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Adobe Acrobat Sign Identity Authentication Methods

 

Adobe Acrobat Sign Guide

What's New

  1. Pre-Release Notes
  2. Release Notes
  3. Important Notifications

Get Started

  1. Quick start guide for administrators
  2. Quick start guide for users
  3. For Developers
  4. Video tutorial library
  5. FAQ

Administer

  1. Admin Console Overview
  2. User Management
    1. Adding users
      1. Add a User
      2. Add Users in Bulk
      3. Add Users from your Directory
      4. Add Users from MS Azure Active Directory
    2. Create function-focused users
      1. Technical accounts - API driven
      2. Service accounts - Manually driven
    3. Check for users with provisioning errors
    4. Change Name/Email Address
    5. Edit a user's group membership
    6. Edit a user's group membership through the group interface
    7. Promote a user to an admin role
    8. User Identity Types and SSO
    9. Switch User Identity
    10. Authenticate Users with MS Azure
    11. Authenticate Users with Google Federation
    12. Product Profiles
    13. Login Experience 
  3. Account/Group Settings
    1. Settings Overview
    2. Global Settings
      1. Account tier and ID
      2. New Recipient Experience
      3. Self Signing Workflows
      4. Send in Bulk
      5. Web Forms
      6. Custom Send Workflows
      7. Power Automate Workflows
      8. Library Documents
      9. Collect form data with agreements
      10. Limited Document Visibility
      11. Attach a PDF copy of the signed agreement 
      12. Include a link in the email
      13. Include an image in the email
      14. Files attached to email will be named as
      15. Attach audit reports to documents
      16. Merge multiple documents into one
      17. Download individual documents
      18. Upload a signed document
      19. Delegation for users in my account
      20. Allow external recipients to delegate
      21. Authority to sign
      22. Authority to send
      23. Power to add Electronic Seals
      24. Set a default time zone
      25. Set a default date format
      26. Users in Multiple Groups (UMG)
        1. Upgrade to use UMG
      27. Group Administrator Permissions
      28. Replace recipient
      29. Audit Report
        1. Overview
        2. Allow unauthenticated access on the transaction verification page
        3. Include reminders
        4. Include view events
        5. Include agreement page/attachment count
      30. In Product Messaging and Guidance
      31. Accessible PDFs
      32. New authoring experience
      33. Healthcare customer
    3. Account Setup
      1. Add logo
      2. Customize company Hostname/URL    
      3. Add company name
      4. Post agreement URL redirect
    4. Signature Preferences
      1. Well formatted signatures
      2. Allow recipients to sign by
      3. Signers can change their name
      4. Allow recipients to use their saved signature
      5. Custom Terms of Use and Consumer Disclosure
      6. Navigate recipients through form fields
      7. Decline to sign
      8. Allow Stamps workflows
      9. Require signers to provide their Title or Company
      10. Allow signers to print and place a written signature
      11. Show messages when e-signing
      12. Require signers to use a mobile device to create their signature
      13. Request IP address from signers
      14. Exclude company name and title from participation stamps
    5. Digital Signatures
      1. Overview
      2. Download and sign with Acrobat
      3. Sign with Cloud Signatures
      4. Include metadata for Identity Providers
      5. Restricted Cloud Signatures Providers
    6. Electronic Seals
    7. Digital Identity
      1. Digital Identity Gateway
      2. Identity Check policy
    8. Report Settings
