Why Choose the Sectigo Document Signing Certificate?
- Adobe Approved Trust List (AATL) membership. Sectigo is listed on Adobe’s AATL, a curated program of certificate authorities whose credentials are automatically trusted in Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader. When you sign a PDF with this certificate, recipients see a valid, trusted signature without any manual configuration or extra steps on their end. This automatic trust is what separates a document signing certificate from a basic electronic signature.
- Verified signer identity. Before issuing this certificate, Sectigo performs organization validation (OV), confirming the company’s legal registration, physical address, and the individual signer’s identity through government-issued documentation. The signed document then displays the verified company name, signer name, and email address, giving recipients clear proof of who signed and on whose behalf.
- Document integrity and non-repudiation. Every digital signature created with this certificate produces a cryptographic seal that detects any post-signature modification. If someone alters even a single character after signing, the recipient’s application displays a tampering warning. Non-repudiation, the cryptographic guarantee that the signer cannot deny having signed, provides the legal enforceability that contracts, invoices, and regulated documents require.
- Secure USB hardware token. Sectigo delivers your certificate and private key pre-installed on a FIPS 140-2 compliant USB token. Signing requires both the physical token and a password, creating two-factor authentication that prevents unauthorized use. The private key never leaves the hardware, eliminating the risk of key theft through software extraction.
- Unlimited document signing. There is no cap on the number of documents you can sign during the certificate’s validity period. Whether you sign ten documents a year or ten thousand, the cost remains the same.
- Timestamping for long-term validity. Timestamping records the exact date and time of each signature, proving when the document was signed. It also enables long-term validation: the signature remains verifiable even after the certificate expires, as recipients can confirm the document was signed while the certificate was still active.
- Regulatory compliance. The Sectigo Document Signing Certificate meets the requirements of the U.S. ESIGN Act and is compatible with the EU eIDAS framework for cross-border electronic document workflows. Organizations handling contracts, financial disclosures, healthcare records, or legal filings can rely on this certificate to satisfy digital signature compliance obligations.
- Broad application support. Sign documents in Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Reader, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, LibreOffice, and OpenOffice. Any application that trusts the Sectigo root certificate or checks the AATL will recognize and validate your signature.
Sectigo Document Signing Certificate Specifications
| Certificate authority | Sectigo (formerly Comodo CA) |
| Validation level | Organization Validation (OV) |
| Encryption strength | Up to 256-bit |
| Key algorithm | RSA 3072/4096-bit; ECC available |
| Hash algorithm | SHA-2 |
| Key storage | FIPS 140-2 compliant USB token |
| Signatures | Unlimited |
| Validity options | 1 year, 2 years, 3 years |
| Issuance time | 1–7 business days |
| Trust list | Adobe Approved Trust List (AATL) |
| Refund period | 25 days |
Sectigo operated under the Comodo CA brand until November 2018. If you’re searching for a Comodo Document Signing Certificate, you’re looking at the same certificate authority, the same root certificates, and the same validation standards. SSL Dragon also offers the Comodo Document Signing Certificate under the legacy branding.
How Does a Document Signing Certificate Work?
After you purchase the Sectigo Document Signing Certificate, Sectigo’s validation team verifies your organization and the individual signer’s identity. Once approved, Sectigo ships the certificate pre-installed on a USB hardware token.
To sign a document, plug the token into your computer, open your file in Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Office, select the signing option, enter your token password, and apply the digital signature.
The recipient’s application uses public key infrastructure (PKI) to verify the signature against Sectigo’s trusted root, confirming both the signer’s identity and the document’s integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a document signing certificate?
A document signing certificate is a digital certificate issued by a certificate authority (CA) that uses PKI cryptography to bind a verified identity to electronically signed documents. Unlike a simple electronic signature (such as typing a name or drawing with a cursor), a certificate-based digital signature provides cryptographic proof of the signer’s identity, detects post-signature tampering, and delivers non-repudiation.
Is the Sectigo Document Signing Certificate trusted by Adobe?
Yes. Sectigo is a member of the Adobe Approved Trust List (AATL), which means signatures created with this certificate are automatically recognized as trusted whenever the recipient opens the signed PDF in Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader. No manual trust configuration is needed.
What is the difference between the Sectigo and the Comodo Document Signing Certificate?
They are the same product from the same certificate authority. Comodo CA rebranded to Sectigo in November 2018, but the underlying root certificates, validation process, and product specifications remain identical. SSL Dragon sells both the Sectigo and Comodo branded versions.
How is the certificate delivered?
Sectigo ships the certificate pre-installed on a FIPS 140-2 compliant USB hardware token. You plug the token into your computer and enter your password to sign documents. The private key is generated and stored on the token and cannot be exported or copied.
What documents and applications are supported?
You can sign Adobe PDF documents, Microsoft Office files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and documents created in LibreOffice and OpenOffice. Any application that trusts the Sectigo root certificate or references the AATL will validate your digital signature.
How long does validation take?
Organization validation typically takes 1–7 business days after you submit the required documentation. You’ll need to provide government-issued identification, business registration proof, and respond to Sectigo’s verification emails and phone calls. Having a valid LEI code can speed up the process.
Can I sign unlimited documents?
Yes. The Sectigo Document Signing Certificate places no limit on the number of documents you can sign during its validity period. Multi-year plans (2-year and 3-year) offer additional savings while maintaining continuous signing capability.
