DSC stands for Digital Signature Certificate. Certifying Authority (CA) issues DSC. It is in the best interest of the businesses and individuals to apply for digital signature as it provides you high level of security. And ensures the privacy of the information for your online transactions exchanged by using a Digital Signature.
What is DSC?
DSC is an electronic form of signature. It helps to authenticate the identity of the sender of a message or the signer of the document. DSC is stored in a USB drive. It contains information such as user name, PIN code, E-mail address, date of issuance of the certificate, etc. It ensures:
- Originality of document
- Easy transportability
- Confirmation of Identity of sender
- High-level security for online transactions by ensuring privacy.
Types of DSC
As an applicant, before you proceed towards DSC registration, it is important to know about the types of DSC’s. The purpose for which the Digital Signature Certificate is obtained defines the kind of DSC one must apply for depending on the need. The Certifying Authority(CA) issues DSCs that fall into the following three categories:
- Class 1 Certificates: Certifying Authorities shall issue Class 1 certificates for both business personnel and private individuals use. And it helps to confirm that the user’s name and email contact details lie within the database of the certifying authority.
- Class 2 Certificates: They issue these certificates for both business personnel and private individuals use. Class 2 certificate is mandatory for individuals who have to sign manual documents while filing returns with the ROC. In addition, these certificates will confirm that the information in the application provided by the subscriber does not conflict with the information in well-recognized consumer databases
- Class 3 Certificates: Certifying Authority shall issue this certificate to individuals as well as organizations. As these are high assurance certificates, primarily intended for e-commerce applications. Certifying Authorities shall issue to individuals only on their personal (physical) appearance. Further, these certificates are used in online participation/bidding in e-auctions and online tenders anywhere in India.
FAQs
You can use Digital Signature Certificates for the following:
– For sending and receiving digitally signed and encrypted emails.
– For carrying out secure web-based transactions, or to identify other participants of web-based transactions.
– In eTendering, eProcurement, MCA [for Registrar of Companies efiling], Income Tax [for efiling income tax returns] Applications and – also in many other applications.
– For signing documents like MSWord, MSExcel and PDFs.
– A pivotal role in creating a paperless office
Legally valid Digital Signature Certificates are issued only through a Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), Govt. of India, licensed Certifying Authorities (CA), such as eMudhra. Further, it offers secure digital signatures through various options tailored to suit individual as well as organizational needs.
A Digital Signature Certificate authenticates your identity electronically. Therefore it provides you with a high level of security for your online transactions by ensuring absolute privacy of the information exchanged using a Digital Signature Certificate. Further, you can use certificates to encrypt information such that only the intended recipient can read it. You can digitally sign information to assure the recipient that it has not been changed in transit. And also verify your identity as the sender of the message