      1. New report experience
      2. Classic report settings
    9. Security Settings
      1. Single Sign-on settings
      2. Remember-me settings
      3. Login password policy
      4. Login password strength
      5. Web session duration
      6. PDF encryption type
      7. API
      8. User and group info access
      9. Allowed IP Ranges
      10. Account Sharing
      11. Account sharing permissions
      12. Agreement sharing controls
      13. Signer identity verification
      14. Agreement signing password
      15. Document password strength
      16. Block signers by Geolocation
      17. Phone Authentication
      18. Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA)
      19. Allow page extraction
      20. Document link expiration
      21. Upload a client certificate for webhooks/callbacks
      22. Timestamp
    10. Send settings
      1. Show Send page after login
      2. Require recipient name when sending
      3. Lock name values for known users
      4. Allowed recipient roles
      5. Allow e-Witnesses
      6. Recipient groups
      7. Required fields
      8. Attaching documents
      9. Field flattening
      10. Modify Agreements
      11. Agreement name
      12. Languages
      13. Private messages
      14. Allowed signature types
      15. Reminders
      16. Signed document password protection
      17. Send Agreement Notification through
      18. Signer identification options
        1. Overview
        2. Signing password
        3. One-Time Password via Email
        4. Acrobat Sign authentication
        5. Phone authentication
        6. Cloud-based digital signature
        7. Knowledge-based authentication
        8. Government ID
        9. Signer Identity reports
      19. Content Protection
      20. Enable Notarize transactions
      21. Document Expiration
      22. Preview, position signatures, and add fields
      23. Signing order
      24. Liquid mode
      25. Custom workflow controls
      26. Upload options for the e-sign page
      27. Post-sign confirmation URL redirect
    11. Message Templates
    12. Bio-Pharma Settings
      1. Overview
      2. Enforce identity authentication
      3. Signing reasons
    13. Workflow Integration
    14. Notarization Settings
    15. Payments Integration
    16. Signer Messaging
    17. SAML Settings
      1. SAML Configuration
      2. Install Microsoft Active Directory Federation Service
      3. Install Okta
      4. Install OneLogin
      5. Install Oracle Identity Federation
    18. Data Governance
    19. Time Stamp Settings
    20. External Archive
    21. Account Languages
    22. Email Settings
      1. Email header/footer images
      2. Permit individual user email footers
      3. Customize the Signature Requested email
      4. Customize the To and CC fields
      5. Enable Linkless Notifications
      6. Customize email templates
    23. Migrating from echosign.com to adobesign.com
    24. Configure Options for Recipients
  4. Guidance for regulatory requirements
    1. Accessibility
      1. Accessibility Compliance
      2. Create accessible forms with Acrobat desktop
      3. Create accessible AcroForms
    2. HIPAA
    3. GDPR
      1. GDPR Overview
      2. Redact a user
      3. Redact a user's agreements    
    4. 21 CFR part 11 and EudraLex Annex 11
      1. 21 CRF part 11 validation pack
      2. 21 CFR and EudraLex Annex 11 handbook
      3. Analysis of shared responsibilities
    5. Healthcare customers
    6. IVES support
    7. "Vaulting" agreements
    8. EU/UK considerations
      1. EU/UK Cross-border transactions and eIDAS
      2. HMLR requirements for deeds signed electronically
      3. The impact of Brexit on e-signature laws in the UK
  5. Download Agreements in Bulk
  6. Claim your domain 
  7. Report Abuse links

