ZorroSign is proud to announce the release of two new enhancements that will help to ensure the best digital signature experience on our data security company built on blockchain. . . let’s dive in!
ATTACHMENTS
Our new Attachment functionality allows users to assign attachments to users in a workflow plus add supporting files to envelopes being created. For example, once you have created a workflow and envelope, the new Attachment icon is now available on the top right of your screen.
When assigned attachments as a ZorroSign user, you can see how to add the specified attachments assigned to you, as well as add supporting files to the envelope, and view attached files added by previous users. Multiple files can be uploaded by selecting upload again and continuing the same process.
To learn more about how to assign attachments and add attachments to your envelope, visit our “how to” videos on YouTube at:
Our new Delegate functionality allows ZorroSign users more flexibility when it comes to signing and sending their documents. For example, you can now assign a delegate to Z-Sign envelopes on your behalf—when you are out of town, away from your devices, or do not have access to your ZorroSign account.
To access this new feature, you must contact [email protected] to add it to your organization. Then, your organization’s ZorroSign administrator can assign specific people access to delegate or allow your entire organization access.
When a delegator assigns someone else as delegate, all envelopes sent to the delegator—during the delegation period—will now appear in the delegate’s Z-Vault Inbox. When assigning a delegate, users must set a start and end date for the delegation period, and once that time period is expired, the delegate will lose access to delegated documents.
To learn how to enable Delegation for your organization, add someone as a delegate, and how to Z-Sign a document as a delegate, view our “how to” videos on YouTube at:
At ZorroSign, we are excited to continuously expand our data security platform on blockchain and bring you the very best user experience in digital signatures, data storage, document workflow management, and more!
ZorroSign,a data security platform built on blockchain, is in talks to acquire US-based firms in data record and storage and learning-management systems, said co-founder and CEO Shamsh Hadi.
The Phoenix-based company would also like exposure to verticals including finance and healthcare, the executive told this news service. Targets are expected to give them access to new customers and technology.
Established in 2015, ZorroSign uses digital signature technology to create a unified platform delivering data privacy and security on blockchain, according to its website. It has 69 employees in its offices in the US, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, and India. Around half of its headcount is involved in software development and research and development in Sri Lanka, he explained.
Its biggest market is the US, but the company has witnessed recent traction in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, he noted. Hadi, along with a UAE-based family, are the majority owners of the company, followed by employees.
In the past few years, the company received takeover approaches. In 2018, he said a NYSE-listed healthcare and insurance company approached ZorroSign for a potential takeover. Hadi declined as it was an all-stock offer and the bidder asked to drop all its customers and focus on them, he said.
In January 2020, a US-based consultancy firm approached ZorroSign for a takeover, but the offer was declined, the CEO said, without giving a reason.
“If you see our competitive landscape there is no product that is out there,” he said, when asked why the company is attractive.
Hadi declined to provide revenue but claimed “exponential growth.”
It plans to roll out the platform’s mobile app by the end of the month. It is also in talks with a company for the licensing of its patents which it sees as a “potential growth opportunity” in the future, he explained.
Competitors include DocuSign, Microsoft, Adobeand Google, the co-founder said.
Originally published by Mergermarket on January 4, 2024
At the end of November, we launched our ground-breaking next generation Android mobile application: Upgrading the ZorroSign user experience and user interface with new features, security, compliance and system updates.
At ZorroSign, our goal is to ensure our apps and platform deliver the most intuitive and user-friendly digital signature experience available!
Governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals around the world trust ZorroSign to safeguard their digital documents and to provide an immutable chain of custody for their digital transactions. ZorroSign integrates multiple blockchains (Hyperledger Fabric and Provenance Blockchain), digital signatures, automated compliance, intelligent forms, document storage, patented fraud prevention, user authentication and document verification, identity-as-a-service (IDaaS), and so much more.
When the risk is personal and everything is on the line, Block It Down!
ZorroSign’s data security platform built on blockchain includes:
Z-Sign® for legally binding digital signatures
Z-Forensics® token for patented fraud detection
Z-Flow® automation engine for building digital signature and approval workflows
Z-Fill® leveraging artificial intelligence/machine learning to speed form fill
Z-Verify® to ensure every document’s authenticity and immutability
Z-Vault® for blockchain-based document management
“We are thrilled to add this entirely new and leading-edge Android app to our technology stack,” said Shamsh Hadi, CEO and co-founder of ZorroSign. “Our development team is proud to deliver the best user experience in digital signatures, and our blockchain-based architecture elevates data privacy and security, while ensuring immutable records and legally enforceable digital signatures.”
With this exciting new Android app, you can Z-Sign documents:
Create genuine handwritten and computer-generated signatures
Z-Sign documents with a click of a button—any time, any place
Use Z-Fill to auto-complete fields while signing documents
Approve or reject documents
Share completed documents with others
Integrated with popular cloud drives
Add post-it notes to your documents
Upload attachments and supporting documents
Immutably store document and transaction details on blockchain
You can request signatures on documents:
Use templates or send one-time documents to Z-Sign
Upload multiple documents to Z-Sign
Supports multiple file formats
Prompts guide signers through precisely where to sign, initial, date, etc.
Define workflow through Z-Flow with signing order for multiple signers
Receive real-time push notifications
Track progress, identify bottlenecks in the workflow, and send reminders in your Z-Vault
Void/Cancel, expire, recall documents already out for digital signature
All with superior privacy, security and legality:
Digital signatures are legally binding and upheld in global courts of law
Meets International compliance and multiple accreditations
Use either private, permissioned Hyperledger Fabric or public, permissionless Provenance Blockchain
Complete chain of custody and audit trail with patented Z-Forensics technology
Validate and authenticate both digital and paper versions of Z-Sign documents
Detect any tampering, revisions, replaced or rejected documents
Use proprietary security certificates that never expire
A recent Crowdstrike blog argues how “like so many legacy technologies, legacy data loss prevention (DLP) tools fail to deliver the protection today’s organizations need.”
Crowdstrike notes that with rising attacks, new attack vectors, and higher cost data breaches, organizations are desperate for a modern alternative to traditional cybersecurity solutions, where (as the blog summarizes):
Unstructured data on endpoints is at great risk of misuse or breach
More than a third of data loss prevention deployments fail
Your data is too complex for legacy data loss prevention tools
Legacy data loss prevention tools lack visibility into real-world data flows, and so lack context to stop breaches
While I agree with all of Crowdstrike’s arguments, I believe blockchain technology improves cybersecurity and propose that storing your data on blockchain is a necessary leap forward in security versus legacy technologies.
Why is it vital that your organization moves to blockchain-based data storage? Four key reasons:
Immutable Records One of the main benefits of blockchain technology is its ability to provide secure and tamper-proof record keeping, as the use of cryptography and peer-consensus mechanisms ensures that once data is recorded on the blockchain, it is extremely difficult to alter or delete. This immutability and transparency provide important chain-of-custody audit capabilities for courts and ensure peace of mind to users. Such security also makes blockchains ideal for use in financial transactions, real estate agreements and other high-value exchanges, where a record of every step is essential for ensuring the integrity of the process.
Secure Authentication One of the main issues in cybersecurity is the vulnerability of traditional authentication methods such as passwords. Passwords can be easily hacked or stolen, leaving sensitive information vulnerable to attack. This can be a threat to businesses, especially those who store their users’ personal information. Blockchain technology can provide secure authentication through the use of public-private key cryptography, eliminating passwords from the process.
Decentralization Unliked centralized databases which can be breached at unsecure endpoints (users and devices)—or even at MSPs hosting them—giving attackers complete control once they gain central access, blockchain technology distributes data across geographically separate nodes.
The decentralized nature of blockchains ensures that there is no single point of failure, which also means that hackers cannot easily compromise the system. By decentralizing data storage, blockchain effectively prevents any one endpoint (even if compromised) from gaining control of the full data set.
This distributed nature defeats those attacks seeking to breach a system and holistically encrypt the data files stored therein. For example, breaching a single endpoint node and attempting to hold data “for ransom” fails, as the larger data set cannot be controlled by any one endpoint (or central authority) and so attackers cannot capture the full data set for encryption, ransom, or shutting down the network.
Further, with private, permissioned blockchains, each endpoint node (or user) has a unique encryption key to access and write to the distributed ledger. If any one of those endpoints is successfully attacked (presumedly compromising their access key), the private blockchain can simply remove distributed ledger access for that compromised key, issue the endpoint a new key, and allow that endpoint to quickly regain distributed ledger access (effectively as a new endpoint).
This unique recovery process effectively maroons any ransomware on the endpoint it attacked—ending its access and threat—while allowing the endpoint to re-engage the larger data set: With a new key and without needing to pay any ransom to the attackers for restored access.
Identity Verification Identity verification is another area where blockchain can be used to enhance cybersecurity. It ensures that the individual claiming a particular identity is actually who they say they are. With blockchain, users can have greater control over their personal information, allowing them to manage their digital identities more securely. This makes it more difficult for hackers to steal personal information or create fake identities.
