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Digital Certificates
Use Identity-based certificates for digital signing, digital sealing and to secure your email
Our IdenTrust Global Common (IGC) products are compliant with the Federal Bridge and certified for use with various federal, state and local government agencies. Use IGC certificates for multiple activities such as document signing, digital signing and sealing, email security and access to various online government websites and applications.
IdenTrust Global Common (IGC) certificates are identity-based digital certificates designed for secure communications and transactions across federal, state, and local government agencies. Fully compliant with the Federal Bridge Certification Authority (FBCA), IGC certificates are trusted for use in a wide range of government applications.
IGC certificates enable secure digital signing, document sealing, email encryption, and authenticated access to government portals. They are essential for professionals and agencies that require verified digital identities and secure communications in regulated environments.
Whether you're an agency employee, contractor, or affiliated professional, IGC certificates help ensure compliance, streamline workflows, and maintain trust across digital interactions.
Benefits of IGC Certificates from IdenTrust
In today’s digital-first government landscape, security, trust, and compliance are non-negotiable. IdenTrust is a recognized leader in digital identity solutions, trusted by government agencies and contractors nationwide. Benefits and use cases for IGC Certificates include:
Document Signing
Replace outdated wet ink signatures with secure, legally binding digital signatures. IdenTrust digital certificates enable agencies to streamline workflows, reduce paper usage, and establish a robust audit trail. This audit trail documents every step of the signing process, enhancing transparency and accountability while supporting compliance with federal and state regulations.
Digital Sealing
Modernize your document authentication with digital sealing. IdenTrust certificates allow agencies and professionals—such as engineers, architects, and surveyors—to apply secure digital seals alongside signatures. This eliminates the need for physical stamps and ink, making it easier to process signed and sealed plans, permits, and official documents with full legal validity.
Email Security
Protect your communications with digitally signed emails. IdenTrust certificates verify sender identity and ensure message integrity, helping prevent spoofing and tampering. Whether you're exchanging sensitive data or official correspondence, digital signing reinforces trust and security across your agency’s communications.
Government Approved
IdenTrust digital certificates meet federal standards and are backed by legislation like the ESIGN Act, which affirms the legal validity of electronic signatures. Notably, President Bill Clinton used an IdenTrust certificate to sign the ESIGN Act into law—underscoring our longstanding role in enabling secure, compliant digital transactions for government and public sector use.
Understanding Digital Signing & Sealing
Explore how digital signatures and seals enhance document security, authenticity, and compliance for government and professional use.
Electronic vs. Digital Signatures
Learn the key differences between electronic and digital signatures—and why digital signing offers stronger security and legal assurance.
Real-World Applications of Digital Seals
See how agencies and professionals use digital seals to validate plans, permits, and official documents alongside digital signatures.
Choosing the Right IGC Certificate
Discover which IGC certificate best fits your needs for secure digital signing, sealing, and email protection.
Use digital signing for external or internal document submission
With IGC certificate your agency can support electronic processing for these use cases and more:
External
- Accept digitally signing and sealed plans submitted by engineers or architects
- Accept digitally signing requests for permits and licensing
Internal
- Streamline processes by replacing traditional wet signatures with digital signatures
- Enhance auditability by incorporating digital signatures and electronic seals into workflow processing
- Utilize signing and encryption to secure emailed communications
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What types of digital certificates does IdenTrust offer for U.S. government use?
IdenTrust provides a range of Federal-Bridge cross-certified digital certificates for U.S. government employees, contractors, and affiliates. These include certificates for secure email, digital signing, authentication, and TLS/SSL website security.
2. What is an ECA certificate and who needs one?
An External Certification Authority (ECA) certificate is issued to non-DoD individuals and organizations that need to interact securely with U.S. Department of Defense systems. This includes contractors, vendors, and foreign nationals who are not eligible for a DoD-issued Common Access Card (CAC).
3. Are IdenTrust certificates compliant with CMMC requirements?
Yes. IdenTrust certificates can support compliance with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework, particularly in areas related to identity verification, secure communications, and access control. Organizations handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) can use IdenTrust certificates to meet CMMC Level 2 and higher requirements.
4. Are IdenTrust government certificates trusted under the Federal Bridge?
Yes. IdenTrust is a trusted Certification Authority (CA) under the Federal Bridge Certification Authority (FBCA). This ensures interoperability and trust across federal agencies and systems, making IdenTrust certificates suitable for a wide range of government applications.
5. Can ECA certificates be used for more than one purpose?
Yes! Many users don’t realize that ECA certificates are multi-functional. They can be used to:
- Digitally sign documents
- Encrypt and sign emails
- Authenticate to DoD websites and portals
6. How do I know which certificate type is right for my agency or contract?
Each government agency or DoD contract may have specific certificate requirements. IdenTrust offers a Certificate Selection Wizard to help you choose the correct certificate based on your role, use case, and the agency’s security policies.
7. How are IdenTrust certificates delivered and secured?
Depending on the certificate type, IdenTrust offers delivery via secure software download or FIPS 140-2 compliant hardware tokens. Hardware-based certificates provide enhanced protection for private keys and are often required for high-assurance government use cases.