Send, Sign, and Manage Agreements

  1. Recipient Options
    1. Cancel an email reminder
    2. Options on the e-signing page
      1. Overview of the e-sign page
      2. Open to read the agreement without fields
      3. Decline to sign an agreement
      4. Delegate signing authority
      5. Restart the agreement
      6. Download a PDF of the agreement
      7. View the agreement history
      8. View the agreement messages
      9. Convert from an electronic to a written signature
      10. Convert from a written to an electronic signature 
      11. Navigate the form fields
      12. Clear the data from the form fields
      13. E-sign page magnification and navigation
      14. Change the language used in the agreement tools and information
      15. Review the Legal Notices
      16. Adjust Acrobat Sign Cookie Preferences
  2. Send Agreements  
    1. Send page overview
    2. Send an agreement only to yourself
    3. Send an agreement to others
    4. Written Signatures
    5. Recipient signing order
    6. Send in Bulk
      1. Overview of the Send in Bulk feature
      2. Send in Bulk - Configure a parent template
      3. Send in Bulk - Configure the CSV file
      4. Cancel a Send in Bulk transaction
      5. Add reminders to Send in Bulk
      6. Reporting for Send in Bulk
  3. Authoring fields into documents
    1. In-app authoring environment
      1. Automatic field detection
      2. Drag and drop fields using the authoring environment
      3. Assign form fields to recipients
      4. The Prefill role
      5. Apply fields with a reusable field template
      6. Transfer fields to a new library template
      7. Updated authoring environment when sending agreements
    2. Create forms with text tags
    3. Create forms using Acrobat (AcroForms)
      1. AcroForm creation
      2. Creating accessible PDFs
    4. Fields
      1. Field types
        1. Common field types
        2. In-line Images
        3. Stamp Images
      2. Field content appearance
      3. Field validations
      4. Masked fields values
      5. Setting show/hide conditions
      6. Calculated fields 
    5. Authoring FAQ
  4. Sign Agreements
    1. Sign agreements sent to you
    2. Fill & Sign
    3. Self-signing
  5. Manage Agreements
    1. Manage page overview
    2. Delegate agreements
    3. Replace Recipients
    4. Limit Document Visibility 
    5. Cancel an Agreement 
    6. Create new reminders
    7. Review reminders
    8. Cancel a reminder
    9. Access Power Automate flows
    10. More Actions...
      1. How search works
      2. View an agreement
      3. Create a template from an agreement
      4. Hide/Unhide agreements from view
      5. Upload a signed agreement
      6. Modify a sent agreement's files and fields
      7. Edit a recipient's authentication method
      8. Add or modify an expiration date
      9. Add a Note to the agreement
      10. Share an individual agreement
      11. Unshare an agreement
      12. Download an individual agreement
      13. Download the individual files of an agreement
      14. Download the Audit Report of an agreement
      15. Download the field content of an agreement
  6. Audit Report
  7. Reporting and Data exports
    1. Overview
    2. Grant users access to reporting
    3. Report charts
      1. Create a new report
      2. Agreement Reports
      3. Transaction Reports
      4. Settings Activity Report
      5. Edit a report
    4. Data Exports 
      1. Create a new data export
      2. Edit a data export
      3. Refresh the data export content
      4. Download the data export
    5. Rename a report/export
    6. Duplicate a report/export
    7. Schedule a report/export
    8. Delete a report/export
    9. Check Transaction Usage

Advanced Agreement Capabilities and Workflows

  1. Webforms 
    1. Create a web form
    2. Edit a web form
    3. Disable/Enable a web form
    4. Hide/Unhide a web form
    5. Find the URL or script code 
    6. Prefill web form fields with URL parameters
    7. Save a web form to complete later
    8. Resize a web form
  2. Reusable Templates (Library templates) 
    1. US Government forms in the Acrobat Sign library
    2. Create a library template
    3. Change a library template's name
    4. Change a library template's type
    5. Change a library template's permission level
    6. Copy, edit, and save a shared template
    7. Download the aggregate field data for a library template
  3. Transfer ownership of web forms and library templates
  4. Power Automate Workflows 
    1. Overview of the Power Automate integration and included entitlements
    2. Enable the Power Automate integration
    3. In-Context Actions on the Manage page
    4. Track Power Automate usage
    5. Create a new flow (Examples)
    6. Triggers used for flows
    7. Importing flows from outside Acrobat Sign
    8. Manage flows
    9. Edit flows
    10. Share flows
    11. Disable or Enable flows
    12. Delete flows
    13. Useful Templates
      1. Administrator only
        1. Save all completed documents to SharePoint
        2. Save all completed documents to OneDrive for Business
        3. Save all completed documents to Google Drive
        4. Save all completed documents to DropBox
        5. Save all completed documents to Box
      2. Agreement archival
        1. Save your completed documents to SharePoint
        2. Save your completed documents to One Drive for Business
        3. Save your completed documents to Google Drive
        4. Save your completed documents to DropBox
        5. Save your completed documents to Box
      3. Webform agreement archival
        1. Save completed web form documents to SharePoint Library
        2. Save completed web form documents to OneDrive for Business
        3. Save completed   documents to Google Drive
        4. Save completed web form documents to Box
      4. Agreement data extraction
        1. Extract form field data from your signed document and update Excel sheet
      5. Agreement notifications
        1. Send custom email notifications with your agreement contents and signed agreement
        2. Get your Adobe Acrobat Sign notifications in a Teams Channel
        3. Get your Adobe Acrobat Sign notifications in Slack
        4. Get your Adobe Acrobat Sign notifications in Webex
      6. Agreement generation
        1. Generate document from Power App form and Word template, send for signature
        2. Generate agreement from Word template in OneDrive, and get signature
        3. Generate agreement for selected Excel row, send for review and signature
  5. Custom Send workflows
    1. Custom Send Workflow Overview
    2. Creating a new Send Workflow
    3. Edit a Send Workflow
    4. Activate or Deactivate a Send Workflow
    5. Send an agreement with a Send Workflow
  6. Share users and agreements
    1. Share a user
    2. Share agreements