ZorroSign’s Data Security Platform Built on Blockchain
As the world becomes more digitized and interconnected, the importance of cybersecurity will only continue to grow, and blockchain storage will play a crucial role in ensuring that our digital world remains safe and secure.
ZorroSign was built from the ground up on Hyperledger Fabric to deliver digital signatures with the superior privacy and security of blockchain. We recently announced our advanced integration with Provence Blockchain, adding their DLT to our architecture as well.
Our Z-Vault® enables ZorroSign users to store, structure, organize and search documents in folders and subfolders natively with the peace of mind that comes from blockchain-based data privacy and security—leaving legacy technologies behind for good.
ZorroSign’s platform can be accessed via PCs and mobile devices, allowing your staff to efficiently generate, negotiate, communicate, and sign agreements. And with Z-Vault, contracts reside on an immutable document management system where they can be saved, searched for, and easily managed from a single, intuitive user interface.
Z-Vault Benefits for Your Organization
Superior privacy and security to PKI-based solutions using a centralized database
The latest privacy and security technologies, delivering powerful encryption safeguards
Ability to share and review Z-Sign and architectural drawings, adding your own comments
Save time with access to specific folders and documents in seconds, no loss of records
I believe blockchain-based data storage is critical to improving cybersecurity, and I invite you to learn more about Z-Vault to securely store contracts, data, and documents on blockchain instead of legacy technologies.
Learn more about Z-Vault or connect with me on LinkedIn to start a conversation today!
Advancing technology, advancing sustainability
I have spent much of 2023 talking about technology and the exciting progress we’ve seen in artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain this year. But at ZorroSign, we are committed to advancing technology while advancing sustainability—and I want to focus on those sustainability efforts today.
I have been fortunate to travel the world, attending educational institutions from Boston to New York, Toronto to Vancouver, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. This global education not only made me feel like a citizen of the world, but it also opened my eyes to both the beauty of our planet and the damage humans can do it. No matter your individual politics on climate change, we can all agree that conserving natural resources will benefit our children and the human generations to follow. As such, we have a role in sustaining natural resources as effectively as we can during our time as stewards of our home planet.
I founded ZorroSign not just to improve data democratization, privacy, and security as we move to 21st century digital economies, but also to improve sustainability.
Aspiring to a digital, paperless life allows all of us to potentially save trees, save water, and reduce our carbon footprints. Businesses, governments, educational institutions, organizations, and individuals who use ZorroSign go digital and so “go green”: Creating, approving, sharing, executing, and storing digital agreements, documents, and transactions instead of printing, faxing, scanning, and shipping documents to collect signatures, then storing multiple hard copies forever in filing cabinets.
This environment savings is critically valuable—not only to the ZorroSign users who save costs and save resources, but to everyone else on Earth who benefit from those same savings!
To accelerate this value, I have committed ZorroSign to several international conservation efforts, hoping to additionally replenish those natural resources already consumed. For example . . .
Save a Tree. Plant a Tree
Through our Save a Tree. Plant a Tree program, ZorroSign has pledged to plant a new tree on behalf of our customers every time they save 8,000 pages of copy paper.
One tree produces roughly 8,000 pages of copy paper. Studies show that by reducing the use of paper, we can realize significant environmental benefits such as conserving water, reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality, and reducing deforestation. So by using ZorroSign in human resources, financial, legal, sales, and other departments, you can not only save trees (and watch your cost of doing business go down), but you are also helping replant trees to reforest the planet.
One Tree Planted
Since 2014, the non-profit organization One Tree Planted has more than doubled the number of trees planted each year. The NPO works with partners across more than 80 countries in North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific to drive global reforestation. One Tree Planted makes it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees: Restoring forests, creating habitat for biodiversity, and making a positive social impact around the world.
ZorroSign has been an active partner since 2018, and we give to One Tree Planted in the hopes of inspiring other businesses to include such reforestation as part of their sustainability efforts. To learn more about this incredible program, visit OneTreePlanted.org
United Nations’ Plant for the Planet
In 2004, Wangari Maathai, a professor and member of Kenya’s Parliament, won the Nobel Peace Prize for her role as the founder of the Green Belt Movement. In 2006, Professor Maathai launched a billion-tree campaign, with the United Nations Environment Program called Plant for the Planet. That program achieved their goal and now runs the Trillion Tree Campaign!
Again, ZorroSign is a proud contributor to the Trillion Tree Campaign and invites you to learn more about this growing UN effort at Plant-for-the-Planet.org
Supply Chain Traceability and Transparency
Beyond these conservation programs, “blockchain has significant potential to support sustainability, and it may prove to be a valuable tool to help companies advance environmental goals,’ notes PwC.
For example, blockchain technologies like ZorroSign help create more transparent and traceable supply chains. Such traceability can reduce waste and improve the sustainability of products and materials. A company might use blockchain to track the source and movement of raw materials, ensuring that they are being sourced sustainably and ethically. This enables consumers to make more informed choices about the products they buy, and encourages companies to adopt more sustainable practices.
“Blockchain will prove to be the ultimate answer to supply chain transparency,” explains Rhonda Dibachi for Forbes. “Requiring that suppliers accept APIs is one way of gaining visibility in a world where no digital architecture currently exists for it. To get beyond the self-contained bubble of the connected factory to the next step—a connected supply chain—you have to invite your suppliers in, and the blockchain offers a mechanism for the trust that will be required. That’s why blockchain will be the ultimate solution for all sorts of business that requires trust.”
“Blockchain’s role in helping the environment can go far beyond energy footprints and carbon credits as well,” adds CoinDesk in a recent article. “We expect to see an increasing number of sustainability-focused systems launching in 2023, where things like water usage or plastic creation could similarly be tracked and reported. Governments and regulators could create clear standards for what levels of environmental impact are acceptable across various industries and utilize these blockchain systems to monitor them. This would not only benefit the planet itself, but it would also streamline business processes via clear expectations for emissions. Even electrical grids can be managed via blockchains and smart contracts.”
COP28 in Dubai
Last but not least, I’d like to promote the 2023 Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — COP28. This global event will be hosted in Dubai, United Arab Emirates this November 30th through December 12th, and I am thrilled to attend!
COP28 UAE promises to be a milestone moment when the world will take stock of progress on the Paris Agreement—a legally binding international treaty on climate change adopted at COP21 in Paris, France, December 2015 and entered into force November 2016.
To learn more about this year’s event, including opportunities to participate, visit COP28.com
Finally, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn to discuss how your technology leadership can support sustainability and environmental conservation as well.
The introduction of web3 has redefined the ways providers and customers interact in both the digital and physical world across many industries. The healthcare industry is no exception to this, so let’s look at some key ways that web3 technologies are changing the healthcare industry for better patient experiences . . .
Data Ownership
When it comes to healthcare, most people have multiple doctors and facilities that they count on to keep their data secure and store their records. Further, most patients do not have direct access to their healthcare records and have to go through healthcare professionals to obtain their records. This can be both frustrating and time-consuming for the patient.
“With Web 3.0, patients’ data can be stored on the blockchain using smart contracts” says a Med-Tech article, ”Any healthcare professional that needs to work with the patient can easily access the data by obtaining a public key or unique ID, eliminating the need for institutionalized data silos fenced off from the patient. In addition, this relieves hospital administrations of information overload due to the management of thousands of patient records.”
Web3 paves the way to accessible, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare. It introduces blockchain technology, which allows patients to have more ownership and control over their health data. Patients can also seamlessly share data with healthcare providers, reducing redundant tests and streamlining care. It enables the healthcare system to be patient-centric while also decentralizing data by transferring ownership to individuals.
Data Security
“95% of identity theft comes from stolen healthcare records,” according to an article by techjury. This statistic is shocking to hear considering an individual is more likely than not to have given their personal information at some point and time to a medical facility. It calls attention to the need to move away from the centralized storage system that most healthcare industry vastly relies on and move towards decentralization.
Blockchain is at the core of web3 and this enables healthcare professionals to store patient securely with immutable digital ledger technology. The healthcare data records are distributed over nodes, so an attacker would need access to each node in the network to hack, alter or delete the data, which is nearly impossible. Moreover, accessing the data needs the patients’ permission. Due to blockchain’s peer-to-peer consensus for changes, tampering with the data is also nearly impossible. This allows healthcare providers to store sensitive information securely with less fear of data breaches.
Blockchain’s immutable ledger also ensures the authenticity and integrity of medical records. Patients can trust that their health data has not been tampered with. This transparency fosters trust between patients and healthcare providers, enhancing peace of mind.
Telemedicine and Web3
Telehealth has been on the rise since 2020. According to Telehealth.gov, “Telemedicine, or telehealth, essentially lets your health care provider care for you without an in-person office visit. Telehealth is done primarily online with internet access on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.” Since the COVID19 pandemic, telehealth has jumped in both the volume of technology solutions and applications across medical fields.
