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eIDAS (electronic time stamps)

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Ensure the legal validity of documents with electronic time stamps as a qualified trust service provider (QTP)

As a qualified trust service provider for electronic time stamps, you provide companies with legally compliant proof that documents have not been altered or even manipulated after a certain point in time.

If you would like to be officially included in the European eIDAS Trusted List of qualified providers (EUTL), you must prove that your service fulfils the security requirements set out in the eIDAS Regulation and submit a corresponding conformity assessment report to your competent supervisory authority - in Germany, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA).

Qualification with TÜV NORD: From the necessary testing of your electronic time stamp service to conformity assessment or re-certification, we offer you exactly the services you need for successful qualification. We also prepare you for an upcoming certification in the form of workshops or make you an eIDAS.PROFESSIONAL as part of our specific training programme.

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Target group of the certification for trust service providers for electronic time stamps

Our offer is aimed at a wide range of organisations involved in the secure, legally binding distribution and use of digital time stamps:

  • Companies that already operate a qualified trust service for electronic time stamps or are planning to set one up
  • Providers of digital identity services, certification services or trust services within the meaning of the eIDAS Regulation

The advantages of certification at a glance

  • Authorisation as a qualified trust service provider: You objectively prove that you fulfil the requirements of the eIDAS Regulation.
  • European recognition: You will be included in the EU Trusted List (EUTL).
  • Access to the European Single Market: Your service can be used throughout the EU in a legally binding manner.
  • Transparent GAP analysis: We identify optimisation potential in your current implementation.
  • Training & expertise: With our training, your employees become your company's own eIDAS.PROFESSIONALs.

Your path to becoming a certified trust service provider for electronic time stamps

This is how we support you holistically:

Training & Qualification

  • eIDAS.PROFESSIONAL training for your employees

Concept & preparation

  • Overview of the legal requirements for trust services, including the relevant eIDAS requirements, relevant ETSI standards and evaluation of these requirements in the respective context
  • Explanation of the meaning of the Trust Service Practice Statement (TSPS) and introduction to the TÜV NORD certification programme, including normative and legal requirements, interpretations and other relevant aspects
  • Workshops and preliminary audits to identify non-conformities and potential for improvement through status analyses of the PKI or trust service and GAP analysis of existing documentation and processes

Testing & conformity assessment

Audit of your implementation based on the eIDAS Regulation, including

  • Article 42:Requirements for qualified electronic time stamps

Application of the following ETSI standards:

  • ETSI EN 319 401: General requirements for trust service providers
  • ETSI EN 319 421: Guidelines and security requirements for trust service providers issuing time stamps

Certification & re-certification

  • Conformity assessment and certification
  • Support for inclusion in the EU Trusted Service List

FAQ - Frequently asked questions about trust service providers of electronic time stamps

An electronic timestamp links data in electronic form to a specific point in time, thereby providing proof that this data was available at that time. For this purpose, the time stamp contains the exact date and time of its creation. In the form of a qualified electronic time stamp, it links the time information with the data using an advanced electronic signature or an equivalent procedure so that changes can be recognised. Electronic time stamps are based on a correct time source that is linked to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Electronic time stamps are used wherever legally compliant proof of the time of existence or submission of data is required - for example in digital contracts, official transactions, audit-proof archives or documentation systems with evidential value.

Only qualified trust service providers (TSPs) that meet the requirements of the eIDAS Regulation, have been recognised by a competent authority such as the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) and are on the European Trusted List (EUTL) are permitted to provide qualified electronic time stamps in the European single market.

The following ETSI standards in particular apply to providers of qualified time stamps:

- ETSI EN 319 401: General requirements for trust service providers

- ETSI EN 319 421: Specific requirements for timestamping services

These standards relate, for example, to security measures, processes, signature mechanisms and auditing.

Inclusion in the EU Trusted List takes place after successful completion of a conformity assessment by an independent testing centre (e.g. TÜV NORD), after successful testing and formal approval of the conformity assessment report by the responsible supervisory authority (in Germany, the Federal Network Agency is responsible for this) and after its positive decision on registration.

The TSPS documents all relevant processes, security measures and responsibilities in the trust service. It is the central reference document in the verification process and must cover all requirements from the eIDAS Regulation and the ETSI standards.

Our TÜV NORD eIDAS.PROFESSIONAL training provides practical knowledge about eIDAS, electronic signatures, time stamps and relevant standards. The aim is to prepare your employees specifically for their tasks as part of a trust service - both organisationally and technically.

Why are we a strong partner for you

We support you with in-depth expertise in the field of electronic time stamps, trust services and conformity assessment - from the initial idea to successful certification. Our experts know the regulatory requirements of the eIDAS Regulation and relevant ETSI standards in detail. With practical workshops, individual training courses (e.g. on eIDAS.PROFESSIONAL) and sound advice, we ensure that your trust service is legally compliant, secure and recognised throughout Europe. Trust in our experience - for maximum security, integrity and authenticity of your digital documents.

Expertise

Our experienced experts have already successfully implemented more than 500 PKI projects of various sizes, some of them transnational.

Industry experience

Thanks to our many years of experience in a wide variety of sectors, we are able to serve companies in a wide range of industries.

Everything from a single source

We provide you with the eIDAS all-round package: from training and workshops to planning support and audits through to conformity assessment (certification).

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