Integrate with other products

  1.  Acrobat Sign integrations overview 
  2. Acrobat Sign for Salesforce
  3. Acrobat Sign for Microsoft
    1. Acrobat Sign for Microsoft 365
    2. Acrobat Sign for Outlook
    3. Acrobat Sign for Word/PowerPoint
    4. Acrobat Sign for Teams
    5. Acrobat Sign for Microsoft PowerApps and Power Automate
    6. Acrobat Sign Connector for Microsoft Search
    7. Acrobat Sign for Microsoft Dynamics 
    8. Acrobat Sign for Microsoft SharePoint 
  4. Other Integrations
    1. Acrobat Sign for ServiceNow
    2. Acrobat Sign for HR ServiceNow
    3. Acrobat Sign for SAP SuccessFactors
    4. Acrobat Sign for Workday
    5. Acrobat Sign for NetSuite
    6. Acrobat Sign for VeevaVault
    7. Acrobat Sign for Coupa BSM Suite
  5. Partner managed integrations
  6. How to obtain an integration key

Acrobat Sign Developer

  1. REST APIs 
    1. Methods documentation
    2. SDK/Developer Guide
    3. API FAQ    
  2. Webhooks 
    1. Webhook overview
    2. Configure a new webhook
    3. View or edit a webhook
    4. Deactivate or reactivate a webhook
    5. Delete a webhook
    6. Two-way SSL certificates
    7. Webhooks in the API

Support and Troubleshooting

  1. Customer Support Resources 
  2. Enterprise Customer Success Resources 

Obtaining signatures and approvals from recipients can require varying levels of authentication depending on the document involved. Adobe Acrobat Sign supports a full range of authentication methods, from simple, single-factor verification to sophisticated, two-factor authentication based on government-issued documents.

Identity authentication

Authenticating a recipient's identity is a critical element of the Acrobat Sign system to obtain a legal signature and improve non-repudiation.

However, different business purposes have different demands on identity authentication. Consider the different levels of identity assurance you would demand for the following transactions:

  • Time off request at work
  • A child's grade card from school
  • Private event registration
  • Membership in a gym
  • Medical records access
  • CFR 21 part 11 compliant documents

Acrobat Sign provides a control set that allows authentication types to be defined at the account and group level with definable default values to streamline the sender's experience and better ensure compliance with company signature policies.

Keeping in mind that the more robust authentication methods insert more "friction" to the signature process, admins should configure the account or group defaults to support the most common authentication requirement, opting for the least complex option where possible and allowing editable options if some transactions demand more complex solutions.

Key terminology

Internal vs. External Recipients

Authentication controls make specific accommodations to configure authentication methods for two types of recipients, Internal and External:

  • Internal recipients include every active user (as identified by the email address) within the same Acrobat  Sign account from which the agreement was sent
    • A list of every user in your account is a list of all internal users
    • It does not matter what group the recipient is in as long as the user is in the same account structure
  • External recipients include every recipient email address not attached to an internal user
    • Every email address not included in an account-level user list is an external user

Delineating the recipients in this manner allows workflows to leverage high-level authentication for external recipients while using more cost-effective authentication for internal users.