Web3 technologies enable decentralized and secure data networks. Patients have more control over their data and therefore are more confident to share it online with medical professionals. With such convenience, security, and connectivity, the future of telemedicine looks bright!
ZorroSign is proud to be on the forefront of deploying web3 technologies—such as AI and blockchain—to improve patient experience in the healthcare industry with our data security platform built on blockchain. To learn how ZorroSign can supports healthcare by facilitating and securing the exchange of digital data, visit our Healthcare industry page or contact us today!
Guest blog by Kusal Munasinghe and Kushan Edirisooriya at ZorroSign, Inc.
Web3 has become a trending term in the technology space in recent years, and the excitement surrounding Web3 has led to many attempts of development, investment, and experimentation. In this article we will explore how the recent integration done by ZorroSign with Provenance Blockchain advances key Web3 concepts.
What is Centralization, Decentralization and Distribution?
In an era defined by technological innovation and the ever-expanding reach of the internet, the architecture of systems and networks has undergone a profound transformation. At the heart of this evolution lies the age-old debate surrounding centralization versus decentralization. As organizations and individuals grapple with the complex interplay of these paradigms, it becomes essential to navigate this spectrum effectively. The following paragraphs aim to unravel the intricacies of distributed, centralized, and decentralized systems, offering a comprehensive understanding of their characteristics, advantages, and challenges.
Centralization With centralized computing systems, all the processes, data storage, and validation are managed by a single and axial party. This sole party has all administrative power and access which makes it vulnerable as a single point of failure.
Decentralization Decentralization in computing refers to a design, or architectural approach, where computing resources, control, and decision-making are distributed across multiple nodes or devices rather than being concentrated in a single central authority or location. This approach has gained prominence in various areas of computing due to its potential benefits, which include increased scalability, fault tolerance, security, and user empowerment.
Decentralized network is a network configuration where there are multiple authorities serving as a centralized hub for participants. In the computing world, a decentralized network architecture distributes workloads among several machines instead of relying on a single central server.
Distribution In contrast, a distributed computing system is a network of interconnected computers or nodes that work together to perform tasks and solve problems. Here, there is no sole administrator, as these systems are designed to distribute computational and processing workloads across multiple machines, rather than relying on a single central computer.
In distribution models, every participant can communicate with one another without going through a centralized point. Since there are multiple pathways for communication, the loss of any participant will not prevent communication. Distributed computer systems are used to harness the collective computing power of multiple machines to solve complex problems, improve performance, and enhance reliability. They play a critical role in modern computing, particularly in cloud computing environments and large-scale data processing applications.
What are Peer-to-Peer Networks?
A peer-to-peer (P2P) network is a decentralized computer network where participants, known as peers, communicate and share resources directly with one another without the need for a centralized server or authority.
In a P2P network, every connected device can both request and provide services or resources, creating a distributed and collaborative network architecture. Some of the key characteristics and components of a peer-to-peer network are Decentralization, Symmetry, Resource Sharing, Privacy, and Anonymity.
Where Does Blockchain Fit?
Traditional data and document storage mechanisms are vulnerable to data manipulation and attacks because of centralization, limited transparency, and reliance on traditional security measures.
Blockchain is a distributed and decentralized digital ledger technology used to record transactions across multiple computers or nodes. It was originally created as the underlying technology for the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, but its applications have since expanded far beyond digital currencies.
Blockchain technology has the potential to significantly impact democracy by enhancing transparency, accountability, and trust in democratic processes. Through its immutable and decentralized nature, blockchain can ensure that data and transactions are securely recorded and tamper-proof, addressing concerns of election fraud and manipulation. Data is more trustworthy in blockchain compared to traditional databases and other storages. Blockchain written data is immutable, hard to tamper and trusted.
Blockchain and Web3
Before we dive into Web3, a quick history review to understand what technologies preceded Web3.
Web1 was dedicated to users searching for data. This web version is sometimes called “the read-only Web”, for example reading a newspaper from the web. Web1 was made up of a small number of people generating content for a larger audience and was the first step of the big journey.
Today’s Web2 has many people creating even more content for a growing audience. Web1 focused on reading, but Web2 focused on participating and contributing such as content publishing in social media. The big tech companies of 2023 are Web2 leaders.
Finally to Web3. Web3 is an approach poised to redefine the way we interact with digital technologies and the internet itself. Unlike its predecessors—which primarily focused on delivering information and facilitating user interactions through centralized platforms—Web3 introduces a decentralized, trustless, and user-centric model that empowers individuals to take control of their online experiences and data.
Key areas in Web3 are blockchain technology, decentralized networks, and cryptographic principles to create a more open, transparent, and secure digital ecosystem. It enables peer-to-peer interactions, facilitates autonomous smart contracts, and ensures data ownership and privacy, all without the need for intermediaries or centralized authorities.
Blockchain uses consensus mechanisms to verify and validate new blocks to the network. Therefore, only genuine and verified transactions are stored inside the block. Provenance Blockchain, for example, uses proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanisms and that will ensure the trust and security of blockchain.
(Proof-of-stake or PoS was created as an alternative to proof-of-work or PoW, the original consensus mechanism used to validate transactions and mine new blocks on Bitcoin. PoW requires “miners”—individual computers—to solve cryptographic puzzles, while PoS requires “validators” to own and stake tokens for the privilege of earning transaction fees. Such validators verify transactions, vote on outcomes, and maintain records to ensure non-repudiation.)
Non-repudiation is a feature that comes with blockchain that refers to the assurance that a party in a communication or transaction cannot deny the authenticity or integrity of a message, action, or agreement that they have previously taken. In essence, it ensures that once a party has sent a message, performed an action, or agreed to a contract, they cannot later claim that they did not do so.
The goal of Web3 is to allow users to regain sovereignty over their data, participate in decentralized governance, and explore innovative ways to collaborate, transact, and communicate on the internet. As Web3 continues to evolve and mature, it has the potential to reshape industries and empower individuals.
In short, Web3 is the decentralized version of the internet and blockchain technologies are key to enabling technology for Web3.
The Advance of ZorroSign’s Integration with Provenance Blockchain
Provenance Blockchain is a groundbreaking technology that has revolutionized the way we track and verify the origins and ownership of assets in various industries. Provenance Blockchain is specifically designed to provide a transparent and immutable record of the history of physical and digital assets, including products, documents, and more.
Purpose-built for the financial services and insurance industry, Provenance Blockchain is routinely the blockchain of choice for tokenization with over $8 billion in real-world financial asset total value locked (TVL). The platform has played a key role in several financial services firsts, including the first blockchain-native consumer loans, first asset-backed securitization on blockchain, and the first bank-minted tokenized deposits in the United States. Provenance Blockchain is leveraged by more than 70 leading financial institutions including Apollo Global Management, Hamilton Lane, Guaranteed Rate, and innovative fintechs.
The primary objective of integrating ZorroSign with Provenance blockchain is to enhance the transparency, and authenticity of document transactions. Immutable document Integrity is achieved as Provenance Blockchain record document hash of the final document and produce a unique transaction hash. This ensures that the document is tamper-proof as Provenance’s transaction hash can be publicly viewed and verified for its authenticity.
The goal of integrating ZorroSign with Provenance Blockchain is to create a more secure, transparent, and efficient environment for handling and storing documents while ensuring superior data integrity and authenticity. Compared to other document signing platforms which rely on traditional storages, ZorroSign offers clear advantages when it comes to trust & security because of its innovative use of Blockchain technology.
What Does This Integration Mean for Web3?
By offering a tamper-proof and decentralized ledger, Provenance Blockchain enhances trust, reduces fraud, and improves accountability, opening doors for a new level of transparency and integrity in asset management and ownership verification. Being a public blockchain, Provenance Blockchain provides the extra advantage of having the transaction link where verification is possible without relying on a user account or login into a system. This is a key value proposition of Web3.
Where Do We Go from Here?
With today’s integration, ZorroSign has embarked on a journey that could bring out best in both ZorroSign and Provenance Blockchain for our users. Two specific goals moving forward:
The ZorroSign development team is assessing the replacement of the global B2B wallet used for Provenance Blockchain transactions with individual user’s specific wallets. This would be a revolutionary step as it will achieve true data democracy: Making sure that each user who signs the document will have his/her ownership of the transaction, and therefore the ownership of the document. This level of integration will not be as easy, as it must resolve many technical and business flow challenges as a significant split from the familiar Web2 model. Research for this Web3 wallet individualization is already under way.
The ZorroSign development team aspires to also run the entire document-signing flow based on data contracts in Provenance Blockchain, and so even store the documents themselves in blockchain nodes. Such storage would deliver the highest security, integrity, authenticity for documents and give the full ownership of the document to the signed wallet owner.
Both of these future developments are in progress. ZorroSign’s dreams for Provenance Blockchain may shape the very future of Web3 and we are thrilled to share each step of the way!
