Skip to content

Digital Signature

What is Digital Signature?

A cryptographic mechanism that provides authentication, integrity, and non-repudiation for digital messages or documents. Digital signatures use public key cryptography to verify the sender's identity and ensure the content has not been altered.

Information Security

Terms that appear alongside digital signature

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as digital signature. The number is how many controls name both.

Frameworks that govern digital signature

ISO 27001:2022View framework →NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5View framework →

What the standards actually require on digital signature

Requirements naming digital signature across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

Australian Information Security Manual12 controls

When using ML-DSA for digital signatures, the hedged variant is used whenever possible.

ISM-1992 · When using ML-DSA for digital signatures, the hedged variant is used whenever possible. →
HL7 FHIR Security Framework2 controls

HL7 FHIR Audit + Provenance + Digital Signatures. AUDITEVENT LOGGING (FHIR-SEC-07 + FHIR-SEC-4.1) - FHIR AuditEvent Resource for structured audit logging + IETF RFC 3881 + IHE ATNA + DICOM Audit + comprehensive audit trail of: (a) authentication events;

HL7-FHIR-Audit-Provenance-DigitalSignatures-Integrity · HL7 FHIR Audit + Provenance + Digital Signatures + AuditEvent Resource + Audit Log Integrity + Retention →
ITU-T X.805 - Security Architecture for End-to-End Communications2 controls

Security Dimension 3 Non-Repudiation per X.805 Clause 6.3: Non-repudiation provides means for preventing an individual or entity from denying having performed a particular action related to data by making available proof of various network-related actions (e.g...

X805-Dim3-Non-Repudiation-Proof-Origin-Delivery-Sender-Receiver-Denial-Prevention · ITU-T X.805 Security Dimension 3 - Non-Repudiation + Proof of Origin + Proof of Delivery + Sender + Receiver Denial Prevention + Digital Signatures + Timestamping + Audit Logs + Forensic Evidence + Court-Admissible Records →
NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Standards (FIPS 203, 204, 205)2 controls

Implement FIPS 204 ML-DSA (Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm) based on CRYSTALS-Dilithium for digital signatures + authentication + non-repudiation.

PQC-3 · FIPS 204 ML-DSA Implementation - Module-Lattice Digital Signature →
Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite (CNSA) 2.01 control

Use ML-DSA-87 (FIPS 204, formerly CRYSTALS-Dilithium) for quantum-resistant general-purpose digital signatures, replacing ECDSA and RSA signatures.

CNSA2-SIG · Digital Signatures: ML-DSA-87 →
FDA 21 CFR Part 112 controls

Section 11.30 establishes the controls for OPEN SYSTEMS. Persons who use open systems to create + modify + maintain + transmit electronic records must employ procedures + controls designed to ensure the authenticity + integrity + as appropriate the confidentia...

Part11.30 · Controls for open systems (21 CFR §11.30) →

Questions people ask about digital signature

What is Digital Signature?
A cryptographic mechanism that provides authentication, integrity, and non-repudiation for digital messages or documents. Digital signatures use public key cryptography to verify the sender's identity and ensure the content has not been altered.
Why is Digital Signature important for compliance?
Digital Signature is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding digital signature helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Digital Signature?
Digital Signature appears in the requirement text of Australian Information Security Manual, HL7 FHIR Security Framework, ITU-T X.805 - Security Architecture for End-to-End Communications, NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Standards (FIPS 203, 204, 205), Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite (CNSA) 2.0. Across these standards we have identified 21 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Digital Signature?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how digital signature applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 686 frameworks.

See how Digital Signature applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Explore on Platform
Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.