Have you ever had your identity stolen? 15 million adults suffered this scam in 2023, according to AARP. We explain everything you need to know about this essential tool to protect your identity online. From banking to digital signatures for administrative documents, we need to make sure we have secure tools. This is where the digital certificate comes into play, an essential tool that helps us navigate the online world securely. But do you know what the digital certificate is for? Read on and we’ll tell you!
What is a digital certificate?
A digital certificate is a kind of electronic identification that allows you to verify the identity of a person, a company or a website on the Internet. Just like a physical identity document, such as a passport or an ID card, a digital certificate guarantees that the person or entity you are interacting with online is who they say they are. This mechanism not only validates identities, but also protects the information transmitted, ensuring that it is confidential and cannot be manipulated. But, what is a digital certificate used for in daily practice?
What is a digital certificate used for?
Authentication
One of the main functions of the digital certificate is authentication. This means that it ensures that you are interacting with the correct entity. For example, when you access your bank’s website, or a government platform, the certificate guarantees that you are really on the official website and not on a fake page designed to steal your data.
Confidentiality
In today’s digital world, confidentiality is crucial, especially when dealing with sensitive data such as:
- Passwords;
- Banking information;
- Personal documents.
By using a digital certificate, the information you send and receive is encrypted, which means that only the recipient (individual or entity) can read it. This reduces the risk that others can access or steal sensitive data, such as passwords or personal information
Integrity
Digital certificates help to ensure that the data has not been altered during transmission and that the document received is the one that was originally sent. What is a digital certificate used for? Among other things, to guarantee the integrity of the information shared and to maintain trust in online communications.
Electronic signature
A digital certificate also makes it possible to sign electronic documents, which gives them legal validity. In the business environment, it is especially useful to gain speed and security. Thanks to the digital certificate, documents can be signed remotely, from anywhere and at any time, without the need to travel or print papers with the same legality of a handwritten signature. Consequently, it has a clear positive impact on environmental savings, as well as a decrease in the time invested.
Regulatory compliance
In many countries, the use of digital certificates is a legal requirement for certain electronic transactions or administrative processes. This has a special relationship with the legislation on privacy and security on the Internet, as it requires that it guarantees the authenticity, confidentiality and validity of online transactions. Consequently, the digital certificate allows companies and individuals to comply with these legal requirements, avoiding penalties and ensuring transparency in operations.
Gain efficiency with your digital certificate
As you have seen, having a digital certificate not only provides security in transactions, it also provides greater efficiency in the management of procedures, whether personal or corporate. By performing processes electronically, it gives us security and confidence in our interactions. If you are still wondering, what is a digital certificate used for? We answer you: To ensure a more secure digital experience. Whether for banking transactions, signing documents or simply surfing the web, it is an essential tool. Besides, getting a digital certificate is for anyone who wants to have these advantages guaranteed.
At Viafirma, we offer a digital certificate manager solution. Thanks to cloud technology, it stores and manages the use of the certificate, enabling the signature from any device, anytime, anywhere. Without the need for installation on the device, the user can access their certificate. Interested in learning more? Contact us and we will advise you.