Qualified Electronic Time Stamp

Learn about the qualified time stamp services from AlfaTrust Certification and find out how you can use them to guarantee the authenticity of electronic data.

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What is a qualified electronic time stamp?

A qualified electronic time stamp is a set of electronic data, unique for each document, certifying that the document was presented to the service provider at a certain moment in time.

The time stamp is attached to an electronic document allowing for the document to be uniquely identified without revealing its content. The time stamp includes information about the issuer of the time stamp, stamp identification information, and the date and time when the time stamp was produced.

Characteristics of a qualified time stamp

In addition to the moment in time, the qualified time stamp includes:

  • A unique hash of the document, associating the document to the issued time stamp.
  • Un număr de ordine unic al mărcii temporale, identificând-o între toate mărcile emise de o Autoritate de Marcare Temporală.
  • The electronic signature of the Time Stamping Authority.

Benefits of the AlfaTrust Certification time stamping service

  • Compliant authorisation: The time stamping service is regulated by Law 451/2004 and European Regulation 910/2014 e-IDAS.
  • Safety and confidentiality: The document hash allows the document to be identified without revealing its content.
  • Time saving: The document checking process is automated, significantly reducing the manual work efforts.

How to access the services of AlfaTrust Certification?

To use the qualified time stamp services, you need:

  • A qualified digital certificate as per Law 455/2004.
  • Specialised software, such as TrustSigner or Adobe Reader.

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Why choose AlfaTrust Certification?

AlfaTrust Certification is a trusted service provider authorised according to Law 451/2004 on time stamping and European Regulation 910/2014 e-IDAS.

The time source of the AlfaTrust Certification service is synchronised with the national time source of the Authority for the Digitalisation of Romania (ADR).

As of 16 December 2011, AlfaTrust Certification S.A. offers qualified time stamping services available as service bundles or subscription-based.

Why do you need a qualified electronic time stamp?

You need a qualified electronic time stamp for giving your digital documents a certified date and time, preventing legal disputes. Certifying the moment when the document was created or changed guarantees:

    Data integrity

    Any subsequent change can be immediately identified.

    Legal validity

    Time stamped documents can be used as evidence in court.

    Legal compliance

    Compliant with European and national legal requirements.

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How does an electronic time stamp work?

The time stamp associates a package of data to an electronic document, guaranteeing that the document existed in a specific form at a specific moment in time.

The time base is the unitary time reference system that all service providers refer to.

To avoid any disputes, a time stamp needs to be added after electronically signing a document, thus confirming the existence of the signed information at a certain moment in time (certified date).