How Do We Choose Between a “Public Key Infrastructure” (PKI) System and a “Signature Dynamics” System?
PKI signatures have a greater degree of verifiability than signature dynamics signatures. Although both signatures are more secure than traditional handwritten, paper-based signatures, PKI allows for a third party verification of the signature, while signature dynamics signatures require additional steps (including handwriting analysis) to verify the signer of a document. PKI is designed to have immediate verifiability. Signature dynamics is designed to allow future verification of the signature (similar to a non-notarized, paper-based signature). PKI signatures are affixed to documents using software enhancements to existing applications and web-browsers. Signature Dynamics signatures require additional hardware to create the signatures. Signature Dynamics signatures are easier for the average user to comprehend, but they do not provide the level of security that is inherent in PKI signatures which are immediately verifiable with a third-party issued certificate. Public entities shoul
