Digital Signatures and the Hidden Costs of PKI

The implementation of a digital signature (standard electronic signature) solution can expedite and secure business operations, reduce costs, advance business processes, and improve an organization's competitive advantage. However, if an organization implements an incompatible digital signature solution, it could end up costing thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars more than necessary. Previous to delving into the various financial distinctions of the digital signature options, it would be relevant to address the differences of electronic signatures in general. Electronic signatures can be broken down into two broad categories: Those that use Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)-based technology and those that do not.