ZorroSign Announces Growth Partnership with Vision Tech Solutions
Strategic Reseller Partnership Brings ZorroSign’s Data Security Platform to New Markets
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, September 26, 2023 /EIN Presswire / — ZorroSign, Inc., a global leader in data security solutions built on blockchain, today announced a strategic partnership with Vision Tech Solutions in the United Arab Emirates. This partnership will unite ZorroSign’s data security platform and blockchain technologies with Vision Tech Solution’s IT infrastructure and services across the Gulf region. Initially as a reseller, Vision Tech Solutions will bring ZorroSign to new companies and new markets as the partnership deepens with integrated capabilities and technology alignment.
“We are thrilled to partner with Rajab and his team at Vision Tech,” said Shamsh Hadi, CEO and co-founder of ZorroSign. “Their customer service focus and top quality IT services map well to ZorroSign’s values and data security strengths. We are eager to see what our combined technology solutions can achieve for companies in the UAE, the larger Middle East and North Africa region, and later into Europe.”
ZorroSign was founded with a commitment to advancing technology while advancing sustainability, and ZorroSign’s goal is to help customers adopt sustainable practices and securely transform paper-based workflows into digital workflows. This conscientious approach to operations helps to decrease costs, lower resource consumption, reduce data errors, and increase productivity. Businesses, educational institutions, financial organisations, governments, IT firms, legal service providers, real estate companies, and others use ZorroSign to privately and securely manage their digital transactions.
Vision Tech Solutions’ Rajab Ali Virani and ZorroSign’s Shamsh Hadi signing partnership agreement
“Vision Tech aspires to be a global leader in Information Technology, driving technological advancements and delivering sustainable solutions that improve the lives of people around the world,” added Rajab Virani, CEO at Vision Tech Solutions. “ZorroSign is an ideal technology partner for us—not only bringing a practical, scalable blockchain solution to data security and digital signatures, but doing so with an overarching commitment to sustainability.”
ZorroSign today has an extensive customer base for its data security and digital signature solutions built on blockchain in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, India, Sri Lanka, the United States, and Canada. The technology company is aggressively expanding into European markets next and seeking new strategic alliances across the EU and UK in 2023.
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About Vision Tech Solutions
Vision Tech Solutions DMCC specializes in providing companies with bespoke IT technical services, consultancies, infrastructure, and support. Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, Vision Tech Solutions unites a qualified and experienced technical and management team, whose collective experience in the IT industry spans several decades, to deliver the most proper technical applications for transformation to blockchain technologies with emphasis on the economic return. A strong research and development team working on futuristic technologies contribute to the company’s success in providing leading-edge technologies to its clients. To learn more visit visiontechsolutions.com
About ZorroSign
ZorroSign, Inc. uses blockchain for superior data privacy and security. Governments, businesses, organisations and individuals around the world trust ZorroSign to safeguard their digital documents and to provide an immutable chain of custody for their digital transactions. The company’s data security platform integrates multiple blockchains (Hyperledger Fabric and Provenance Blockchain), digital signatures, automated compliance, AI/ML form completion, document storage, patented fraud detection, user authentication and document verification, identity-as-a-service (IDaaS), and so much more. When the risk is personal and everything is on the line, Block It Down! To learn more visit zorrosign.com
ZorroSign’s data security platform built on blockchain serves customers around the world and across dozens of industries!
We are pleased to share customer case studies that showcase how ZorroSign’s platform is used by businesses in banking and finance, healthcare, professional services, real estate, and many others.
For some quick examples, download our case study on an international healthcare organization providing clinically actionable medical informatics . . .
Or our case study on McKinley Consulting Group using ZorroSign for digital signatures and workflow automation . . .
Or our case study on a US clinical research company that validates cosmetics and skin care manufacturer claims from around the world . . .
Or our case study on how a title company uses ZorroSign as an electronic escrow solution to safely and securely execute real estate transactions . . .
Let us know what additional industries you might like covered in case studies, or visit our growing list of real-world customer deployments at Case Studies.
ZorroSign updated our user experience last year, making it even easier for you to Z-Sign agreements, execute transactions, and manage digital documents on blockchain.
To showcase our new user experience, we’re producing video “shorts” to show actual ZorroSign users signing agreements, building approval workflows, and managing digital documents anywhere, any time. For example:
Further, we have great testimonials on our YouTube channel here.
And you can view our growing library of How-To videos showcasing basic ZorroSign functionality, including Z-Sign, here.
Sign up for a 14-day Free Trial (no credit card required) to put us to the test, or contact us if you’d like to see any other videos on ZorroSign, Z-Sign, or our other key features.
When security is mission-critical, Block It Down!
It has long been claimed that blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize the way companies approach security. By leveraging the decentralized and immutable nature of blockchain, companies can enhance your security stack and protect against a wide range of threats.
One of the main benefits of blockchain technology is its ability to provide secure and tamper-proof record keeping. The decentralized nature of blockchains ensures that there is no single point of failure—which also means that hackers cannot easily compromise the system. Additionally, the use of cryptography and consensus mechanisms ensures that once data is recorded on the blockchain, it is extremely difficult to alter or delete.
Another security benefit of blockchain technology is its ability to provide secure and transparent transactions. By using smart contracts, companies can automate and streamline processes, while also ensuring that all transactions are recorded in a transparent and immutable manner. This can help to reduce the risk of fraud and increase trust between parties.
Blockchain technology can also be used to improve supply chain management. By using blockchain, your organization can track products and goods as they move through supply chains—providing real-time visibility into the status and location of products. This can help to improve efficiency, reduce costs, reduce fraud, and increase transparency.
Moreover, blockchain technologies such as Hyperledger Fabric (private, permissioned) and Provenance Blockchain (public, permissionless) can be used to enhance cybersecurity by providing encrypted and immutable identity management. Blockchain-based identity and access management (IAM) systems provide secure and decentralized storage of identity data, making it more difficult for hackers to steal or compromise sensitive information.
By incorporating blockchain technology into your security stack, companies can enhance your security posture and protect against a wide range of threats. Blockchains provide:
Secure and tamper-proof record keeping,
Secure and transparent transactions,
Improved supply chain management, and
Enhanced identity management.
Together, these make blockchain technology an attractive option for companies looking to improve your security. And organizations that leverage blockchain technology to improve your security will be strongly-positioned to succeed in the years ahead!
To read more about the growing risks to digital data in 2023—and learn how adding blockchain technologies to your security stack can combat those risks—download our eBook today or contact us to start a discussion!
Blockchain has emerged as a transformational technology in various industries over the last few years. When it comes to legal services, blockchain technologies can support the privacy, security and document management requirements vital to law firms, legal departments, and attorneys.
Here are some ways blockchains can revolutionize legal services and offer a multitude of benefits to enhance efficiency, security and trust in legal operations worldwide.
Smart Contracts
Blockchain technology incorporating smart contracts, for example, can automate the process of creating, executing and managing contracts. Smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms and conditions directly written into code, can be stored and executed on the blockchain. This hard-coded contract management eliminates the need for intermediaries, reduces the risk of fraud, and ensures transparency.
Smart contracts also have the potential to revolutionize dispute resolution within the legal system. In the event of a disputed agreement or terms, the transparency and auditability of smart contracts enable quick and efficient resolution. Parties involved can rely on the immutable records stored on the blockchain to validate the final state of the contract and ensure fair outcomes.
“The advent of blockchain technology and smart contracts presents a unique opportunity for the legal industry to evolve and adapt to the demands of the digital age,” notes a recent CityLife article. Legal professionals can thus benefit from using blockchain technology that enables the creation, storage, and execution of smart contracts, ensuring secure and tamper-proof agreements, while advancing their client services.
Immutable Document Management
Legal services heavily rely on accurate and trustworthy evidence. Blockchain’s immutability and transparency make it the ideal solution for managing legal documents and data in digital formats. By providing a tamper-proof record of all contract-related activities, blockchain technology can help to ensure that all parties are held accountable for their actions and to their commitments. This can be especially important in cases of complex, multi-party contracts, where it can be difficult to track and manage all of the different activities and obligations.
Blockchain “technology generates a systematic, untampered audit trail of the history of any action taking place in a document, which can be viewed in a history tree, providing a more superior history and audit trail than anything else that currently exists,” explains Accenture. “The digitization of paper-based contracts onto the blockchain holds the potential to revolutionize the way contracts are prepared, transacted, amended, stored and complied with.”
The legal industry rests on maintaining accurate and trustworthy records and evidence. Blockchain’s immutability and transparency make it an ideal technology for document management and evidence preservation for law firms, legal departments, and attorneys.
Digital Identity Verification
In one more example, identity verification is a fundamental aspect of work done in legal services, whether it involves client onboarding, compliance, notarization, or other agreements between strangers. Blockchain technology can streamline these processes by enabling decentralized and secure digital identity verification through blockchain-based identity solutions.
