Skip to main content

Entrust Code Signing Certificate vs. Entrust Document Signing Certificate: Understanding the Difference

Problem

Learn the difference between Entrust Code Signing Certificates and Entrust Document Signing Certificates. Find out which one is the best for your needs and why.

Summary

Learn the difference between Entrust Code Signing Certificates and Entrust Document Signing Certificates. Find out which one is the best for your needs and why.


In today's digital age, online security is more important than ever before. As the number of online transactions and activities continues to increase, so does the need for secure digital signature solutions . Entrust, a leading provider of digital certificate solutions, offers two popular products for secure online transactions: Entrust Code Signing Certificate and Entrust Document Signing Certificate .

Entrust Code Signing Certificate

A code signing certificate is a digital signature that is attached to software code to verify its authenticity and author. It is primarily used to sign executable code , scripts , and other software applications. An Entrust Code Signing Certificate offers a high level of assurance that the software code has not been tampered with or modified since it was signed by the developer.

One of the key features of an Entrust Code Signing Certificate is its compatibility with all major operating systems and platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This means that developers can use the certificate to sign code for different platforms, making it a versatile solution for software development. Plus, it provides timestamping for an extra layer of security that ensures the digital signature remains valid even if the certificate has expired, which can be critical for software that is used over an extended period of time.

Entrust Document Signing Certificate

A document signing certificate is a digital signature that is attached to a document to verify the identity of the signer and the integrity of the document. It is primarily used for signing PDF documents, but can also sign other types of files such as Word or Excel files. An Entrust Document Signing Certificate provides a high level of assurance that the document has not been tampered with or altered since it was signed.

One of the key features of an Entrust Document Signing Certificate is its compatibility with all major PDF readers , including Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Edge. This means that documents signed with an Entrust Document Signing Certificate can be opened and validated on any platform, making it a versatile solution for document signing. Additionally, it provides long-term validation, which ensures that the digital signature remains valid even if the certificate has expired, which can be important for legal or regulatory compliance.

Which one is the best for your needs?

While both Entrust Code Signing Certificate and Entrust Document Signing Certificate provide digital signatures for verifying the authenticity and integrity of software code and documents, they serve different purposes and have unique features that make them more suitable for specific use cases.

If you are a software developer, Entrust Code Signing Certificate is the right solution for you. It's versatile, compatible with all major operating systems and platforms, and provides timestamping for an extra layer of security. This makes it the ideal solution for signing software code for different platforms and ensuring that the digital signature remains valid even if the certificate has expired.