Digital Signature Class 2 for Secure eSignatures

Award-winning eSignature solution

What digital signature class 2 means

Digital signature class 2 is a higher-assurance electronic signature used to verify identity and protect document integrity. It relies on cryptographic methods, such as public and private keys, to bind a signer to a record and detect later changes. In U.S. business use, it supports secure contract execution, approval workflows, and recordkeeping. The signature process typically includes identity verification, signing, and a tamper-evident audit trail that shows who signed, when, and what was signed.

Why digital signature class 2 matters

It reduces manual handling, speeds approvals, and creates stronger evidence for enforceability under ESIGN and UETA. For U.S. businesses, that means faster turnaround with a record of signer intent, identity, and document integrity that can support disputes or audits.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Common implementation challenges

Identity proofing can be inconsistent if teams rely on weak authentication or incomplete signer records.
Document changes after signing can break trust if the platform does not preserve tamper-evident evidence.
Retention gaps create problems when audit trails, consent records, or signed files are not stored together.
Regulated workflows may need stronger controls, such as HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11, or eIDAS alignment.

Business documents

Used for contracts, approvals, and records that need signer identity and a reliable audit trail.

Regulated records

Used for forms that involve PHI, student records, or regulated disclosures.

Typical users and personas

Operations teams at firms like Tech Data use signNow to move internal and external approvals faster while keeping a clear record of who signed and when. The workflow fits high-volume document routing where speed, traceability, and simple signer experience matter together.
NetSuite operations leaders, such as Xerox’s Kodi-Marie Evans, use signNow to route the right documents to the right people in the right format. That pattern fits organizations that depend on ERP-connected approvals, controlled routing, and repeatable signature processes across departments.

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Best ROI. Our customers achieve an average 7x ROI within the first six months.
Scales with your use cases. From SMBs to mid-market, airSlate SignNow delivers results for businesses of all sizes.
Intuitive UI and API. Sign and send documents from your apps in minutes.

Identity proofing

Creates a stronger record of signer identity, intent, and document integrity, which helps support enforceable electronic transactions in U.S. workflows.

Audit trail

Captures a time-stamped history of views, signatures, and changes, giving teams evidence for audits, disputes, and internal reviews.

Tamper evidence

Uses cryptographic controls to detect post-signing edits, so the signed file remains verifiable after completion.

Remote signing

Supports remote signing on desktop and mobile, which reduces delays when people are not in the same location.

Reusable workflows

Works with templates and repeatable workflows, helping teams standardize approvals without rebuilding each document from scratch.

Regulated use

Fits regulated use cases that need stronger controls, including healthcare, finance, legal, and government-related records.

Integration options for connected workflows

Connected systems move signed documents into the tools teams already use, reducing re-entry, delays, and version confusion across departments.

How it works step by step

The signing flow follows a simple sequence from request delivery to final record sealing and retention.

Send request: The signer receives a secure request and opens the document.
Verify signer: Identity is verified through the chosen authentication method.
Sign document: The signer applies the signature and completes the record.
Seal record: The system seals the file and logs the event history.

Quick setup guide

Use a short setup sequence to prepare, route, and complete a digital signature class 2 workflow.

Prepare file:
Create the document or upload a PDF.
Assign recipients:
Add signers and set the signing order.
Set verification:
Choose the authentication method for each signer.
Send and track:
Send the request and monitor completion status.

Setting	Recommendation
Authentication method	SMS OTP for higher assurance
Signature type	Cryptographic digital signature
Audit trail	Enable full time-stamped logging
Document retention	6 years for HIPAA records
Encryption	TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Platform and system requirements

Digital signature class 2 works across modern browsers and mobile devices with secure TLS connections and current operating systems.

Desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari current versions.
Desktop operating systems Windows 10 or later, macOS 13 or later.
Mobile platforms iOS and Android apps for mobile signing.

For enterprise use, managed devices, SSO, and API access often matter more than the device itself. Teams should confirm browser support, mobile app availability, and any internal security controls before rollout. Regulated deployments may also require certificate handling, retention settings, and exportable records for audit review.