“Blockchain-based identity has the potential to offer increased security, privacy, and efficiency in various industries, including banking, supply chain management, and voting,” notes Jay Speakman in a new Be In Crypto article. “By creating a decentralized and tamper-proof identity application, blockchain can reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud while providing users with more control over their personal data.”
With such technologies, individuals control their personal information via blockchain, granting access to specific details only when they choose to share. This not only enhances privacy and creates a relationship of trust, but as mentioned above, can greatly reduce identity theft and fraud.
ZorroSign For Legal Services
ZorroSign’s data security platform built on blockchain technology is just what your legal team needs to take the privacy and security of your law firm to the next level. To learn more about how ZorroSign supports attorneys, and how blockchains elevate legal services, visit our Legal industry page or contact ZorroSign today!
The ever-growing amount of digital data and the increasing complexity of cyber threats have made data security more important than ever before. In 2023, companies must take steps to elevate your data security to protect both your own information and that of your customers.
One of the main risks to digital data today is the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks. Hackers are using more advanced techniques to bypass traditional security measures—such as using machine learning to evade detection and launching targeted phishing and spear-phishing attacks against specific organizations. Companies must be prepared to defend against these types of attacks by implementing advanced security measures, such as artificial intelligence-based security solutions, and regularly updating and patching your systems.
Another risk to digital data in 2023 is the growing number of connected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT). As more devices are connected to the internet, the attack surface for hackers becomes larger, making it easier for them to gain access to sensitive information. Companies must take steps to secure your IoT devices and to ensure that those devices are not used as a means to gain access to other systems.
Further, the use of cloud services and the increasing amount of data that is stored in the cloud has also increased the risk of data breaches. Companies must ensure that your cloud services are properly configured and that you are using a reputable provider with a strong track record of security. Companies also need to implement strong access controls and encryption to protect data stored in the cloud.
Protecting data against the growing risks in 2023 requires a multi-layered approach that includes regular updates and patching, securing IoT devices, properly configuring cloud services, adopting advanced security measures such as:
Blockchain technologies for tamper-proof record keeping with no single point of failure
Digital signature technologies to authenticate and authorize remote transactions
Identity-as-a-Service solutions for scalable identity and access management (IAM)
Passwordless authentication to reduce the human risk in security systems
Organizations that fail to take these steps will be at a higher risk of data breaches and will be more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
It is important to remember that data security is not only important to protect your company’s information but also to protect the personal data of your customers and employees.
To read more about the growing risks to digital data in 2023—and learn how adding blockchain, digital signature, IDaaS, and passwordless authentication technologies to your security stack can combat those risks—download our eBook today or contact us to start a discussion!
Though still an emerging technology in the healthcare industry, blockchains have the potential to transform the U.S. (and global) healthcare industry.
By providing a secure, transparent, and efficient way to store and share information (such as patient healthcare records, prescriptions, diagnostic data across providers, etc.), blockchains are making it possible to improve patient care, reduce costs, and streamline administrative processes. Let’s look at how the healthcare industry is already using blockchain technologies . . .
Blockchain Applications Today
Electronic health record (EHR) management — blockchains can be used to securely store and share patient health and medical records—where electronic medical records, or EMRs, are “a patient’s medical history that is maintained electronically by a single provider,” explains Forbes, while EHRs represent a “patient’s medical history that is maintained electronically by multiple providers.” This application of blockchains can improve patient care by making it easier for doctors and other healthcare providers to access the information they need to make informed decisions. And blockchain technologies can also help to reduce costs by eliminating the need for duplicate records.
Clinical trials — here, blockchains can be used to manage clinical trials more efficiently, as by storing clinical data on a blockchain, researchers can track patient progress and outcomes in real time. This can help to improve the efficiency of trials and speed up the development of new treatments. “Blockchain may offer a solution to more easily aggregate health data in a secure, trusted, automated, and error-free way,” notes Deloitte. “A solution which enforces rules, privacy, and regulations in a mutually agreed upon manner, resulting in a smart contract between patient and health care stakeholders can be an important enabler to clinical trials and research.”
Supply chain management — blockchains can be used to better track the movement of medical supplies and medications with the technologies immutable and transparent recordkeeping. This can help to ensure the safety and quality of these products, and it can also reduce fraud. “Currently, most medical and pharmaceutical supply chains are facing significant logistical challenges, including a lack of real-time visibility into shipment locations, uncertainty transportation disruptions, product quality tracking and verification, cross-border customs reporting across borders, and complicated invoicing and payments,” write Jayendra S. Jadhav and Jyoti Deshmukh in a ScienceDirect article. “A blockchain-based supply chain, on the other hand, could track every step for every item immutably, transparently, and efficiently.”
Payment processing — blockchains can be used to process payments for healthcare services (patient and insurers), helping to reduce costs and improve efficiency. For example, “Insurers can now work with digital transformation platforms to design and develop blockchain technologies to target specific needs instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Julien Breteau in recent The Digital Insurer article.
Healthcare research — blockchain data storage and sharing can be readily used to manage the data from healthcare research studies. This use helps to accelerate the pace of research and improve the development of new treatments. “The growing digitization of medical care has advanced the acknowledgment of issues about secure storage, accessing of patients’ medical records, ownership, and medical data from associated sources,” explains a recent National Library of Medicine article. “Blockchain is recommended as a method of addressing critical issues faced by healthcare, for instance, protected sharing of health records and adherence to data privacy laws.”
Universal Blockchain Benefits
As blockchain technologies are tailored to healthcare, the universal benefits of this distributed ledger architecture include stronger security (as data is encrypted and distributed across multiple nodes), greater transparency (as transactions recorded on public blockchains where any node can view them), greater efficiency (automating manual data entry and record keeping processes), and more opportunities for interoperability (as blockchains can connect different healthcare systems and organizations).
ZorroSign for Healthcare
And at ZorroSign, our secure, HIPAA-compliant data security platform built in blockchain supports healthcare organizations with digital records, digital signatures, and document workflows. Our platform ensures:
Legal enforceability — reducing insurance fraud with digital signatures that are legally binding, tied to the actual person (signatory attribution), and immutable with court-admissible security certificates that never expire
Digital privacy and security — a platform built on blockchain with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to eliminate the errors of manual processes and transcription with full Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliance
Cost-savings — through automating patient, diagnostic, insurance, payment, and recordkeeping workflows and digitizing paper applications, forms, and records
Improved patient services — digitizing your office operations to quickly execute, store, track, and retrieve:
Claims management, payments, and prior authorization
Facilities management
Human resources processes
Logistics and procurement
Patient sign-in and consent
Power of Attorney and Proxy Agreements
Prescription approval routing
Healthcare providers know the value of serving more patients with the same staff, plus saving costs with digital technologies that help meet regulatory compliance while reducing paper, printing, and storage expenses.
Blockchain technologies are helping meet those needs in healthcare and expanding the patient services healthcare providers can deliver. To learn more, visit our Healthcare industry page or contact ZorroSign today!
Between Earth Day on April 22nd and Arbor Day on April 28th, ZorroSign pauses to reflect on our sustainability efforts and how we support the conservation goals behind these two key days of environmental awareness.
ZorroSign, Inc. is the first company in the world to bring blockchain technologies to digital signatures—elevating the data privacy and security of digital transactions. We are proud of this effort, as it helps people around the globe to transform the way they secure their digital data and to escape paper-based operations. By leveraging blockchain technologies for a lifetime of privacy and security with digital signatures, identities, and documents, our technology drives a “Paperless Life” for businesses, governments, and organizations: Creating, reviewing, approving, executing, and storing digital contracts and documents on immutable blockchains instead of paper.
Further, with our Save a Tree/Plant a Tree program, ZorroSign plants a tree on behalf of our customers every time they save 8,000 pages of copy paper! One tree produces roughly 8,000 pages of copy paper and studies show that by eliminating or reducing the use of paper, we can realize significant environmental benefits such as conserving water, reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality, and slowing deforestation.
2022 saw ZorroSign complete significant creative upgrades to its SaaS platform to speed organizations’ move to sustainable digital operations: First deploying a more scalable microservices and containers architecture in response to aggressive growth, second evolving to a multi-chain platform for further adaptability, and third updating the entire user experience with a new user interface and workflow. These enhancements allow ZorroSign to deliver the best user experience in digital signatures and so accelerate digital operations that minimize paper consumption.
ZorroSign is the only company in the world that offers a multi-blockchain platform to secure, track, and manage digital signatures, transactions, and documentation. By using such distributed ledger technologies—built initially on a Hyperledger Fabric and recently expanded to include the Provenance Blockchain—ZorroSign’s architecture provides structural layers of protection from ransomware, malware, and phishing attacks: Foremost, by decentralizing the data set, preventing any breach from accessing the entire data set, and further by giving endpoints (or nodes) a quick path to recovery, even if they are breached or their access is ransomed.
ZorroSign’s innovations in sustainability have been recognized by visionary clients around the world! To learn more, visit our sustainability page or contact us to start a free 14 day trial today.
