According to the FDA 21 CFR Part 11 documentation, an electronic signature is “a computer data compilation of any symbol or series of symbols executed, adopted, or authorized by an individual to be the legally binding equivalent of the individual’s handwritten signature.”

Electronic signatures are considered equivalent to signing your name on a paper document. In a CMMS, an electronic signature may be applied by drawing it in a signature field. It may also be applied by clicking a checkbox, uploading an image of a handwritten signature, or typing your name in an input field. Compared to digital signatures, electronic signatures are less secure because they do not require the signee to verify their identity through computerized means.

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