COMFACT PRESERVATION

Since documents and data are now capable of being stored for longer periods, tools must exist to ensure the validity of electronically signed documents. Comfact preservation is a service that protects and extends the lifetime of data and documents that are signed, sealed, or timestamped.

A challenge in the area is that of "quantum safe cryptography" which we follow closely in order to provide solutions that match our customers’ requirements. As digital signatures use cryptographic algorithms which evolve over time as weaknesses are discovered, your documents and data need to be augmented according to new algorithms in order to retain their probative value.

WHY PRESERVE?

In the paper world, the preservation of documents and information is easy: you just put them in binders, and their probative value decreases as the print fades away, which normally takes a long time. With electronic documents and data, it is a different scenario as formats and algorithms can change rapidly as vulnerabilities are discovered.

Not all documents and data need long-term preservation. It depends on the timeframe within which it should undauntedly be valid. For long-term archives, it is normally a requirement for long-term preservation functions to be used.

How does Comfact Preservation ensure long-term validity of your documents?

Comfact Preservation adheres to the conformance levels defined in ETSI TS 103 172. The four conformance levels are specified as PAdES Baseline Profiles: B-Level, T-Level, LT-Level, and LTA-Level. Comfact Preservation extends documents to Baseline Levels LT and LTA in order to ensure the long-term validity and integrity of documents.

Baseline-B: A signature that can be validated as long as the corresponding certificates are neither revokes nor expired.
Baseline-T: A signature that proves that the signature already existed at a given point in time.
Baseline-LT: Incorporates all the material for validating the signature.
Baseline-LTA: Targets long term availability and integrity of the validation material of digital signatures beyond any event that limit its validity.

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API INTEGRATION

Comfact Preservation can be used from applications with our API. Communication with the API is standardized according to the augmentation protocol defined in ETSI TS 119 442. The result of the augmentation process is a document where a signature or multiple signatures have been extended to the desired level.