What is a digital signature certificate? What are regulations on classification of digital signature certificates in Vietnam?
What is a digital signature certificate? What are regulations on classification of digital signature certificates in Vietnam?
According to Article 3 of the Electronic Transaction Law 2023 (amended by point b, Clause 2, Article 44 of the Data Law 2024):
Article 3. Terminology Explanation
In this Law, the following terms are understood as follows:
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- A digital signature is a digital signature using an asymmetric key algorithm, consisting of a private key and a public key, where the private key is used to create a digital signature, and the public key is used to verify the digital signature. The digital signature ensures authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation but does not ensure the confidentiality of the data message.
- A digital signature certificate is a data message intended to confirm the agency, organization, or individual certified as the signer of a digital signature. a digital signature certificate for digital signatures is called a digital signature certificate.
- Digital signature certification service is a service provided by a digital signature certification service provider to authenticate the signature subject on the data message, ensure the non-repudiation of the signing subject with the data message, and ensure the integrity of the signed data message.
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According to Article 4 of Decree 23/2025/ND-CP regulating digital signature certificates:
Article 4. Digital Signature Certificates
Digital signature certificates are classified as follows:
- The original digital signature certificate of the national electronic certification service provider is a digital signature certificate self-issued by the national electronic certification service provider corresponding to each type of trust service.
- The digital signature certificate of the trusted service provider is a digital signature certificate issued by the national electronic certification service provider to the trusted service provider corresponding to each type of trust service, including: digital signature certificate for timestamp services, digital signature certificate for data message authentication services, digital signature certificate for public digital signature certification services.
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According to the above regulations, a digital signature certificate is a data message intended to confirm the agency, organization, or individual certified as the signer of a digital signature. a digital signature certificate for digital signatures is called a digital signature certificate.
Digital signature certificates are classified as follows:
[1] Original Digital Signature Certificates of National Electronic Certification Service Providers are digital signature certificates self-issued by national electronic certification service providers corresponding to each type of trust service.
[2] Digital Signature Certificates of Trusted Service Providers are digital signature certificates issued by national electronic certification service providers to trusted service providers corresponding to each type of trust service, including: digital signature certificates for timestamp services, digital signature certificates for data message authentication services, and digital signature certificates for public digital signature certification services.
[3] Public Digital Signature Certificates are digital signature certificates issued by public digital signature certification service providers to subscribers.
[4] Specialized digital signature Certificates are digital signature certificates issued by agencies or organizations creating specialized digital signatures.
What is a digital signature Certificate? How is the digital signature Certificate classified? (Image from the Internet)
What are the contents of an digital signature certificate in Vietnam?
According to Article 5 of Decree 23/2025/ND-CP, a digital signature certificate includes the following contents:
- Information about the agency or organization creating the digital signature certificate.
- Information about the agency, organization, or individual issued the digital signature certificate, including the name of the agency, organization, or individual; the identification code/number of the agency, organization, or individual or the digital identity of the agency, organization, or individual issued the digital signature certificate and other necessary information (if any).
- Serial number of the digital signature certificate.
- The validity period of the digital signature certificate.
- Data to verify the digital signature of the agency, organization, or individual issued the digital signature certificate.
- The digital signature of the agency or organization creating the digital signature certificate.
- The purpose and scope of use of the digital signature certificate.
- Legal responsibilities of the agency or organization issuing the digital signature certificate.
What are the conditions for recognizing foreign digital signature certificates in Vietnam?
According to Clause 2, Article 26 of the Electronic Transaction Law 2023, the conditions for recognizing foreign digital signature certificates in Vietnam are as follows:
- Foreign digital signature certificates must comply with technical standards and regulations on digital signature certificates as stipulated by Vietnamese law or recognized international standards or international treaties that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.
- Foreign digital signature certificates are established based on fully authenticated identification information of foreign organizations or individuals.
