e-Signatures basic info

One of the most important aspects of every single e-Government application is the manner of identification of its users. Some e-Gov applications in RoM, at least the key ones for the business community, which have been developed by the e-Gov Project, other donors or the Government itself, require usage of electronic signatures. Electronic signatures, especially the digital certificates, are the latest technological development and provide most sophisticated and most secure way of identification of the users.

What has been undertaken by the e-Gov Project?

In these past couple of years the e-Gov Project addressed the issue of electronic signatures from several inter-related aspects: completion of the legal framework, organizing trainings and undertaking promotional activities. The e-Gov Project engaged foreign consultant, Mr. Rudi Ponikvar, to work with the Commission on e-Signatures from the Ministry of Finance.
As a result of this engagement the following was accomplished:
- secondary legislation (remaining three by-laws) was drafted and adopted in 2006. Thus, the legal framework that has it basis in the Law on Data in Electronic Form and Electronic Signature (Official Gazette of RoM no.34/01, 6/02 and 98/08) was completed.
- members of the Commission were trained and enabled to register and audit the Certification Authorities.

Who are the Certification Authorities in Macedonia?

There are two Certification authorities (CA) in the Republic of Macedonia: KIBS (http://ca.kibs.com.mk/), and Makedonski Telekom (http://www.telekom.mk/business/?z=626), which operations are registered and closely monitored by the Ministry of Finance. e-Gov Project cooperates with both CAs by carrying out joint events, promotions and other actions. KIBS and Makedonski Telekom issue several types of digital certificates to the end users (certificate holders), prices being in range of 15-130 EUR.

How to obtain a certificate?

The certificate holder can be natural or legal person. The procedure for issuance of certificates starts with the submission of request by the person who wants to obtain digital certificate. The person needs to be physically identified by the CA, i.e. the person should present an ID (natural person) or registration documents (legal entity). Within 5 working days the person shall receive the certificate with instructions how to install it. The certificate is than installed on a hard disc of the PC, but the certificate can be also issued on a token device, which means that the certificate holder can use it from every single PC.

How to use a certificate?

Certificate holder uses the digital certificate to identify himself/herself when sending a message or document. If there is a web form that it is required to be digitally signed then the signatory attaches the digital certificate from the place where it is stored into the appropriate web field. If the certificate holder needs to sign a document in electronic form than there is option in most of the software programs that enable attaching certificates in the document. Certificate holder should keep and use the certificate with due care and diligence and in line with the rules and regulations. He/she can request certificate to be annulled if the there is possibility of misuse of the certificate or the data for electronic signature has been endangered or lost.

EVENTS

Presentations on e-Signatures

e-Gov Project works on promotion of e-Signatures and popularization of their usage by carrying out trainings and presentations across the country. The aim of these activities is to demystify the e-signatures and digital certificates to the end users and to encourage them to obtain and use digital certificates, thus increase the usage of the electronic systems that require this form of electronic identification and signing. So far, the e-Gov Project has conducted 23 presentations and addressed 1.200 representatives of the public and private sector. This campaign, also, involves the registered Certification Authorities - KIBS and Makedonski Telekom, who have their own stands at the events and provide more detailed technical and marketing information to the potential users. The presentation on digital certificates can be found here.

e-Gov Project initiated the establishment of the Working Group on e-Signatures

Digital certificates are becoming a widely used form of e-signature for the electronic systems in the Republic of Macedonia. Users of the systems identify themselves and authenticate the data they communicate by using digital certificates issued by the registered Certification Authorities in the country - KIBS and Makedonski Telekom. With the aim of addressing and facilitating all the issues related to e-signatures, the e-Gov project initiated the establishment of the Working Group on e-signatures, which was welcomed and supported by the Minister of Information Society, Mr. Ivo Ivanovski. The Working Group is composed of representatives of the following institutions: Ministry of Information Society, Ministry of Finance, KIBS, Makedonski Telekom and USAID e-Gov Project.

The Working Group held its first meeting in February 2009. As a follow up to this meeting several important meetings were organized with other relevant stakeholders. These meetings and joint activities should result in resolved issues/removed obstacles regarding the usage of the digital certificates and lead to their increased usage. The e-Gov Project tends to publicly announce and post all the relevant information and conclusions of these meetings and activities. The e-Gov Project, would also like to invite other stakeholders and interested parties to contact us and give us any suggestions or comments in this regards.