Teams unite in Colombo, Sri Lanka
The global ZorroSign teams gathered the past two weeks for a series of strategic meetings to kick-off Q2-2023!
First, the US team visited Colombo, Sri Lanka for three days of fellowship and planning with the development team…
We participated in a leadership and communications seminar presented by Murtaza Esufally and Anushka Fernando-Goonetilleke from Learn 4 Life Lanka
Communications Seminar
Celebrated new roles and responsibilities at a joyful team dinner at the Galle Face Hotel…
Team Dinner at the Galle Face Hotel
Aligned development, sales, and marketing deliverables in light of the very exciting strategic customers and partnerships we have coming onboard in Q2…
And toured some of the amazing beaches, restaurants, shops, and temples of Sri Lanka!
Temple ElephantSugar Beach
Then the US team visited Dubai, UAE to meet with the operations team for planning and alignment…
Synchronized our financial, human resources, and marketing targets…
Teams unite in Dubai, UAE
Met with our communications partners at Cicero & Bernay…
And enjoyed the beautiful sights of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the United Arab Emirates!
Camel ride in the desertSheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu DhabiDinner at the Dubai Mall outside the Burj KhalifaViews from the 125th Floor of the Burj Khalifa
When security is mission-critical, your business needs secure digital signatures, transactions, and documentation—block it down!
Adding to ZorroSign’s long list of privacy and security compliance certifications, we are proud to announce our data security platform built on blockchain has recently been certified as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant!
Specifically, through our “policies, procedures, and technical systems that store, process and/or transmit cardholder data, Zorrosign has performed the required procedures to validate compliance with the PCI DSS, the best practices designed to protect merchants and consumers from data security breaches and fraud.” Find our certification here.
The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) has set data security standards, notes Signature Payments: “Any merchant or payment processor whose systems need to handle credit card details must comply with PCI standards. PCI compliance is the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) that companies that process, store, or transmit credit card information must adhere to. The PCI DSS was designed by credit card companies (Visa, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and JCB) to help protect cardholders from fraud and data breaches.”
This certification reflects ZorroSign’s ongoing commitment to data privacy and security. Paired with our digital signatures, document management, workflow and compliance automation, and identity-as-a-service capabilities, PCI DSS compliance is the latest in a global list of security benchmarks we are excited to advance. To learn more, contact us or put us to the test with Free Trial today!
Cybersecurity has become increasingly important as the world becomes more interconnected and digitized. But the risks and costs of cybercrime continue to grow, as well, and the costs are staggering:
Against this threat, blockchain technology has been making waves in the world of cybersecurity for quite a few years now, and this innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach online security—changing it for the better.
Here are some of the ways that we believe blockchain can be used to improve cybersecurity:
Immutable Records
To transact commerce (as an organization or individual) or operate government in a digital ecosystem requires legally enforceable digital signatures to prove agreement and intent.
Blockchain technology has an ability for the creation of immutable records, providing a secure, auditable trail of all transactions. All records and changes within a document are tracked and cannot be changed, providing important chain-of-custody audit capabilities for courts and ensuring peace of mind to its users. This also makes it ideal for use in financial transactions, real estate agreements and other high-value exchanges, where a record of every step is essential for ensuring the integrity of the process.
Secure Authentication
One of the main issues in cybersecurity is the vulnerability of traditional authentication methods such as passwords. Passwords can be easily hacked or stolen, leaving sensitive information vulnerable to attack. This can be a threat to businesses, especially those who store their users personal information. Blockchain technology can be used to provide secure authentication through the use of public-private key cryptography.
“The public key can help in encrypting a message before sending it to the concerned recipient,” explains 101 Blockchains. “When the recipient gets the message, they can use their private key for decrypting the message. It is essential to remember that only the recipient knows about the private key. Therefore, the applications of public key cryptography ensure that the valuable information of users is not tampered with in transit.”
Decentralization
Unliked centralized databases—which can be breached at unsecure endpoints (users and devices) or even at MSPs hosting them, giving attackers complete control once they gain central access—blockchain technology distributes data across geographically separate nodes. By decentralizing data storage, blockchain effectively prevents any one endpoint (even if compromised) from gaining control of the full data set.
This distributed nature so defeats any attack seeking to breach a system and holistically encrypt the data files stored therein: A single endpoint node might be breached and its files held for ransom, but the larger data set cannot be controlled by any one endpoint (or central authority) and so attackers cannot capture the full data set for encryption, ransom, and shutting down the network.
Further, with private, permissioned blockchains, each endpoint node (or user) has a unique encryption key to access and write to the distributed ledger. If any one of those endpoints is successfully attacked (presumedly compromising their access key), the private blockchain can simply remove distributed ledger access for that compromised key, issue the endpoint a new key, and allow that endpoint to quickly regain distributed ledger access (effectively as a new endpoint).
This unique recovery process effectively maroons any ransomware on the endpoint it attacked—ending its access and threat—while allowing the endpoint to re-engage the larger data set: With a new key and without needing to pay any ransom to the attackers for restored access.
Identity Verification
Identity verification is another area where blockchain can be used to enhance cybersecurity. It ensures that the individual claiming a particular identity is actually who they say they are. It is a very important aspect of digital security, especially as identity theft “frequency has sky-rockets in the past few years,” according to the National Council on Identity Theft Protection. “Nearly half of all U.S. citizens became a victim of some form of identity theft in 2020.”
With blockchain, users can have greater control over their personal information, allowing them to manage their digital identities more securely. This makes it more difficult for hackers to steal personal information or create fake identities.
ZorroSign’s Data Security Platform Built on Blockchain
As the world becomes more digitized and interconnected, the importance of cybersecurity will only continue to grow, and blockchain is poised to play a crucial role in ensuring that our digital world remains safe and secure.
ZorroSign’s data security platform was built on blockchain, delivering digital signatures, identity-as-a-service (IDaaS), patented fraud detection, user authentication, document validation, and document management all based on blockchain technologies.
ZorroSign is a strong addition to any organization’s security stack and brings the cybersecurity capabilities of blockchain to digital signatures and transactional documentation.
To learn more, visit our platform page or contact us to start a free 14 day trial. When the security of your digital data and documents is on the line, block it down!
Digital Identity (digital ID) is a representation of information and data unique to a particular person, organization, or group. The role of blockchain in digital ID is to make it more secure, flexible, and interesting.
For individuals, at its most basic level, it consists of a collection of information about a person such as first and last names, date of birth, nationality, passport number, etc. All of these data points are issued and stored by centralized entities. For companies or organizations, digital identity consists of information about their users. The downside of this is the business risk that comes with the rise of user privacy-centric regulations, such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In any case, when they are being relegated to tight-lipped data vaults, the use of this data becomes less which will in return reduce the improvements of the products and the true customer understanding.
What is Digital Identity and Why is it Important?
Digital Identity comprises everything and anything you have on the web which includes but is not limited to images, preferences, usage behavior on websites, bank account information, etc. With the present advancements in digital platforms, digital identity varies across banking systems, social media platforms, and telecommunication.
The importance of blockchain in digital identity is mostly based on securing individuals’ data in a distributed ecosystem. Blockchain plays a major role in ensuring accuracy when speeding up the process of customer onboarding as well as preventing any money laundering and fraudulent activity. Digital identity could help in standardizing and streamlining citizen services in different nations while having a significant part in the facilitation of social transformation projects while ensuring economic improvements.
Being precise on the identity issue eradication, using blockchain identity management, inaccessibility, fraudulent identities, and data insecurity are broadly being discussed. All the traditional methods used for identification have led a significant amount of the population to stay out of the process. Although it has been crucial for an individual to have an identity to gain access to education, the job market, traveling, governmental services, and financial systems. On another hand, the stored data and valuable identification information have been appealing to hackers. Despite all the regulations, legislation and efforts in increasing more and more cyber security, there was an exposure of a considerable amount of consumer data at a large cost. In addition to the above-mentioned issues, users tend to juggle various identities combined with usernames across websites. Data generated by one platform on another platform has no standardization and the links which are weak between the digital and offline IDs give a higher probability of the creation of fake identities.
Effectiveness of Blockchain
Improving the digital IDs with blockchain technology as the base brings several advantages, including improved:
Security
Privacy
Integrity
Trust
Simplicity
Security-wise, blockchain gives the element of maintaining data in an immutable and encrypted manner, ensuring that the digital identity is secure and easily traceable. In terms of privacy, efficient blockchain encryption, with the facility of digital signatures, ensures effective design and privacy while the maintenance of records of all the identities throughout the nodes across the network creates integrity. In improving trust, the maintenance of communication metadata in a distributed ledger and consensus mechanisms that helps to verify data authenticity across several nodes, plays a major role. Blockchain brings simplicity through the clear roles that are set for the identity issuers, owners, and verifiers in the processes associated with each stakeholder.