Note:

One company (email domain) can have multiple Acrobat Sign accounts.

Only the users resident in each discrete account are internal to each other. External accounts house external recipients in all cases.

Single-factor recipient authentication methods

Acrobat Sign Authentication

Acrobat Sign Authentication prompts the recipient to authenticate to the Acrobat Sign system.

This method is primarily used as a "low-friction" counter-signature option for your internal recipients when you have signature requirements requiring a logged and authenticated event.

Caution:

Care should be taken before assigning Acrobat Sign Authentication to external recipients:

  • Acrobat Sign Authentication is not a second-factor authentication method.
  • External recipients may or may not have an active Acrobat Sign user. They must register and verify a user before authenticating if they don't.
  • Internal recipients (by definition) are known to be active Acrobat Sign users, so it's known that they can authenticate without issue.

Recipients are asked to authenticate to Acrobat Sign before they can interact with the agreement contents:

Acrobat Sign authentication challenge

One-Time Password via email  

The One Time Password via email (OTPvEm) authentication method supplies a single-factor authentication, providing some protection with minimum user friction.

Because the one-time passcode is delivered to the same email address as the original signature link, the OTPvEm authentication method is considered a single-factor authentication method. However, the OTPvEm does not require users to create an account or log in to another application. They only need access to their email, making this method lower friction.

And using OTPvEm provides some additional security that simply relying on the email link does not. For example:

  • Access to an email does not mean that the email box is compromised. The OTMvEm authentication will maintain the agreement's security if an email link is exposed, but the email box is secured.
  • Suppose an agreement email is improperly forwarded (vs. proper delegation). In that case, the OTPvEm challenge will prevent the agreement from being accessed, preserving the audit report integrity regarding the identified signer's email and the actual signer.

The recipient must enter the passcode within 60 seconds of asking for the code. Once the code is successfully entered, the recipient can interact with the agreement.

OTPvEm challenge for the code

Second-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Acrobat Sign supports several second-factor authentication methods for higher-value transactions that demand more than single-factor verification.

The method of authentication is usually dictated by the type of document or industry of the involved parties. It is incumbent on the admin to understand their internal signature policies and possible compliance demands.

Below is a summary of the available second-factor authentication options with links to more detailed descriptions:

Signer password authentications require the sender to type in the password (twice)

  • Passwords are Alpha/Numeric only. No special characters
  • The sender must communicate the password to the recipient through some external channel
  • The password is not stored in clear text anywhere in the application. If the password is lost, it cannot be recovered, and the sender will have to reset it

Recipients are asked to enter the password before they can view the agreement contents:

Password authentication challenge

Phone authentication delivers a six-digit code to the recipient which must be entered for the agreement to be exposed.

  • The recipient's phone number must be entered during the creation of the agreement by the sender.
  • If the recipient delegates their signature authority, they are asked to provide a valid phone number for the new recipient. A correct phone number must be provided, or authentication will ultimately fail.
  • The recipient has the option to select a Text Message (for smartphones that can receive text messages) or a Voice Call (if a text-enabled phone isn't available).
    • The authentication code is valid for ten minutes after it is delivered.

The recipient requests the code, and must enter it prior to viewing the agreement content:

Phone authentication challenge

Knowledge-Based Authentication is a high-level authentication method used mainly in financial institutions and other scenarios that demand a strong assertion of the signer's identity.

The recipient is prompted to enter personal information, which is used to gather several nontrivial questions from their past (using public databases). Each question must be answered correctly to gain access to the agreement.

KBA is valid only for recipients in the USA.

KBA authentication challenge

Government ID authentication instructs the recipient to supply an image of a government-issued document (Driver's license, Passport) and a selfie to establish a strong verification record.

Recipients are challenged to provide a phone number to a smartphone initially and then are walked through the process of uploading the document and selfie images:

Government ID authentication challenge

Cloud-based digital signatures require that a signer authenticates to a third-party identity provider to apply a digital signature.

Acrobat Sign supports a wide range of signature providers in multiple countries. Administrators can configure their account (or specific groups) to accept digital signatures from one or more providers.

