Digital signature in Word and Office - how it works

Digital signatures have become increasingly established in the modern business world over the past few years. This is hardly surprising, as digital signatures offer numerous advantages. These include increased security, considerable time savings and, of course, the ability to sign documents from any location.

In the current versions of Microsoft Word and Office 365, adding a digital signature is possible without much effort. The following article explains step by step how to create and use a digital signature.

Digital signatures offer a number of advantages. Above all, the use of digital signatures can save a lot of time in everyday life, as they can be executed immediately and from anywhere. The ability to digitally sign a new employment contract, for example, often allows deadlines to be met that would be difficult to meet if signing on site - so the new job can be started sooner.

Not to be neglected is the fact that digital signatures support sustainable action, as they reduce the need for paper documents. In addition, digital signatures are legally recognized and can now also be used internationally in many countries in a legally binding manner.

To create a digital signature in Word, there are just a few simple steps to follow. The following instructions are based on the latest versions of Microsoft Word or Office 365.

The first step is to prepare the Word document that is to be signed.

Place the cursor at the position where the signature is to be inserted.

Then you need to switch to the "Insert" tab. Click on "Signature line".

Then select the item "Microsoft Office signature line". A dialog box appears in which the details of the signature can be entered, such as the name, title and email address of the signatory. The fields must be filled in accordingly, then the entry is confirmed with "OK".

After the signature line has been inserted, right-click on the signature line and select "Sign". A dialog box opens again in which you can either use an existing digital ID or create a new one. If there is no digital ID yet, follow the instructions to create a new one.

Once a digital ID has been selected, the signature can now be entered. Here you can choose between two options, namely a handwritten signature with a stylus or mouse or uploading an image of the handwritten signature. The respective signature is then added by clicking on "Sign".

Creating a digital signature in Office 365 is similar to creating one in Word. The user interface and the steps are largely identical, so the instructions for Word are largely applicable here too. However, Office 365 also offers integrated cloud services that enable access to documents and stored signatures from anywhere and at any time.

The digital signature in Microsoft Word and Office 365 offers a very efficient and secure way to sign documents. So it doesn't matter whether you're working from an office or on the move: With the latest versions of Word and Office 365, documents can be signed securely and quickly at any time..