E-signature application process for contractors streamlined

VeriSign on Monday said it has streamlined its application process for Defense contractors to obtain digital certificates.

In July, the Defense Department began requiring its contractors to obtain digital certificates to access transaction systems. VeriSign, along with Digital Signature Trust and Operational Research Consultants, were authorized to issue the certificates, which allows contractors to transmit secure e-mail, digitally sign documents and perform other online transactions with Defense.

VeriSign Vice President Barry Leffew said the revamped process can handle a majority of the applications online. Leffew said since the department extended the requirement in July it has seen orders rise from 10 to 20 per week to more than 1,000, and said the upgrade would allow the company to process "millions to tens of millions" of applications.

However, less than 6,000 to 7,000 of the 350,000 contractors have yet to obtain a certificate, which they must do by April 1, 2004, Leffew said.