As governments worldwide accelerate digital transformation efforts, electronic seals (eSeals) are essential to secure, efficient public sector operations. In particular, the adoption of eSeals enables public sector organizations to streamline document handling, improve compliance, and boost security. However, the benefits don’t stop there: Businesses interacting with these entities can also significantly benefit from a more digitized public sector. Here’s a look at how eSeals are transforming government processes and what this means for companies seeking streamlined operations, compliance, and competitive advantages.
As the issuers of different licenses and permits for citizens, authorities used to rely on paper- or card-based documents with analog security measures like special prints, watermarks, and official stamps. These processes for issuing documents turned out to be one of the biggest hurdles to digitalization in the public sector environment, and there have been many worries about the security of digital certificates. Unprotected electronic documents could easily be tampered with. However, eSeals offers the highest protection against tampering and forgery while making verifying a sealed document easy.
A key advantage of electronic seals is their ability to maintain the integrity and authenticity of public records and documents. Once an eSeal is applied effectively “locks” the document, flagging any unauthorized modifications and enabling secure, traceable exchanges. This feature is especially valuable in public sector transactions, guaranteeing document authenticity is paramount. When public entities adopt eSeals, businesses, and citizens gain confidence that official digital documents and records—such as permits, certifications, and contracts—are legitimate, fostering smoother interactions and reducing disputes over document validity.
Implementing eSeals in public sector processes brings significant cost savings by minimizing the need for paper-based documentation, storage, and distribution. Digitizing these processes results in a streamlined, paperless approach that reduces government overhead and improves administrative efficiency. Unlike electronic signatures, eSeals are not tied to a natural person but to a legal entity. This regulatory aspect allows for badge processing of large document amounts. This means faster processing times, fewer delays in regulatory approvals, and streamlined workflows. The shift to digital lowers operational costs and reduces friction in interactions between government institutions and businesses.
The need for advanced cybersecurity measures grows as the public sector increasingly digitizes sensitive data. Malicious actors are developing more sophisticated attack methods than ever, including phishing and fake “official” letters and documents. eSeals and eSignatures can help protect state employees from these attacks by ensuring the authenticity of official communiqués and personal emails.
Electronic seals can help digitize many administrative processes, but they still represent an excellent hurdle for end-to-end digital citizen-to-government or business-to-government interactions. By strengthening trust in digital documents, electronic seals can help drive the adoption of eGovernment initiatives. By partnering with a trusted European provider like Swisscom Trust Services, authorities can ensure compliance with all relevant local regulations, such as eIDAS or NIS2.
Swisscom Trust Services benefits from a vast partner network and has a proven record of building solutions in highly regulated sectors like healthcare. If you are looking for specific use cases in the public sector, we can create tailored solutions for your problem.