In the management of blockchain digital identity, the advantages are crucial for its sustainability. These include:
Relief from cumbersome paper-based identity management
Self-sovereign identity and easier ID verification
Non-custodial login solutions
IoT system user identify management
Decentralized web identity solutions
Improved safeguards for critical infrastructure
Moreover, using blockchains in digital IDs have the following benefits as well:
Manageability and control
Decentralized storage
Decentralized Public Key Infrastructure (DPKI)
Decentralized Public Key Infrastructure (DPKI) is at the heart of Decentralized Identity. Blockchain’s role here is to create a tamper-proof and trusted medium in distributing the asymmetric verification and encryption keys of the holders of the identities. DPKIs give users the ability to anchor or create cryptographic keys on the blockchain in a way that is chronologically ordered. These keys are used in the verification of other users’ information. Identities that are created on the blockchain are inherently safer to use than those that are stored on centralized servers. Cryptographically secure Ethereum blockchain, along with distributed data storage systems like InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) or OrbitDB, enables disintermediate of existing centralized data storage systems maintaining trust and data integrity. When compared, the responsibility of the data security of the identity in centralized identity systems falls under the entity providing the identity. In contrast, the responsibility of the decentralized identity framework falls completely on the user. The user has the sole right to implement his or her security measures or even outsource the tasks to any other service. The main advantage here is that the decentralized identity solutions that are blockchain-powered forcefully make the hackers attack the individual data stores which becomes highly costly and unprofitable.
Digital identity has increasingly become a part of the social as well as the economic well-being of people all over the world. It has enabled an individual’s right to vote, and access education, and financial systems. Blockchain has become a crucial part in securing these identities by helping to create a decentralized identifier in parallel with the facility for associating digital identity with verifiable credentials. This enables an ultimate digital identity across different platforms under the individual’s control and ownership.
Blockchain Supports CLM
Contract lifecycle management (CLM), at the most basic description, is the process of managing the creation, execution, and administration of contracts. CLM involves a wide range of activities, including drafting and negotiating contracts, storing and managing contract documents, and tracking and managing contract performance.
“In any typical workday, week, quarter, and fiscal year, the average Fortune 1000 company may handle several tens of thousands of contracts,” notes JD Supra. “Each contract will need to be negotiated, reviewed, and executed. Then, when that part of the process is complete, with signatures on the proverbial dotted lines, the lifecycle management of that contract begins, including monitoring for regulatory compliance and “re”-review at renewal time. This very real scenario commands at least half, and as much as 70%, of legal professionals’ time.”
At ZorroSign, we believe blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize contract lifecycle management in three key ways:
By providing a secure, decentralized database, blockchain technology can enable faster, more efficient, and more secure contract management for legal professionals;
Blockchain can also help to reduce the risk of fraud and errors; and,
Blockchain can provide a more transparent and auditable record of all contract-related activities for regulatory compliance and renewals.
One of the most well-known applications of blockchain technology in CLM is in the realm of smart contracts. A smart contract is a self-executing contract with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code. The code—and the agreement it represents—are stored on the blockchain, which makes them secure, transparent, and auditable. Smart contracts have the potential to streamline a wide range of contract-related activities, including contract drafting, negotiation, and execution.
Another area where blockchain technology can complement contract lifecycle management is in the storage and management of contract documents. Traditional methods of storing and managing contract documents can be slow and prone to errors, but blockchain technology has the potential to make the process faster, cheaper, and more secure. By using a decentralized database to store contract documents, blockchain technology can enable faster, more accurate, and more secure access to these documents.
“Blockchain provides a trusted, independent, and cost-efficient mechanism for multiparty transactional records management,” writes Cecil (CJ) John for Medium. “Blockchain is an essential technology for records management professionals to understand because it has broad implications for securing and authenticating intellectual property at lower cost and higher efficiency.”
Blockchain technology is also being used to facilitate the tracking and management of contract performance. Traditional methods of tracking and managing contract performance can be time-consuming and error-prone, but blockchain technology has the potential to make the process faster, cheaper, and more efficient. By using a decentralized database to store information about contract performance, blockchain technology can enable faster, more accurate, and more secure contract management.
In addition to these benefits, blockchain technology can also help to improve the transparency and accountability of contract lifecycle management. By providing a tamper-proof record of all contract-related activities, blockchain technology can help to ensure that all parties are held accountable for their actions. This can be especially important in complex, multi-party contracts, where it can be difficult to track and manage all of the different activities and obligations.
“The technology generates a systematic, untampered audit trail of the history of any action taking place in a document, which can be viewed in a history tree, providing a more superior history and audit trail than anything else that currently exists,” explains Accenture. “The digitization of paper-based contracts onto the blockchain holds the potential to revolutionize the way contracts are prepared, transacted, amended, stored and complied with.”
ZorroSign is proud to bring both the private, permissioned Hyperledger Fabric blockchain and the public, permissionless Provenance Blockchain to CLM! Our data security platform was built on blockchain, delivering digital signatures, identity-as-a-service (IDaaS), patented fraud detection, user authentication, document validation, and document management all based on blockchain technologies.
Identity-as-a-service (IDaaS) is any cloud-based identity management solution that enables organizations to securely authenticate and manage the identities of their users. IDaaS solutions can be used to manage a wide range of identities, including employees, customers, partners, and devices.
At a basic level, all IDaaS platforms are created to enhance online user experiences, secure access to critical enterprise applications, and reduce IT resource-related expenses with efficient identity and access management (IAM) and privileged access management (PAM).
“Sound identity management is essential,” writes Mark Diodati at Gartner. “Without good IAM, you are at real risk for data breaches and denial of service attacks. And IAM is hard to get right.”
The overarching goal of IDaaS solutions is to ensure users are who they claim to be—and to give users access to applications, data, systems, or other digital resources as authorized by their organizations.
“Some of the pros associated with IDaaS offerings include the ability to consume rather than host IAM and offloading some of the management overhead associated with IAM to an external provider,” writes Chris Hughes for CSO. “Other benefits include feature-rich offerings that make your IAM implementations more robust and secure in many cases. Most IDaaS providers offer native and integrated capabilities such as single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA).”
With this introduction, let’s look at how blockchain technology can help to improve and support IDaaS.
Blockchain and Decentralized Identifiers (DID)
One of the most well-known applications of blockchain technology in IDaaS is in the realm of decentralized identity (DID). A DID is a digital identity that is owned and controlled by the individual, rather than a central authority.
Since DIDs are stored on the blockchain, they are more secure, transparent, and auditable. They also have the potential to enable individuals to have more control over their personal information and to reduce the risk of identity theft, ensuring peace of mind when it comes to the security of their personal data.
Blockchain and Identity Verification
Another area where blockchain technology supports IDaaS is in the realm of identity verification. Identity verification ensures that the individual claiming a particular identity is actually who they say they are. It is a very important, if not the most important, aspect of digital identities, especially as identity theft “frequency has sky-rockets in the past few years,” according to the National Council on Identity Theft Protection. “Nearly half of all U.S. citizens became a victim of some form of identity theft in 2020.”
Blockchain technology, however, can help to improve the accuracy and efficiency of identity verification by providing a tamper-proof record of activities and transactions. It can also help in developing new identity management systems with digital identity frameworks featuring decentralized identifiers.
Accenture, a global consultancy, has defined five immediate areas where blockchain-based digital identity management brings strong benefits:
Secure and seamless travel, even across international borders
Healthcare records that can be easily shared and managed by individual patients
Background checks and training records for educational and professional credentials
Streamline know-your-customer (KYC) processes across organizations
Validate proof of ownership or insurance of physical or digital assets
Blockchain Security Elevates IDaaS Data Security
Blockchain has the power to improve IDaaS’s solution’s data security by bringing the decentralized, cryptographically secured blockchain data architecture to identity management. An estimated 81% of hacking-related breaches leveraging either stolen and/or weak passwords, putting even IDaaS solutions at risk—however, blockchain technologies can help IDaaS solutions to eliminate one of the most glaring gaps in cybersecurity, as distributed ledger technologies (DLTs such as blockchain) provide two means of preventing and/or ameliorating the threat of ransomware attacks: First, by decentralizing the data set itself; and second, by giving endpoints a quick path to recovery, even if they are themselves breached and access ransomed.
For example, unlike centralized databases—which can be breached at unsecure endpoints (users and devices) or even at MSPs hosting them, giving attackers complete control once they gain central access—blockchain technology distributes data across geographically separate nodes. By decentralizing data storage, blockchain effectively prevents any one endpoint (even if compromised) from gaining control of the full data set. This distributed nature so defeats any attack seeking to breach a system and holistically encrypt the data files stored therein: A single endpoint node might be breached and its files held for ransom, but the larger data set cannot be controlled by any one endpoint (or central authority) and so attackers cannot capture the full data set for encryption, ransom, and shutting down the network.
Further, each endpoint node (or user) has a unique encryption key to access and write to the distributed ledger. If any one of those endpoints is successfully attacked (presumedly compromising their access key), the blockchain can simply remove distributed ledger access for that compromised key, issue the endpoint a new key, and allow that endpoint to quickly regain distributed ledger access (effectively as a new endpoint).