Security and data protection

Encryption:

TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Storage protection:

AES-256 at rest

Security report:

SOC 2 Type II available

Information security:

ISO 27001 certified

Healthcare compliance:

HIPAA support with BAA

Regulated workflows:

eIDAS and 21 CFR Part 11 support

Real estate

A real estate team needs fast lease execution across mobile and desktop channels.

Martin Properties processes documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security.
Mobile and offline signing help keep transactions moving.

The team can execute forms efficiently while keeping a secure record of each signing event.

ERP operations

A NetSuite operations group needs the right signatures on the right documents.

Xerox uses signNow with NetSuite for flexible routing.
The workflow supports different document formats and approval paths.

The integration helps route documents accurately and keeps approval steps aligned with internal systems.

Best practices for deployment

A careful rollout focuses on identity, retention, access control, and test coverage before the first production signature is sent.

Match assurance to document risk

Use stronger authentication for contracts, healthcare records, and other documents where signer identity must be clear and defensible. Pair the signature with a complete audit trail and retention rules that match the record type.

Retain the full record set

Keep the signed file, consent record, and audit trail together in one retention policy. Separate storage creates gaps during audits, disputes, or internal reviews and makes it harder to prove the full signing sequence.

Restrict access by role

Limit signing permissions to the people who need them. Role-based access reduces accidental changes, supports cleaner audit evidence, and helps teams manage approvals across departments without exposing unrelated documents.

Validate the full workflow

Test the workflow on desktop and mobile before rollout. Confirm browser support, signer experience, and export behavior so the process works the same way for remote staff, customers, and regulated records.

Troubleshooting and FAQ

These answers focus on plan limits, compliance requirements, and recordkeeping issues that affect digital signature class 2 workflows.

signNow Business includes legally binding eSignatures, audit trails, templates, and mobile apps. For HIPAA workflows, use a BAA and keep the signed record set, including the audit trail, for 6 years under 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

The Business Premium plan adds bulk send, which helps when many recipients need the same document. If you need advanced signer authentication, Enterprise adds stronger controls, while Site License supports SSO and full API access.

signNow supports ESIGN and UETA compliance for U.S. transactions. For healthcare records, HIPAA requires unique user identification, integrity controls, person authentication, and audit controls, plus a signed BAA with the vendor.

If a signed PDF fails validation, check whether the file was altered after signing. A tamper-evident signature should break if the document changes. Export the audit trail and verify timestamps, signer identity, and document hash history.

For 21 CFR Part 11 workflows, use secure audit trails, unique user IDs, and time-stamped records. signNow’s regulated-workflow controls should be paired with documented validation and access control procedures.

If a signer cannot complete the process on mobile, confirm browser support or use the signNow iOS or Android app. Mobile-created eSignatures remain valid under ESIGN and UETA when intent and attribution are preserved.

Recommended	DocuSign	Adobe Acrobat Sign	PandaDoc
ESIGN and UETA	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope cap	No cap	100/yr	Not verified

Day 0:

Set up the account, templates, and signer roles.

Day 1:

Send the first document for signature.

Week 1:

Onboard the core team and confirm routing rules.

7-day trial:

Free trial lasts 7 days, no credit card required.

HIPAA retention:

Keep signed PHI records for 6 years per 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

21 CFR Part 11:

Maintain secure, time-stamped records for regulated FDA workflows.

UETA adoption:

49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted UETA.

Annual review:

Review access, retention, and authentication rules every 12 months.

Risks of poor implementation

Weak evidence

Document may be harder to defend in court.

Missing logs

Audit trail gaps can undermine signer attribution.

Retention failure

HIPAA records may fail retention requirements.

Compliance rejection

Regulated records may be rejected in review.

Signer authentication:

Verifies the signer through the selected authentication method.

Timestamp capture:

Records each event with a secure UTC timestamp.

Document hashing:

Calculates a document hash before and after signing.

Tamper-evident sealing:

Applies a tamper-evident seal to the signed file.

Audit data:

Stores signer details, IP data, and event history.

Retrieval and export:

Exports the audit trail for review or evidence.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free trial	7 days	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Bulk send	Yes, Business Premium	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA compliance	BAA required	BAA available	BAA available	Not verified	Not verified

28M+Documents signed

13+Years in business

4.6/5Average G2 rating