FAQ. Certified Document Solutions

What can I use my Certified Document Service (CDS) certificate for?
You use your True Credentials for Adobe or My Credential for Adobe certificate to sign and certify Adobe® Acrobat® PDF documents. Only True Credentials and My Credential for Adobe® Acrobat® certificates will ensure that recipients can trust the author and integrity of the document.

Can I certify my PDF documents from a computer other than the one I used to pick up my Certified Document Services (CDS) certificate?
In the event you want to sign and certify PDF documents using a different computer than the one you previously obtained your Certified Document Services (CDS) certificate, you'll need to download the GeoTrust CDS Root certificate and load your iKey token drivers.
Simply, follow these four simple steps:
1. Download and install your iKey2032 USB drivers if you have not already. You can find these drivers at True Credentials for Acrobat® Drivers. Note: you will need to reboot your system after you install these drivers.
2. Go to your Start button > GeoTrust True Credentials for Acrobat® > iKey 2000 Series Software > Install GeoTrust CA for Adobe®
3. Click "Install Certificate" on the Certificate Window and click "Next", until the certificate installation is finished.
4. Done
* Please note, if you do not take this step, the recipients of your CDS document will be unable to validate your identity.

Why can't I just sign my Adobe® Acrobat® documents with a standard certificate?
The token you get from VeriSign contains a certificate that is recognized by Adobe Acrobat & Reader 6.0 and higher, although VeriSign highly recommends the author certify with Acrobat Standard or Professional 7.0+. This certificate is pre-trusted in Adobe® Acrobat® Reader so that users will trust the author and document. Recipients will receive an easy to understand message screen telling them they can trust the document.

How do I sign an Adobe® Acrobat® Document with my new token?
Once you receive your Certified Document Services Certificate, you can go directly into Acrobat® and sign an existing PDF file. To do this, simply click on the sign icon on the toolbar and choose to sign or certify the document then follow the remaining intuitive steps. Click here for detailed instructions.

What if I lose my token?
If your token is lost, you must report this loss to VeriSign immediately. We will make the associated certificate unusable immediately. In addition, you will need to purchase a new certificate.

What if I forget my token password?
If you forget your token password, you should contact VeriSign customer support at the following:
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm EST
Toll Free: 1-866-436-8787 or International: 1-678-366-8399
Although you may be able to re-use your token, you will need to acquire a new certificate.

What is the difference between certifying and signing a document?
Certifying a document When you save an Adobe® Acrobat® PDF document as certified, you attest to its contents and specify the types of changes that are permitted for the document to remain certified. For example, suppose that a government agency creates a form with signature fields. When the form is complete, the agency certifies the document, allowing users to change only form fields and sign the document. Users can fill in the form and sign the document, but if they remove pages or add comments, the document is no longer certified. When you certify an Adobe PDF with a VeriSign issued CDS certificate (that has not been revoked), a blue ribbon icon will appear next to the digital signature and in the Signatures tab.
Signing a document A digital signature can be either visible or invisible. A visible signature appears in both the document and Signatures tab. An invisible signature appears only in the Signatures tab. Adding a signatures does not affect the validity of existing signatures in the document. When you sign a document your signature and the related information can be stored in a signature field embedded on the page. A signature field is an Adobe® Acrobat® form field. You can add a signature field to a page as you sign, or you can use the Signature tool to create an empty signature field that can be signed later.

How does certificate revocation work?
If a certificate that was used for Adobe® Acrobat® signing has been revoked, the serial number and other relevant information will be placed in a file used in revocation checking. If the Adobe® Acrobat® environment detects a signing certificate serial number in this file the application will produce an invalid signature validation at time of signing and subsequent opening. Only documents signed while on-line after revocation will be affected.

When VeriSign revokes a certificate, does that mean my documents will become invalid in Adobe® Acrobat® immediately?
The process will take about 24 hours to show all Adobe® Acrobat® users that the new documents signed after revocation are invalid. Earlier documents will remain valid if signed on-line even after revocation.

Can I call someone at VeriSign to walk me through this process?
Yes, please contact a sales representative at 650-426-5310.

How can my Organization authorize my "My Credential for Adobe® Acrobat®" certificate request?
Before receiving a "My Credential for Adobe® Acrobat®" CDS certificate, in affiliation with an Organization, your Organization must first authorize your request by completing the Letter of Authorization (LOA) including your business Dun and Bradstreet number or equivalent business documentation (contact VeriSign Client Services for details) and faxing it to VeriSign (866) 435-8452 or (858) 300-5306. Download the Letter of Authorization (Word doc) now.

Where can I find the VeriSign prescribed form used for Identity Verification for individual certificates (not affiliated with an Organization)?
Download the Identity Verification form for individual requests (Word doc) now.

Where in the world is this being offered?
My Credential and True Credentials for Adobe® Acrobat® is available globally, however, export restrictions may apply.

How secure is this service?
From the stringent identity verification through the two-factor authorization coupled with a FIPS Level II cryptographic device, relying parties can be assured the Certified PDF digital signature is valid.

Why do I need hardware?
VeriSign binds the author’s identity to a private key that never leaves their FIPS level II cryptographic device (token). Authors must have both possession of the token and knowledge of the pass phrase to unlock the private key before applying a Certified signature to a PDF document.

How do you sign up?
If applying as an individual the user must produce a fax of a notarized government issued photo –ID that VeriSign can use to verify his/her identity. Click here for Identity Verification form for Individual Requests. Individuals applying for a single certificate in association with an Organization must fax a Letter of Authorization signed by an Authorized Organizational Representative that vouches for the individual’s identity and permits them an Adobe® Acrobat® certificate with the Organization name in its identity. Click here for Letter of Authorization for Individual Requests with an Organization.

Where can I obtain a guide to help me through the driver installation and certificate enrollment process?
Click here for the CDS for Adobe Installation guide.

I’m having difficulty installing the Token drivers. What should I do?
There are known Microsoft issues surrounding SmartCard services that must be installed and configured correctly in order to support Cryptographic Hardware. Please contact your Systems Administrator and verify your Smart Card services are properly installed.

What port do I need open to access Time-Stamping and OCSP checking services?
Port 80

Now that I have my CDS certificate, how do I use it to certify a document using Acrobat?
Click here for detailed steps on how to certify a PDF document.

Why is my Web hosted certified document failing validation?
Adobe Reader 7.0 has a bug that causes data validation to occur prior to a web downloaded page being fully loaded. This is a known problem and has been corrected in Adobe Reader patch 7.0.5.

Where can I find additional Training materials for True Credentials for Adobe Administrators?
Click here for the Registration Authority Training for True Credentials for Adobe Administrators.