Is Scrive a Trust Service Provider?
Yes. Scrive is not just a Trust Service Provider (TSP) under eIDAS, but also a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP). This means Scrive meets the highest standards of security and privacy defined by the EU eIDAS regulation. As a QTSP, Scrive is authorised to issue certificates, signatures, and seals at the qualified level, offering the strongest legal protection and security available.
QTSPs play a crucial role in the digital economy by ensuring the integrity and security of electronic transactions. They help build trust and confidence by safeguarding sensitive data and providing reliable validation.
The European Commission’s Trusted List includes all QTSPs across the EU, along with details of their qualified and non-qualified trust services. Scrive is featured in this list, which is publicly available on the EU website.
Introduction and meaning of trust services
Digital businesses offers many benefits, but how can organisations mitigate risks, gain customer trust, and ensure regulatory compliance? The solution lies in working with a Trust Service Provider (TSP).
TSPs are third-party entities that secure online transactions and provide methods for validating them afterward. According to Article 3 of the eIDAS regulation, trust services include:
Creating, verifying, and validating electronic signatures, seals, and time stamps
Providing certificates for website authentication
Preserving the integrity of electronic signatures and seals
These services ensure the authenticity, integrity, and security of digital transactions.
Benefits of trust services
Trust services enhance business operations by providing:
Data security and privacy: Safeguarding sensitive information.
Validation: Ensuring the authenticity and integrity of signed agreements and electronic documents.
Legal evidence: Offering a clear audit trail that can be used in legal disputes.
Time-stamping: Verifying the exact time of a transaction.
Qualified trust services
Qualified trust services, defined under eIDAS, provide the highest level of security and legal recognition. Only QTSPs are authorised to offer:
Qualified electronic signatures, seals, and time stamps
Certificates for secure transactions and website authentication
QTSPs undergo rigorous certification and regular audits by EU-approved supervisory bodies to maintain their status. This ensures the highest level of trust, security, and efficiency in digital transactions.
Legal protection
Using qualified trust services provides significant legal advantages. Transactions secured by QTSPs are automatically recognised as valid and legally binding across the EU. This means the burden of proof lies with the party challenging the transaction—not with the user of the QTSP.
For example:
A document signed with a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES), issued by a QTSP, is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature and trusted EU-wide.
By contrast, a document signed with an Advanced Electronic Signature (AES) lacks the same legal standing. The business using AES must prove its validity in court, including verifying the signatories' identities and ensuring the document has not been tampered with.