This unique recovery process maroons any ransomware on the endpoint it attacked—ending its access and threat—while allowing the endpoint to re-engage the larger data set: With a new key and without needing to pay any ransom to the attackers for restored access.
The Perfect Pair United on ZorroSign’s Platform
Blockchain technology has the potential to support IDaaS in many ways: It can provide a secure, decentralized database, and enable faster, more efficient, and heightened secure identity management. It can also help to reduce the risk of fraud and errors and provide a more transparent and auditable record of all identity-related activities across IDaaS solutions.
ZorroSign unites both blockchain architecture with IDaaS capabilities to help your organization better manage identity access and elevate data security!
Contact us to learn more about our data security platform built on blockchain and put us to the test: Start your free trial of ZorroSign’s data security platform today.
Digital Signatures
Digital signature technologies have become a reliable way of doing business in a primarily digitized world. These technologies are expected to grow in popularity in 2023 and here are several key trends to watch:
Increased adoption: As more organizations and individuals become aware of the benefits of digital signature technologies, you can expect to see greater adoption of such solutions. This adoption includes a wide range of industries such as financial services, real estate, legal, IT and many more that serve as early-adopters of new technologies and which process a high volume of digital transactions requiring digital signatures.
Improved security and compliance: One of the key advantages of digital signature technologies is the enhanced security and compliance they offer. These technologies use advanced encryption and authentication methods to ensure the integrity and authenticity of signed documents. In 2023, you can expect to see further developments in the security and compliance of digital signature technologies. ZorroSign’s data security platform provides users with the security and privacy afforded by blockchain technology, plus our patented fraud detection technology (the Z-Forensics token), and passwordless login options through biometrics security.
Enhanced user experience: As digital signature technologies become more widespread, you can anticipate a greater focus on improving the user experience. This could include the development of more intuitive and user-friendly interfaces, as well as the integration of digital signature technologies with other tools and platforms. In this spirit, ZorroSign just recently launched our completely redesigned user experience! On the back-end, we’ve updated to a scalable microservices and containers architecture—allowing our platform to grow quickly while enhancing our development team’s productivity, autonomy, and efficiency. We’re also deploying on Provenance Blockchain for select organizations and continually enhancing our privacy, security, and compliance capabilities. On the front-end, you will quickly see the simplicity of our new user interface—delivering what we believe to be the best user experience for digital signatures!
Increased use of biometric authentication: Biometric authentication methods, such as fingerprint scanning and facial recognition, offer an additional layer of security for digital signature technologies. In 2023, you can expect to see more organizations and individuals using biometric authentication methods to sign documents electronically. ZorroSign leverages the biometric security of Apple and Android mobile devices to login to individual devices (and so the ZorroSign app) with hardware biometric capture features such as face, fingerprint, and iris scans. Such biometric login facilitates passwordless user authentication at the device-level for subsequent ZorroSign digital signatures and document management.
Moreadvanced integration with other technologies: Digital signature technologies can be integrated with a wide range of other technologies, such as workflow management systems, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and document management systems. In 2023, you can anticipate more advanced integration of digital signature technologies with these and other tools, enabling organizations to streamline and automate their document signing processes.
Overall, 2023 is shaping up to be a promising year for the adoption of digital signature technologies! As more organizations and individuals embrace these solutions, ZorroSign is expecting to see a range of benefits, including improved security and compliance, enhanced user experience, and greater integration with other technologies.
Contact us to learn more about our data security platform built on blockchain and put us to the test: Start your free trial of ZorroSign’s data security platform today!
While information and data have always been valuable commodities, they have never been as available and distributed as they are in our digital world today. With digital information being so readily generated and shared, data security rises in importance. Learning about data security and how it may impact your business, government, and personal life is a necessity. So let’s dive in to what data security means and its importance in today’s technologically driven world!
What is Data Security
“Data security is the process of safeguarding digital information throughout its entire life cycle to protect it from corruption, theft, or unauthorized access,” defines Fortinet, a computer, data, and network security company. “It covers everything—hardware, software, storage devices, and user devices; access and administrative controls; and organizations’ policies and procedures.”
“When properly implemented, robust data security strategies will protect an organization’s information assets against cybercriminal activities, but they also guard against insider threats and human error, which remains among the leading causes of data breaches today,” adds IBM. “Data security involves deploying tools and technologies that enhance the organization’s visibility into where its critical data resides and how it is used. Ideally, these tools should be able to apply protections like encryption, data masking, and redaction of sensitive files, and should automate reporting to streamline audits and adhering to regulatory requirements.”
The Importance of Data Security
In today’s digital world, protecting proprietary information—including client data, financial transactions, knowledge archives, infrastructure and databases—must be a top priority for companies and organizations. If they fail via data breaches, hacking, or theft, companies may lose customers and lose trust.
“All businesses have data that’s valuable and that has to be protected,” said Candy Alexander, international president at Information Systems Security Association, a nonprofit organization for information security professionals and practitioners.
Individuals and organizations rely on the companies they do business with to safeguard their data. If a trusted company fails at this task, the company will have more than just the legal fallout to contend with.
According to UpGuard, the combined cost of global data breaches in 2021—including customer repayments, auditing services, legal fees, and fines, among other costs—was approximately $6 trillion. But a failure to protect private information negatively impacts more than just a business’s bottom line, it endangers their reputation and future success. As such, companies employ skilled professionals to prevent or mitigate such risks.
“The cloud, mobility, and the powerful devices most of us have in our pockets enable a culture of convenience, and the ability to collaborate and be more productive. While this convenience arguably makes our lives easier, it also makes it easier for cybercriminals to gain access to our sensitive personal information wherever it lives or wherever it is traveling across the network,” explains SimpliLearn. “New security threats pop up all the time, and IT security professionals need to stay up to date with the latest tactics hackers are employing in the field.” Data security teams must include strategists, communicators, and lifelong learners to ensure IT security is consistently a top priority.
ZorroSign is a Data Security Platform Build on Blockchain
Advancing data security is critical for any technology managing data, and ZorroSign delivers data security in several ways.
The first way ZorroSign supports data security is by using distributed ledger technologies—originally built on Hyperledger Fabric, now expanded to include the Provenance Blockchain—ZorroSign provides superior privacy and security, while preventing fraud and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Blockchains provide structural layers of protection from cybercrime like ransomware, malware, or phishing attacks by decentralizing the data set itself (preventing any one breach to access the entire data set), and then by giving endpoints (or nodes) a quick path to recovery, even if they are themselves breached or their access ransomed. Unlike centralized databases—which can be breached at unsecure endpoints (users and devices) or even at managed service providers (MSPs) hosting them—giving attackers complete control once they gain central access, blockchain technology distributes data physically across separate nodes. By decentralizing data storage, blockchain effectively prevents any one endpoint (even if compromised) from gaining control of the full data set. This distributed nature defeats any attack seeking to breach a system and holistically encrypts the data files stored inside: A single endpoint node might be breached, and its files held for ransom, but the larger data set cannot be controlled by any one endpoint (or central authority) and so attackers cannot capture the full data set for encryption, ransom, and shutting down the network.
ZorroSign has further elevated our data security through our patented fraud detection technology we call the Z-Forensics token. This unique digital solution can:
Prove that the individual who is performing the action to sign the document is who they claim to be (verification)
Apply a digital equivalent of a wet-ink signature to the document (legal intent)
Prove the authenticity of the printed or digital version of an electronically signed document, its content, attachments, and the signatures on it (authenticity)
Plus ZorroSign supports computer security with passwordless authentication capabilities, leveraging the biometric security of Apple and Android mobile devices to login to the device (and ZorroSign app) with hardware biometric capture features such as face, fingerprint, and iris scans. Such biometric login facilitates user authentication at the device-level without passwords (which can be hacked or stolen) for elevated security of digital signatures and your digital documents.
Contact us to learn more about data security and put us to the test: Start your free trial of ZorroSign’s data security platform built on blockchain today!
We are proud to finish 2022 strong by sharing our completely redesigned user experience for ZorroSign’s data security platform built on blockchain!
On the back-end, we’ve updated to an elaborate microservices and containers architecture—allowing our platform to scale quickly while enhancing our development team’s productivity, autonomy, and efficiency. We’re also deploying on Provenance Blockchain for select organizations and continually enhancing our privacy, security, and compliance capabilities.
On the front-end, you will quickly see the simplicity of our user interface—delivering what we believe to be the best user experience for digital signatures!
For a quick introduction to our new look, new features, and new benefits, watch this short overview from our U.S. operations team:
What’s New with ZorroSign’s Data Security Platform Built on Blockchain
And for an expanding overview of key functionality, visit our YouTube channel to watch helpful videos on creating an account, creating E-Sign documents, using platform tools, digitally signing documents, and so much more!
ZorroSign’s YouTube Channel: New User Experience Playlist
We are thrilled to share our updated platform with you . . .
