What is eIDAS?
eIDAS is the EU regulation that gives electronic signatures legal status, defining three tiers - simple, advanced and qualified - with increasing levels of signer identity assurance.
eIDAS (electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services) is the European framework that makes electronic signatures legally recognised across the EU. Its central rule is that a signature cannot be denied legal effect simply because it is electronic. It then sets out three tiers so parties can match the level of assurance to the risk of the document.
The three tiers are: a simple electronic signature (for example, typing or drawing your name); an advanced electronic signature (AES), which is uniquely linked to the signer and detects any later change to the document; and a qualified electronic signature (QES), which adds identity verification by a trust service provider and carries the strongest legal weight. Higher tiers mean more proof of who signed, at more cost and friction.
Since Brexit the UK operates its own version, 'UK eIDAS', which retains the same structure in domestic law. For most everyday commercial documents a simple or advanced electronic signature is accepted in both the UK and the EU; a handful of document types carry extra formalities.
In 99 Data Rooms
How it works here.
99 Data Rooms provides electronic signature from the Pro tier, with a per-field audit trail recording the signer's IP, a confirmed intent-to-sign step, timestamps and a SHA-256 fingerprint of the signed file. That evidence supports a signature's authenticity and integrity; whether a given eIDAS tier is required for a particular document is a legal question for your adviser.
Common questions
eIDAS, in short.
Does eIDAS still apply in the UK after Brexit?
The UK kept the framework as 'UK eIDAS' in domestic law, mirroring the EU tiers. The EU regulation continues to apply within the EU. For cross-border signing, check which regime governs the document; this is general information, not legal advice.
Which eIDAS tier do I need?
It depends on the document and the risk. Many routine commercial agreements are signed with a simple or advanced electronic signature; higher-value or regulated documents may call for a qualified signature. Take legal advice for your specific case.
Related terms
What is an electronic signature?
An electronic signature is a way to sign a document online instead of on paper, and a strong one comes with an audit trail proving who signed, when and with intent.
DefinitionWhat is an audit trail?
An audit trail is a chronological, tamper-evident record of who did what and when to a document or system - a log you can rely on later to prove exactly what happened.
DefinitionWhat is a virtual data room?
A virtual data room (VDR) is a secure online space for sharing sensitive business documents with outside parties, where every viewer is controlled and every view is tracked.
Try it on a real document. Turn a PDF into a tracked, revocable link in a couple of minutes. Three rooms stay free for as long as you want them, no card required.