Encryption Standards
Assess whether the vendor uses modern encryption for data at rest and in transit and whether cryptographic controls meet internal and PCI DSS expectations for protecting sensitive information.
Comparing pci compliant signnow's crm vs zoho crm helps organizations choose a configuration that minimizes PCI scope, preserves legal eSignature validity under ESIGN/UETA, and fits existing CRM workflows and security controls.
Oversees client contracts and collects signed agreements via CRM-integrated eSignature. Needs clear workflows that avoid storing cardholder data while preserving a single record of the transaction and consent, and requires simple authentication and audit visibility to support compliance reviews.
Manages PCI DSS and privacy obligations across systems, verifies access controls and retention schedules, and reviews audit trails. Requires vendor documentation, encryption details, and guidance for reducing scope when configuring eSignature integrations.
Organizations that process payments through sales contracts and invoices often need integrated eSignature and CRM controls.
Coordinating these roles ensures technical controls, policies, and operational practices limit PCI exposure while preserving workflow efficiency.
Assess whether the vendor uses modern encryption for data at rest and in transit and whether cryptographic controls meet internal and PCI DSS expectations for protecting sensitive information.
Evaluate MFA availability, single sign-on compatibility, and configurable authentication levels that can be enforced for high-risk operations and signature completion.
Request vendor evidence such as PCI attestation, scope reduction guidance, and details on how hosted flows or tokenization are implemented to avoid storing PAN in your CRM.
Check configurable retention settings and secure deletion policies to ensure you do not retain payment-related data longer than necessary for business or legal purposes.
Look for documented integration patterns with CRMs that avoid pushing cardholder data into non-compliant storage and that support secure API tokens or webhooks.
Robust logging and monitoring capabilities aid forensic analysis and compliance reporting by capturing who accessed documents and when actions occurred.
Platforms that offer hosted payment collection keep cardholder data out of the CRM by directing users to a PCI-scoped page, reducing the CRM's PCI responsibilities when implemented correctly and configured to use tokenization.
Tokenization replaces card numbers with non-sensitive tokens; evaluate whether the eSignature or CRM vendor supports token exchange and clear mapping to transaction records without exposing raw card data.
Comprehensive, tamper-evident logs should record access, document events, IP addresses, and timestamps to support investigations and PCI/ESIGN evidence requirements for signed agreements.
Granular role and permission settings restrict who can view or export sensitive fields in CRM and eSignature systems, limiting exposure to authorized personnel and supporting separation-of-duties controls.
| Setting Name | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Tokenization Enabled | Yes, mandatory |
| Hosted Payment Integration | Use PCI hosted pages |
| Document Retention Policy | 90 days default |
| MFA Enforcement | Admin-only required |
| Audit Log Retention | 365 days |
Ensure client devices and browsers meet minimum security standards so signature collection and hosted payments remain encrypted and tamper-resistant.
Keep devices and browsers up to date, enforce secure network access for remote workers, and configure mobile app settings to disable insecure caching of sensitive documents or payment pages.
A regional clinic used an eSignature integration to capture patient consent and payment authorizations with CRM linkage
Leading to lower compliance overhead and clearer audit trails for HIPAA and PCI considerations.
An online retailer collected signed merchant agreements and payment authorizations via CRM-triggered eSignature requests
Resulting in fewer PCI controls required and a streamlined sales-to-fulfillment handoff.
| Feature | signNow (Recommended) | Zoho CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Hosted payment pages | ||
| Tokenization support | Limited | |
| Detailed audit logs | ||
| PCI compliance guidance | Documentation | General guidance |
| Plan / Provider | signNow (Recommended) | Zoho CRM | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (monthly) | From $8/user/mo | From $12/user/mo | From $10/user/mo | From $10/user/mo | From $19/user/mo |
| Signature limits | Unlimited plans available | Depends on CRM plan | Tiered limits | Enterprise tiers | Tiered limits |
| Hosted payment capability | Available via integration | Available via extension | Via integrations | Via integrations | Via integrations |
| PCI documentation provided | Yes, integration notes | Limited notes | Yes, attestations | Yes, enterprise docs | Limited notes |
| Support options | Email/phone | Email/phone | Email/phone | Enterprise support | Email/phone |