GeoTrust’s True Credentials® for Adobe® Acrobat® is changing the way enterprises use and trust electronic information. It allows authors to create Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) documents that clearly certify to recipients that the author’s identity has been verified by a trusted organization and that the document has not been altered. The solution allows organizations to engage in more secure, reliable electronic document exchange.

Document Integrity Achieved Seamlessly and Simply
Together, Adobe and GeoTrust have developed a revolutionary solution for document security. True Credentials for Adobe Acrobat is the first ubiquitous implementation of public-key document validation technology; and, because it is embedded in an existing Adobe client, it is truly seamless and ease to use.

The highest level of document security available
Certified documents differ significantly from standard digitally signed ones. Although Acrobat allows authors to sign PDFs with any x.509 v3 digital certificate, this isn't the same as a Certified Document Services (CDS) certificate issued with True Credentials for Adobe Acrobat. A CDS certificate is signed by the GeoTrust for Adobe Certificate Authority (CA) that has been issued by the Adobe trusted root and embedded in Acrobat 6.0 and higher. Only certificates issued from this hierarchy will receive the certified signature validation mark.

Relying parties don't need to decide for themselves whether the issuing CA should be trusted since the Acrobat application automatically verifies the validity of the certificate and displays a message to the relying party that the signature and/or contents have been validated. In addition, CDS signing ensures the highest level of document integrity and verification because the user’s or department’s digital credentials must be stored on a cryptographic hardware device and they must be issued by a WebTrust-certified certificate authority using strict guidelines.

How it works
With True Credentials for Adobe Acrobat, GeoTrust provides CA services to Adobe. Authors or organizations interested in creating certified documents will register with GeoTrust, have their identification information verified and be provided with a digital certificate that can be used in Adobe Acrobat 6.0+ Standard or Professional to create certified PDF documents.

Document recipients using the free Adobe Reader 6.0+ will then have the ability to automatically validate certified documents with no additional software or configuration. The relying party simply clicks on a signature box within the document and is able to retrieve the certification status indicating whether the document is certified and if it has been modified. Signature properties, such as certificate details, signer’s contact information and validation method, can also be viewed by the relying party.

Applications for Certified Document Services
The need to certify document authenticity is stronger than ever in today’s electronic business environment. Digital signature capabilities enable important documents and information to be delivered inside and outside an organization with added assurances that the information arrives exactly as it was intended.

True Credentials for Acrobat is an ideal solution for any organization that requires strong authentication of their "highstake" documents, including:

• Financial Services that are driven by high value transactions, the conservative nature of business operations and need to adhere to government regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
  
• Healthcare Organizations that must maintain highly sensitive information and compliance with HIPAA regulations
  
• Manufacturing Companies that are facing pressure to reduce costs by streamlining business work-flow by replacing paper transactions with electronic transactions
  
• Government Agencies that need to support the e-government Act of 2002 and the Government Paperwork Elimination Act
  
• Other Uses for Certified Document Services include distribution of sales quotes, analysis reports, white papers, statements, invoices, press releases, privacy statements, human resource documents and any general communications that need to be verified as legitimate

Adobe® LiveCycle™ provides server-based Certified Document
ServicesOrganizations may also deploy Adobe® LiveCycle™, which allows organizations to quickly certify large volumes of PDF files such as bank statements or reports in the name of an organization or department. This service allows enterprises to digitally sign, encrypt, and decrypt sensitive documents directly on a server. Adobe LiveCycle eliminates the step of individual users manually opening each PDF file to add digital signatures.

Solution Highlights
True Credentials for Adobe Acrobat is available to either individuals or departments within an organization. Highlights include:

• A fully managed, centralized, secure, web-based management system that provides authorized Registration Authorities the ability to enroll users, run reports, revoke certificates, and perform other certificate lifecycle functions
  
• One year signing license
  
• A FIPS 140-1 level 2 cryptographic device (USB token) and required drivers will be included with every certificate
  
• World-class customer support via phone and e-mail
  
• Professional installation services are available