The term "audit function for digital signature" refers to the software-based logging, traceability, and verification of electronic signature processes within digital systems. It is a critical component for meeting legal, regulatory, and security requirements, especially in highly regulated industries. The audit function aims to comprehensively document all signature-related actions, prevent manipulation, and ensure the integrity and authenticity of signed documents.
Logging of signature events: Automatically recording timestamps, user identities, and actions related to the signature (e.g., creation, application, verification).
Signature history traceability: Complete tracking of all signature steps including any intermediate document versions.
Integrity check: Ensuring that signed documents remain unchanged after being signed.
Authentication evidence: Capturing the identity verification methods used (e.g., two-factor authentication, biometric methods) during signature execution.
Audit data archiving: Tamper-proof storage of audit trails for long-term traceability.
Export and reporting functions: Providing structured audit logs for internal or external compliance audits.
Manipulation detection: Automatically identifying and reporting anomalies in the signature process.
A pharmaceutical company documents every digital signature as part of a validation process in a compliant and tamper-proof manner.
A financial services provider proves in an internal audit when and by whom contracts were digitally signed, without gaps.
A company uses audit features to present the full signature history of a document as legal evidence in case of a dispute.
A SaaS provider integrates an audit interface that automatically transmits all signature events to a central monitoring system.
A hospital's archiving system stores signature events including user identification and timestamps in compliance with data protection regulations.