Digital Signature Certification

In August 2008, the National Office – on behalf of the NECS National Steering Committee –
engaged the law firm Clayton Utz to provide advice on which type of Gatekeeper Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs) should be required and used by NECS authorised officers and certifiers. Specifically, a comparative analysis was sought of the relative risks and liability allocations of various approaches.

In September 2008, Clayton Utz prepared a report recommending the best approach to minimise the risk of identity fraud. The report concluded that authorised officers and certifiers in NECS should be required to hold either parent DSCs or individual DSCs, both of which involve an independent evidence of identity (EOI) check by a Gatekeeper Registration Authority (RA). In general, they should not be permitted to hold child DSCs, however, they may do so in the case of approved larger subscribers who can demonstrate adequate internal EOI checks and have the resources or insurance to cover losses arising from negligence relating to these checks.

For more information view the full Risk Analysis of DSC types for Authorised Officers and Certifiers. 

Contact
Mark Sneddon
Clayton Utz Lawyers
Level 18, 333 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: +61 3 9286 6000
Email: msneddon@claytonutz.com
Website: www.claytonutz.com

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