When President Clinton and Congress passed the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (or E-Sign) last June, it seemed as though the Internet was going to eliminate yet another reason to have to leave the office. Under this legislation, documents signed and verified "electronically" would be legal and binding, allowing people to forgo having to physically sign a document.

If this sounds too good to be true, it's because - at least for now - it is. While legislation has mandated that online contracts signed electronically would have the same legal force as paper contracts, the usual security concerns that arise whenever you are dealing with confidential information moving over the Internet, e-mail, or even a company network still exist. The bill didn't designate a standard technological protocol for signing documents electronically, so to date, there are a variety of electronic signature options but no universal standards or regulations when it comes to security.

The other problem is a lack of compatibility between the various available technologies. In other words, unless both the person seeking a signature and the person providing one use the same company's technology or software for electronic signatures, documents will still need to be signed the old-fashioned way.

That is not to say your business could not benefit from electronic signatures right now, though. There are a number of technologies that might help with your business's day-to-day tasks.

Digital signatures
A digital signature (not to be confused with "electronic signature") encrypts a document in such a way that those who decrypt it can verify who sent it. Although there are multiple ways of encrypting a document, the most common is through public key infrastructure (PKI). With the popular public-key method, you create a lock with two unique keys - one public, one private. The public key, copies of which you can distribute to any number of people, is used to "lock" a document intended for you. This document can only be unlocked by using the matching private key, which is held by you. Within an office, this technology can be useful for signing expense reports, time sheets, and other HR documents.

Smart cards
Smart cards are also used to verify the identity of anyone trying to open a document or message. They are small cards that are used to organize passwords and user information. Because only a select group of people have access to the document, it is easier to verify that someone has seen and approved the document. Security can be an issue, though. Cards can be lost or stolen, and identities can sometimes be forged. And not all computers come with smart card capability, so you may need to equip your computer to handle this technology. Smart cards can also be used to access sensitive documents, files, and information that are on your company's network.

Biometrics
Biometrics refers to any method of closely analyzing physical attributes, like a handwritten signature or voice, for example. There is software that works in conjunction with a writing tablet and pen that analyzes signatures and verifies user identity.

If you're interested in electronic signature technology that will allow you to sign any and all business documents without having to leave your desk, though, then it is probably best to sit tight for now. Without a universal technological standard for electronic signatures in place, your business could still be vulnerable to looming security concerns.