Digital Signatures With more registrants transitioning to digital workflows, the use of digital signatures has grown 278 per cent in the past five years, to almost 12,500 registrants .
As digital signature use increases, so too does APEGA’s ability to safeguard the public. Digital signatures are easily revoked once a licensed professional is no longer active on the register— removing their ability to digitally authenticate documents if they are not supposed to do so. Why are digital signatures important? Digital signatures are used by engineering and geoscience professionals to authenticate their professional work products. Encrypted digital signatures are the most secure option for signing electronic documents because they: •guarantee the document’s integrity •prove the signer is an APEGA licensed professional •prevent documents from being altered after signing With the introduction of CertifiO Cloud, licensed professionals now have the flexibility to sign documents on the go using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. This new tool was added by Notarius, our third-party digital signature provider.
Authentication 101 Authentication adds another layer to public protection. It means that a professional work product (PWP) has been created or reviewed by an APEGA licensed professional and that they take professional responsibility for it. PWPs—such as geological reports, engineered drawings, or 3D computer models—contain technical information that others rely on, and they must be authenticated. •Licensed professionals can physically authenticate PWPs with their stamp, the date, their APEGA ID, and their signature. Electronic stamps— usually a JPEG or TIFF file—can also be used. signatures were added in 2010, providing a convenient, fast, and more secure way for licensed professionals to authenticate PWPs and protect their identity. •Encrypted digital
Total active digital signatures
12,479
11,104
9,507
7,973
3,301
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
34 64
2023 ANNUAL REPORT
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