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.
An electronic signature captures a signer's agreement to a document digitally. At its simplest it is a typed or drawn name; what makes one trustworthy is the evidence around it - proof of the signer's identity, a recorded intent to sign, timestamps, and a fingerprint of the exact file that was signed so it cannot be altered afterwards without detection.
In England and Wales electronic signatures are admissible and widely recognised for most commercial documents. A few document types, such as deeds, wills and land transfers, carry extra formalities, so the right approach depends on the document.
In 99 Data Rooms
How it works here.
E-signature is included in 99 Data Rooms from the Pro tier. You place fields on a PDF, assign them to signers and send. Every executed document carries an audit certificate recording the signer's IP, a confirmed intent-to-sign step, timestamps and a SHA-256 fingerprint of the signed file. On Business you can also require a one-time emailed code before signing.
Common questions
Electronic signature, in short.
Are electronic signatures legally valid in the UK?
Electronic signatures are admissible and widely recognised under the law of England and Wales for most commercial documents. Some documents (deeds, wills, land transfers, lasting powers of attorney) have extra formalities. This is general information, not legal advice.
What proof do I get that a document was signed?
Each executed PDF carries an audit certificate with the signer's IP, a confirmed intent-to-sign step, timestamps and a SHA-256 fingerprint of the signed file, so the signed version is tamper-evident.
Is e-signature included or an add-on?
It is included from the Pro tier at no extra cost, with unlimited requests on Business.
Related terms
What 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.
DefinitionWhat is an NDA gate?
An NDA gate requires a viewer to accept a non-disclosure agreement before they can open a shared document, with each acceptance recorded against their email and a timestamp.
DefinitionWhat is viewer analytics (document tracking)?
Viewer analytics is page-by-page tracking of a shared document: who opened it, when, how far they read and how long they spent, so you can see genuine engagement rather than guess at it.
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.