In most cases, customers enter into an agreement with the identity provider to accommodate their volume of signatures. Acrobat Sign acts only as a platform for the digital signature to be requested and provided, with no additional costs added by Adobe. Accounts with a VIP license can purchase Aadhaar identity transactions through Adobe as an add-on and track their consumption in the admin menu.

Digital signature controls when Aadhaar is enabled

"Premium" signer authentication methods

Phone, KBA, Government ID, and Cloud-based digital signatures are "premium" authentication methods.

Premium authentication methods are a metered resource that must be purchased prior to use. Contact your success manager or sales agent for details.

Note:

New enterprise and business-level accounts are given 50 free Phone and KBA transactions when the account is launched.

Automatic cancelation thresholds

All second-factor authentication methods have configurable thresholds that cancel the agreement when a recipient fails to authenticate an unacceptable number of times.

  • The agreement owner (sender) will be notified that the agreement is canceled
    • Only the sender is notified.
    • Canceled agreements cannot be returned to active status. A new agreement must be created.

Digital Identity verification

Digital Identity verification leverages a Federated identity provider (IdP) that is licensed externally to the Acrobat Sign service and must be configured prior to becoming accessible when composing agreements.

Full details of the Digital Identity solution can be found here >

The details of the recipient experience vary based on the identity provider that the sender uses. At a high level, the recipient is informed that identity verification is to be resolved through a federated IdP, with a Verify Identity button available to trigger the verification process.

Digital Identity authenticaiton

How senders select an authentication method

When configuring an agreement, senders can select an authentication method from a drop-down menu just to the right of the recipient's email address.

Most authentication methods can be configured to be the selected default value to simplify the sending process. Only the Digital Identity options can not be configured as a default authentication value.

Select the authentication method for the recipient

The recipient experience

Typically, a recipient is first made aware of an agreement awaiting their attention via email.

  • If the agreement is sent with no (None) authentication, selecting the Review and sign button in the email opens the agreement for viewing and action.
  • If the agreement has an additional authentication method configured, selecting the Review and sign button in the email opens the authentication challenge page.
    • Once the challenge is satisfied, the agreement is opened for interaction.
Review and Sign email

Note:

A user authenticated into Acrobat Sign can typically view agreements waiting for their signature on their Manage page without authenticating. The authentication challenge is presented to the recipient when using the Review and sign link to interact with the agreement (sign, fill form fields, etc).

Accounts that enable the Don’t challenge the signer to re-authenticate if they are already logged in to Acrobat Sign setting will skip authentication when accessing the agreement from their Manage page.

Audit Report events

Each second-factor authentication method has an explicit success message that identifies the method used.

If no (None) authentication is selected, the audit report only indicates that the document was signed:

Audit report examples

Configurable options and defaults

Admin controls

The account-level settings can be accessed by logging in as an Adobe Sign account-level admin and navigating to Account Settings > Send Settings > Signer Identification Options

All controls can also be configured at the group level. Remember that:

  • All groups inherit the account level settings by default.
  • Group-level configurations override the account-level settings.
  • All options available on the Send page are derived from the settings of the group the agreement is being sent from.

The controls are divided into two sections:

  • Signer Identification Options - The primary set of identity authentication settings. These values are applied to all recipients of all agreements created in the sending group with these exceptions:
    • API-based processes, which can restrict the sender's options (Integrations, workflows, custom applications).
    • When Enable different identity authentication methods for internal recipients is enabled (see below).
  • Identity Authentication for Internal Recipients - This subset of settings allows the group to define a different set of identity authentication methods for internal recipients. This provides the benefit of:
    • Less frustration for internal signers.
    • A less complex signature process accelerates signing for recipients that might have to counter-sign many agreements.
    • The costs for premium authentication can be obviated for internal recipients.
Identity authentication methods in the admin UI

Identity Authentication Methods

The primary authentication controls:

