Digital Certificate vs Digital Signature: What's the Difference?

Digital Certificate and Digital Signature are two different authentication processes. Learn the difference between the two in this article. You may have heard the terms "Digital Certificate" and "Digital Signature" used interchangeably. But what is the difference? Take a look at this infographic to find out. The digital certificate is an electronic document that is used to verify the identity of an individual or business. It is issued by a CA. Learn about digital certificate vs digital signature. You might have heard about digital certificates and digital signatures, but do you know the difference between the two? When should you use one over the other? This article explains.

Digital Certificate vs Digital Signature

The digital certificate has gained popularity over the past years. Digital certificates are different from digital signatures. Digital certificates can be verified by certificate authorities (CAs). CAS manages the digital certificate database. When you click on a digital certificate, you verify the digital certificate by clicking a lock on it. The digital certificate verifies the identity of the issuer and authenticates the content of the digital certificate.

Digital certificates enable "two-factor authentication" (2FA). Many websites use 2FA. With 2FA, you can verify your identity by entering an additional code that you are given. This additional code allows you to log in to an account with additional security.

When should I use a Digital Certificate?

Advanced authentications are utilized openly key cryptography works most usually for introducing Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) associations between internet browsers and web servers. Advanced endorsements are additionally utilized for sharing keys utilized for public-key encryption and confirmation of computerized marks.

What is the Difference Between a Digital Certificate and a Digital Signature?

Digital certificates are electronic documents that verify the identity of an individual or business. They are issued by a CA.  A CA is a trusted entity that issues digital certificates. In other words, digital certificates contain proof of the identity of the issuer. What makes a digital certificate different than a digital signature is that a digital certificate cannot be altered or modified. When you use a digital certificate, you need to take care to protect it.

When Should I use a Digital Signature?

The digital certificate is mainly used for the following purposes:

Storing certificates for the European Union (EU): On April 7, 2014, the European Union Council of Ministers released the European Union Electronic Signature Directive (EU-ESD). This directive requires all EU member states to issue digital certificates by 2016. This will mean that all documents presented by EU companies will be recognized by both the EU and other governments.: On April 7, 2014, the European Union Council of Ministers released the European Union Electronic Signature Directive (EU-ESD). This directive requires all EU member states to issue digital certificates by 2016. This will mean that all documents presented by EU companies will be recognized by both the EU and other governments.

Conclusion

If you are interested in learning more about authentication, authentication frameworks, digital certificates, digital signatures, and authentication, the following resources will be helpful: