronically with SES documents, such as invoice corrections, sales contracts, or swap agreements.
More advanced electronic signature examples: AES and QES
Besides SES signatures used for 90% of contracts in business transactions, some contract types or more intricate clauses can point to a need for a more advanced electronic signature, like AES or even QES.
AES, Advanced Electronic Signature, is a type of electronic signature that actually requires proof of identity of the person signing the document, reviewing their ID documentation.
QES, Qualified Electronic Signature, goes a few steps further and adds an additional layer of security, with cryptographic methods, including PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) that includes the use of a digital signature certificate, public key, and private key.
Qualified signatures are deemed equal to handwritten signatures, and thanks to the additional verification data they provide and encryption methods they use, we can equate them with a fingerprint, unique for every individual.
Qualified Electronic Signatures, on top of being highly secure, ensuring the integrity of the signed document, are also very much efficient.
EcoVadis, who adopted the Autenti platform and qualified electronic signatures to digitize HR processes, including employee lifecycle documents and civil-law contracts, proves this.
Marta Krzywicka, a People Operations Director at EcoVadis says:
"We’ve seen a significant reduction in paper and printer use, as well as a decrease in our carbon footprint by minimising the need for courier deliveries. However, the greatest value lies in the organisational efficiency, which is invaluable given that our teams are spread across the country.”
AES and QES are considered digital signatures, a special type of electronic signatures that differs in terms of the authorization process to make the signature complete.
As already stated, these actually verify the signer’s identity, whether that’s by reviewing the ID documentation or fully attending a one-on-one session with a Certified Authority.
You can read about the differences between electronic and digital signatures in more detail in this article.
Choose what’s utmost secure and efficient
Electronic signatures come in various forms, from simple methods like wet ink scans, typewritten names, initials drawn out on digital screens, and clickwrap agreements to more secure options like Simple Electronic Signatures (SES).
While traditional signatures still play a role in certain scenarios, digital alternatives offer greater convenience, security, and efficiency—especially for remote or high-volume document signing.
It’s easy to forge a traditional signature, which is certainly not the case with electronic and digital signatures alike.
Additional identity verification, authentication with unique codes sent by email or phone, digital certificates, all play an important role in keeping your signatures and documents tamper-free.
As businesses and individuals continue to embrace digital transformation, choosing the right e-signature solution, like SES or even more advanced options such as AES and QES, ensures compliance, security, and speed.
Make your transition from paper to digital seamless, with Autenti.
Frequently asked questions
What are wet ink signatures?
Wet ink signatures are traditional handwritten signatures with a physical pen signing on paper. Wet ink signatures are often required by specific bodies of government or in emergency situations, like receiving unexpected medical treatment at the hospital. Traditional signatures can be turned into electronic ones by scanning or photographing them to then store them online.
What are typewritten signatures?
Typewritten signatures are signatures digitally drawn out on a screen of a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop, or simply typed out on a keyboard and turned into a signature. They confirm the signer's intent to comply with the agreement included in the signed document.
What are clickwrap signatures?
Clickwrap signatures are the simplest form of electronic signatures, since they simply require clicking a button. That button is usually an “I agree” checkbox, for example, when creating a new email account and agreeing to the terms and conditions.
What are Simple Electronic Signatures (SES)?
Simple Electronic Signatures are the most secure out of the four mentioned methods of digitally signing a document. SES requires additional authentication in the form of a unique code sent to the signer’s email address or phone number, which then needs to be confirmed in order to complete the signature. SES signatures are legally binding and fully comply with regulations, such as eIDAS across the European Union.