  • Require senders to specify one of the enabled authentication methods - When enabled, senders are required to select an authentication method other than None as the default authentication method. None may not be selected.
  • Allow Acrobat Sign to auto-populate the Signers email address for each authentication challenge - This setting only applies to the Acrobat Sign authentication method. When enabled, the recipient's email address is automatically inserted where needed for authentication.
  • Don't challenge the signer to re-authenticate if they are already logged in to Acrobat Sign - When enabled, signers are not challenged to re-authenticate if they are currently logged in to Acrobat Sign.
  • Allow Senders to download a Signer Identity Report for agreements containing Verified Signatures - Signer Identity Reports (SIR) are available for the Government ID and Digital Identity authentication methods. This setting, when enabled, allows the sender of the agreement to download the SIR from their Manage page.
  • Enable the following identity authentication methods - This prefaces the list of authentication options available to the senders.  Select one or more according to your security and compliance needs.
  • By default, use the following method - Establishes the default authentication method inserted when a recipient is added to a new agreement.
  • Allow senders to change the default authentication method - If enabled, the sender has the option to select any method enabled.
    • When disabled, only the default method of authentication can be used.

Identity Authentication for Internal Recipients

The internal recipient controls provide the options you would like to apply to internal recipients:

  • Enable different identity authentication methods for internal recipients - When enabled, internal recipients are treated as an exception to the primary authentication rules and instead are presented with the default authentication options defined in the Identity Authentication for Internal Recipients section.
  • Enable the following identity authentication methods - This prefaces the list of options available for internal recipient authentication.  Select one or more according to your security and compliance needs.
    • Adobe Sign authentication provides a low-cost/low-friction authentication method when your senders are also countersigners.
  • By default use the following method - Establishes the default method inserted for internal recipients when a new agreement is created.
  • Allow senders to change the default authentication method - This grants the sender the authority to change the default authentication method to any other option enabled by the admin.

Web Form exception to identity authentication

Web forms are employed in a multitude of unique use cases, and frequently there is a diminished demand for enforced identity authentication.  

For accounts/groups that do not need to authenticate web form signatures, the option to disable email verification can be configured by:

  • Navigating to: Account Settings > Global Settings > Web Forms (for account-level settings).
    • Edit Group: {Group Name} > Group Settings > Web Forms (for group-level settings).
  • Uncheck the option to Require Signer to verify their email address to accept web form signatures without verification.
    • Removing the requirement to verify the web form signature does not remove the requirement for the signer to provide an email address.
Web Form exemption from id verification controls

Best practices and considerations

  • All authentication methods and options can be configured at the account and group levels.
  • All groups inherit their default setting values from the account-level settings. Design your account-level settings to best leverage the automatic property inheritance, minimizing group configuration later.
  • Agreements derive their authentication options from the group the agreement is sent from. If you aren't seeing the options you expect, check your group-level settings.
  • Evaluate your identity authentication requirements for the types of documents you are sending and if they are subject to any compliance regulations. If "premium" authentication is required, ensure that sufficient volume for your expected traffic has been purchased.
  • Government ID Authentication: (i) is not intended for regulated or high-value electronic signature workflows and use cases; (ii) cannot identify all fraudulent or “fake” identification documents; and (iii) may not replace the need for human review.
  • Determine if there are signature flows that may require second-factor authentications, like:
    • Hosted Signatures
    • Custom solutions designed to suppress email notifications (e.g., Workday)
    • Signature flows that seek to get legal signatures from two or more recipients using the same (shared) email address
  • Identify if/where having different authentication standards for internal recipients is valuable.
  • Accounts with access to Custom Workflows can define very precise authentication methods for each of your signature flows, allowing a lower friction (and potentially higher volume) default value, while ensuring compliance in critical signature processes.
  • Be aware that the individual authentication methods must be enabled before they become available to other services. Enabling a method exposes it for:
    • Other administrative controls, such as the Security Settings for second-factor authentication methods
    • Users to select during the standard Send process
    • Custom workflows as built in the Workflow designer
    • API-driven send events
    • Integration access (Dynamics, Salesforce)

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Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX
The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX
The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online